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Speaker upgrade question - Wilson vs Focal

Hey audiogoners!

Thinking of upgrading and need the community/expert input.

Thinking of upgrading from a set of usher mini ones that I've had and loved for a few years.

I listened to a bunch of speakers, Focus Audio, Martin Logan, B&w, higher end ushers, Wilson audio, and Focal.

The ones I liked the most were the Wilson Audio Sasha DAW and the Focal Sopra 3. 

Loved the forward and detailed instrumentation on the Wilson's, especially the Sasha DAW, but liked the vocals slightly better on the sopras, though instrumentation on them was not as crisp as on Wilson's. But the two are very close.

Music is mostly jazz, classical, light rock, electronic and occasionally symphonic metal / European metal (night wish, sonata Arctica, dream theater). Mostly jazz though, vocal and instrumental. 

Trying to decide between getting the Wilson audio yvette, ( Sasha is too expensive and Sabrina's don't deliver enough) and Focal Sopra 3. Though I can wait a few years and get the Sasha then second hand.

I won't be considering other brands since I already did that research run around. These two brands work best for me and synergize well with my inwall home theater speakers (origin d87s).

I will be powering them using a McIntosh mc452 /C2600 for 2 channel, mostly LPs (McIntosh mt10) and tidal streaming and a anthem 1120 for home theater. 

What you guys think? Go for the Yvettes, wait for the Sasha's or go for the focals? 

Thanks.


128x128mepstein10
mribob
229 posts
 
Can''t help you with Focal, but I am auditioning Wilson now at home, with the Sabrina's, which surprised me for their imaging, clarity and presence, especially from such a small footprint. My room is likely too big for the Sabrina's, and I too will evaluate the Yvette's vs DAW's...knock on the Yvette's is they are a harder load to drive, lower sensitivity, and dip down into 2 ohms. I think they share the same tweeter and 7" midrange, albeit in different cabinets. One 10" woofer, vs two 8", but a big price point.
Have not heard folks comments on the improvement of the Sasha DAW vs Sasha 2's, because a used Shasha 2 is around the Yvette's price point. Would a Shasha 2 used meet your needs vs waiting for the $$$ DAW? I have not yet heard the Yvette, but will likely audition soon.
Good luck.
Bob
musicloversaudio's avatar
musicloversaudio
44 posts
 
The Sasha DAWs are stunningly good. I didn't love the Sasha 2s. I like the high end on all the current models (Sabrina, Yvette, Sasha DAW, Alexia 2, Etc.) much more than the earlier ones. Other speakers ultimately bore me. If you can't get the DAWs, I'd go for the Yvettes. 
brianjsa
1 posts
 
Hi, I have a pair of the Sopra No 2’s and I know that like mind you will never find the 3’s these fatiguing speakers with a very live sound.
mmorrison55
32 posts
 
The sasha daws are almost 2x as much as the Sopra 3’s. If yo can go another 4K, You should check out Kevin Deals upscale audio, he has a pair of black Stella utopias, (100k speakers) for 42k. 
plaw
86 posts
 
I was looking at the Focal's, but just thought they were all bland.  Same with the Dynaudios.  I ended up with a used pair of Wilson Sasha's.  They sound terrific after I forked over $500 bucks to repair a defective driver that fell apart after 5 years (I have old cheap klipsch that did not fall apart after 30 years).  So, I guess I would say, want boring sound that is well built, get Focal.  Want excitement that falls apart, get Wilson.
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