Your system is well balanced as it is. The recommendations for acoustic treatments are excellent, by far the best sound improvement per dollar investment you can make. As far as changing speaker go, the real question isn't whether you would spend an incremental $15k, but whether you're prepared to spend an incremental $40k plus upgrading source, cables and amplification? If you just can't live without the Sashas and money is not a big concern, then go for it. If you have to save up for the purchase(s), then most likely Wilson will have introduced a new upgraded version or model and moved the performance bar even higher and pricier and would you be happy with the Sashas then?
I would also be concerned that if the Sophias aren't disappearing after the dealer set them up in your room that the Sashas won't disappear either in that room. |
Sorry, above I meant to say Sophia 3 to Sasha. |
I recommend you post your question on the Wilson Audio forum, or at least search the archives. There have been many posts about your topic and many have written about their experiences of going from Sophia 2 to Sasha. You will also find lots of information about partnering equipment and set up.
http://www.audioaficionado.org/wilson-audio/
Of course only you can decide and I encourage you to listen for yourself.
Regards,
Dave |
Samhar,
My mind isn't made up. I posted the question as a means to provide food for thought. I think Audiogon, when members provide advice that's really meant to help, is a forum for brainstorming. The feedback has help me consider more cost effective ways of improving my sound. As a matter of fact I just went on Rives website and will contact them tomorrow. I just thought going from Sophia IIIs to Sasha's would provide the greatest sonic impact.
What transports would you recommend? |
As an ex Sophia 2 and current Sasha owner, I would advise to spend that 15k on elektronics/cables/acustics first. You will end up with better sound. Sophia 3 is a terific speaker. |
Your mind seems made up. I think in this case your not going to be happy after your purchase of the Sashas for a long time and many many upgrades!!! Why not enjoy and upgrade your current system with the Sashas in mind??? I'd start with the transport, then ASC 16" tube traps in the corners. I tried GIK 244 and the ASC worked a lot better for me. I think you'll find getting a tighter well defined bass and cleaner mids without bass smear will let you hear how good the Sophia lll is.
Many people saying very similar things here, I would listen especially concerning treatments!!! People like Jfrech and his vast experience with Wilson products this is knowledge not a guesstimate!!!! |
Sounds_real_audio,
The ex-wife part is funny! I don't pay alimony, I don't have tons of money. I have a hobby that I love. I save and sacrifice to get my toys. If money wasn't an issue, I would buy what I wanted and that would be the end of it.
I use the Apollo as a transport and have it going into a Audio Research DAC7. I believe in investing in speakers first and build around them. I have heard differences between cables, amps, preamps, etc...however I submit from my experience you get the speakers you want and match the components to your speakers. I can't do everything at the same time; therefore my thought was speakers first. |
If it were me, I'd spend money on room treatments, a decent tube amp and lastly cable upgrades before upgrading to the Sashas. |
Jim,
I don`t know the Rega player at all, is it subpar given the rest of his system? |
The Sashas are worth the extra $ IMHO if you have the electronics to drive them. Quite a bit better than Sophia 3s in all areas, but especially dimensionality, soundstage, separation of instruments and reproduction of frequency extremes. Of course, the Sophia 3s are excellent and are not as demanding of ancillaries. |
Honestly Ricred1
If your source is the Rega CD player and you are upgrading speakers, you need therapy and your X wife needs a bigger alimony settlement.
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That was good advice Peterayer. |
I have found that the lister/room/speaker relationship is far more important than which speaker one has, especially if you are comparing two very good and similar speakers from the same manufacturer. Get the room, speaker location and listening seat right and improvement should be huge. You can do that for less than the $15K and the results will be better, IMO. |
Lenny_zwik,
Did you work directly with Rives to design your room treatment. My priorities are for the speakers to disappear, if it's a good recording... image depth, width, height, with spacing between instruments. I was wondering if the Sasha's would provide a significant upgrade on my priorities given all other things are equal. Will room treatments affect my priorities as much? |
Agree with Jfrech. Perhaps you should invest a few $K in treating your room, primarily bass treatments in the corners, rather than $15K in speakers. You already have world class speakers. This may sound counterintuitive, but that will result in a much more expansive soundstage, more transparency with better articulation as well as much smoother and lower reaching bass. |
Heard both and loved them, but you'll have to jump a step or 2 higher to make it worth the money. |
There is no definite answer whether the Sasha is $15k better than the Sophia 3. I echo Branislav's advice.
A friend owns the Sasha. He told me prior to owning the Sasha he was at the dealer listening to the Sophia 3. He was about the pull the trigger when the dealer showed him the Sasha. Once he listened to the Sasha he knew he would be getting this one. He said although the Sasha was an overall better speaker, the Sophia-3 comes pretty close to the Sasha's performance. Whether it's $15k better, no comment.
So smitten with the Sasha, he got himself a second pair of Wilson for the living room just recently, the Maxx 3. |
Branislav,
3 different opinions and that's what makes this "hobby" fun. I have listened to Sasha's but in a very expensive system. I asked the question to hear different perspectives, with the realization that I need to make the decision.
Psjulian and Jfrech,
I went from 2s to 3s and I think it was worth it, but now I'm questioning if the Sasha's are 15K better. Why 15K, because I can sell my Sophia 3s for 10K and still would need an additional 15K. Lots to think about. |
The Sasha's are harder to drive than the 3s so you might need a different amp for them. Also need large room for best results. |
3 different people, 3 different answers...I think it's time to visit a dealer, regardless how far they are. |
If you can step up here, I think you will regret. The Sasha's give you more of everything. Wilson has a lineup here for a reason.
Now they all sound great. And better ancillary's with sophia 3's vs current gear with Sasha's is another route. The Sasha's will be a little less forgiving of other system weaknesses. Is your system page up to date? Some bass traps in the corners maybe, do you have better power cords?, what about a better transport? Cables...etc Those Sophia's are good, they'll let you hear it all...
I have heard the Sophia 3 and Sasha's numerous times at my dealer....same set up. |
I own Sophia 2's and I auditioned the 3's. I could not justify the move to upgrade. Went back and stayed for a demo of the Sasha's, same room, same gear. I'm saving my pennies now. Holly Cow Batman...... |
Not in the same system but I like the Sophia IIIs better. They just sound more correct. I know that to be fair I would need to A B comparison in the same system. The Sasha'a sound great but I really think Wilson hit it out of the ball park with new Sophia IIIs. |
Perhaps a new CD Player would make a bigger difference and more of an improvement in your system then the Sasha's.
It is never fair to totally blame speakers for not providing the sound you are looking for.
Jim
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