Upgrading from Wilson Sophia 2's?


Currently using these in a 14x25 room. Enjoying them for the most part, but they can sound aggressive and make mediocre recordings sound like crap and be somewhat fatiguing. I’m interested in trying something that is slightly more forgiving without sacrificing a lot of detail, air, dynamics, etc.

Any suggestions?

Associated equipment (preamps still in flux):

Amps
Pass XA 100.5 monoblocks

Preamps – Tube
Audio Valve Eclipse
Cary SLP-05

Preamps – SS
Fire H20
Wyred 4 Sound STP SE
Pass XP-20

Sources:
ModWright Transporter
Raven One TT / Triplanar / Dynavector XV-1s

Thanks.
madfloyd

Showing 1 response by samhar

I have Sophia 1's in a 14'W X 23'L with a ceiling that starts at 9.5' on the left side and rises to 10.5' on the right. My system and a 52" LCD screen are between the speakers.
I have tried acoustic egg crate foam, thick gathered material similar to drapes and a thick flat blanket covering the screen. The foam and gathered material tamed the "beast" but the cost was a reduction in imaging and compression of the sound stage.
The flat double thick blanket worked best and with a small pillow on the wall directly behind the system at ear level listening for hours isn't fatiguing albeit's not at 85db!!!
It seems tuning the back wall is a bigger deal in my system/room then the side wall reflections!!!