The Revel Salon 2 speakers get my vote!!! This is one magnificent speaker system!!! I get to hear the over 48K a pair Wilson speakers at my local audio shop all the time, and I like my Salon 2 speakers better. That's what makes the Salon 2 speakers so very special, they have been and still are one of the best sounding and best value speakers in the world today. The Salon 2 speakers are definitely one of those "End Game" speakers. They're just that good.
Wilson Audio Sabrina X vs Revel Ultima Salon 2
I had the pleasure of A/Bing the Sabrina X vs the Salon 2 at authorized dealer Entertainment Technology in Mount Kisco, NY. A great store and very helpful! These speakers were paired with a Mcintosh C1100 pre, MC462 amp, and DCS Bartok. I listened to the Wilson, then Revel, then Wilson again for several tracks each over about an hr and a half. I have Revel voice and Gem 2 so the Salon 2’s seem like a perfect match but I also like Wilson a lot. One caveat to the set up is that the Wilson’s were in their ideal positioning. They were not allowed to be moved. The Revel’s were not ideally placed. They were spaced closer together and forward for the test.
Sabrina X- Typical perfect Wilson build quality and made in USA. What was once a Wilson weakness, the tweeter, is now a strength. An overall delightful and easy speaker to listen to. The tweeter really is so smooth and enjoyable.
Revel- Sounds similar to my Gem2’s but better in every way. Bigger, incomparably better bass.
Overall the sound was so close! Extremely similar sounds. I’m not sure if it’s more impressive the small Wilson’s can compete with a larger and venerable Salon 2 or if it’s that a 13 year old speaker can match a brand new Wilson. I think I liked the Revel more. It may have been a visual bias but the Wilson physically is so small the soundstage wasn’t quite as large. Also, with the Wilson I had to keep my eye on the volume control. It seemed to run out of gas earlier than the Revel. It may have been the Mcintosh gear but the bass was better controlled on the revels. The Wilson went really deep for such a small speaker but it was almost too much bass, it didn’t seem quite right in comparison. However, the Wilson tweeter was slightly more refined.
Would love to hear thoughts. I can easily live with either! Both superb.
Sabrina X- Typical perfect Wilson build quality and made in USA. What was once a Wilson weakness, the tweeter, is now a strength. An overall delightful and easy speaker to listen to. The tweeter really is so smooth and enjoyable.
Revel- Sounds similar to my Gem2’s but better in every way. Bigger, incomparably better bass.
Overall the sound was so close! Extremely similar sounds. I’m not sure if it’s more impressive the small Wilson’s can compete with a larger and venerable Salon 2 or if it’s that a 13 year old speaker can match a brand new Wilson. I think I liked the Revel more. It may have been a visual bias but the Wilson physically is so small the soundstage wasn’t quite as large. Also, with the Wilson I had to keep my eye on the volume control. It seemed to run out of gas earlier than the Revel. It may have been the Mcintosh gear but the bass was better controlled on the revels. The Wilson went really deep for such a small speaker but it was almost too much bass, it didn’t seem quite right in comparison. However, the Wilson tweeter was slightly more refined.
Would love to hear thoughts. I can easily live with either! Both superb.
10 responses Add your response
In fact this proves my point further about the mcintosh being stable into lower loadsI never said they are unstable, most amps with output transformers tube or transistor are inherently stable, just won’t deliver the big current needed into the broad area of difficult bass loading that the Sasha X have. A 100-150w Gryphon or John Curl JC1’s will do it far better than a transformer coupled Mac into the Sasha X. However my point still also stands, the Ravel’s would be a far better speaker load if spearl8 wants to keep the Mac And this comment of the OP’s proves those points made by Stereophile and myself. spearl8 Also, with the Wilson I had to keep my eye on the volume control. It seemed to run out of gas earlier than the Revel. It may have been the Mcintosh gear but the bass was better controlled on the revels. Cheers George |
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Tested by Sterophile the DAW is a far easier loading for an amp in the bass, than the Sabrina X is. Big difference in phase angle in the bass -60 degrees for the X vs only -35 for the DAW. And the min impedance is far broader for the X. https://www.stereophile.com/images/1219Wilsonfig1.jpg Cheers George |
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I don’t think that Mac is the right amp for the Sabrina X , you’ll have to use the 2ohm tap if it has one, then the wattage might not be enough because the lower the impedance tap the less wattage you get on transformer coupled tube amps, think the same applies with the Mac https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/sabrina-x-amp-suggestions/post?postid=2125370#2125370 The Ravels are a far better loading for the Mac https://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/708Revfig01.jpg Cheers George |
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There is not a doubt in my mind that the Salon is a better speaker.... but I find the Sabina (never heard the X) more engaging. The Sabrina has a bit of a bass hump around 80hz-ish? I think. This makes them sound “bigger” than they are. The revels reach down lower but never had the impact to pull me in. Both are great and I could happy live with either. The wilson will have better resale. |
I think you made great observations. Considering that the Wilson's were given the prime spot, and couldn't be moved would make me worried. IMHO, There is nothing worse than a speaker that has to be set in a 'perfect' position. And, the fact that the Revel's couldn't be accommodated equally raises another red flag. Bob |