Speaker Suggestions $30K Sasha DAW competitor?


I have been contemplating some new speakers - I have Wilson Sasha 1's which sound fantastic, but the highs can be screechy on some songs.  I listen to rock, alternative, punk at concert volumes.  I am looking at the Sasha DAW's and ??  I just heard the Alexia V's - they are what I want, but they come with a $70K price tag - just too much - man did they sound absolutely stunning - I think they are THE BEST Wilson's in the entire line - if anyone has that kind of cash you should go hear them - stunning.    I wanted to consider the PS Audio FR30's (which I have not heard) before I made a final decision, and was going to Boulder to hear the FR30's, but PS mandates that you have to be vaccinated and boosted - my doctor said don't get the booster - PS can do whatever they want - but I draw the line on my health - so that one is out (I have their DAC and support has been great).  One of the reasons I liked the FR30 is the ribbon tweeter tech which I perceive might be good in that speaker - I find them pretty smooth (have heard similar tech in the Martin Logan stuff - and they are smooth indeed).   Not a fan of Magico, Sonus Faber or Elac - in my view and for my taste - they are not musical.  Looking for floor standers.  Thanking you all for your speaker input. 

plaw

Of course speakers are a matter of taste & we all have aspects of music reproduction we value the most. I have heard several of the speakers suggested & liked most in different ways. That said, they all sound like good “hifi” to me & not really like live music which is what I enjoy. 

High efficiency, Well designed, high quality horn loaded speakers w/ just maybe 10 good watts of power ( I generally prefer tubes) can do many things that none of those fine speakers can touch even with heroic, crazy expensive amps. Dynamics of course ( including sheer volume but also subtle attack & decay of sound) can obviously be much better but also size of soundstage & midrange clarity & aliveness.

I'm currently really enjoying Volti Audio Rivals w/ a Rogers High Fidelity integrated amp. They’re not crazy big although pretty heavy, look nice  & sound really good on all types of music at low or concert level volumes. 
 

At under $20K, you might want to check them out. To each his own…..
 

 


 

 

Thought all that were on this thread might want to know what I landed on.  I would like to thank all the kind folks for their input.  I tried to listen to anything I could find (that did not have insane restrictions).  I listened to many of the suggestions here.  It took me some time to determine what I wanted in a speaker - here is what I want in order of importance:

1. Dynamic Bass - want to feel it in my chest.

2. Smooth Highs

3. Gigantic Soundstage like Maggies.

4.  Want to occasionally listen at concert volumes without hesitation, fatigue or distortion.

The only thing that was in the running against Wilson that I found was Acora Acoustic Granites - had they had the speaker I wanted, I would have probably got it - but I am glad I didn't.  I tried to get the DAWS, but the dealer I was talking to would not budge on the price - but they have excellent service.  

I called Paragon whom I believe to be one of the finest audio dealers in the nation (who happened to have an endless supply of Wilsons).  They cut me a sweetheart deal on a used pair of Wilsons.

I called Adam Golden, who used to work at one of my other favorite dealers who now has his own place called SoundScape.  He came and placed my new Wilsons.  Plugged them into the Rowland Monoblocks.

We started spinning tunes and I was absolutely mesmerized.  Wilson's new tweeter is ultra smooth.  The soundstage just blew me away.

My girlfriend came over to hear them, she is not very audiophile like, she says "Are all the speakers on"  (Referring to 5.1).  "But I hear instruments over there, and vocals over there (pointing in a different direction)"

So - if that is not a testimony to soundstage, I don't know what is.

The MAXX 3's deliver in spades.  They are an end game speaker.

 

@plaw curious what was it about Acora speakers you were glad that they didn't have what you wanted? Heard them 3 times at Axpona and thought they sounded spectacular but they were in a HUGE room so hard to judge what they might do in one's own room. Still they are on my list to hear BUT just got to listen to Joseph Audio Perspective2 that sounded amazing. These are now ones I'll most likely end up with.

@rsf507 It wasn’t that the Acora speakers were deficient, the model I heard only had one driver, they did not have the model with two drivers. Even the one with the single driver blew me away. Definitely WAY better than Magico or Rockports that were in the same room. They were driving them with Boulder amps which I think are pretty good amps. Had they had the two driver model I may have purchased them (or took a hard look) the two driver version is like $35K which I thought was a little pricey. I am glad I didn’t because the MAXX really are an unbelievable speaker. I wanted to hear the Joseph Audio, but was not able to locate a dealer with them. I think I was just amazed at the sound that Acora produced. In hindsight, Wilson still has them beat in my opinion - even if the Acora could produce the bass response it would be tough for them to match the soundstage.  If I was looking at Sasha DAW vs Acora new, it would be very close indeed (they are both in the 35 to 40k price point). The fact that Acora is in Canada might be a drawback for serviceability.