Wilson Sophia 2's on Marantz Reference

No worries, your opinion is welcome and respected. As for clarification of when I said $14,000 is "entry-level" for the "high-end", I'm referring strictly to that class of manufacturers where $14,000 really is the entry-level and barely buys you a ticket for admission.

Am I saying any speaker under $14,000 is "bad" or even "not as good"? Absolutely not, and in my previous posts, I've actually stated the opposite. One can find a lot of incredible speakers for much more "value" than you can with most "high-end" speakers.

It's the same as if I said $200,000 was "entry-level" for "high-end sports cars". That class would be Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Bugattis, etc. Would I be incorrect? Sure, there may be some examples where you can find a new Porsche for less than $200K, but not many.

At the same time, that doesn't mean that any cars less than $200K are "bad" or even "not as good". Some would argue a new Corvette or Supra is just as good or provides "more value". That's certainly their prerogative and I wouldn't necessarily be inclined to disagree, at least on the value part. But I wouldn't classify them as "high-end sports cars". Again, just my opinion.

You are right, I love Wilson speakers. I just don't love the Sophia 2. Not a bad speaker, but not nearly as good as what Wilson is capable of. For that price-point, the B&W 802D is better, in my view, for the reasons I've already stated.

Dylanhenry

Got it. Yes, no prob. it's simple words.

High End encompasses the whole of things from those things usually not within the confines of "Mass Fi" B&M stores, to the Rockports and other such Uberexpensive products, IMO

High End also can be subdivided, again IMO, into popular High End, Mid High End, and Ultra High End, and likely more or with other tags.

According to my friends I'm in the Crazy End of High End audio, as they all say you are nuts to spend that kind of money.

Yes also, I'm not a big fan of the Wilson Sophias either... though not due to what lays beyond them in the product line..... just their cost to performance ratio. Listening to them sure made some other speakers appear to have far more value thereafter.

I would say also if I were yet in the "lots of watts camp", and could find a preowned pair in superior cond & my choice of color for $5000, I'd buy 'em myself. At their usual of over 6500 though, they are no longer attractive. too many others including my own pair come too close or excell past them in areas I prefer to consider them given the pricing disparity between them.

$6500 - $7500 in the preowned speaker mkt sure buys one a heap of loudspeaker performance, even excluding BW & Wilson.

Be well

What people are missing here is the Sophia is a much more forgiving speaker for your upstream gear. Easier to drive and easier to match. Based on looking at your current system I would keep your Transparent Cabling and your ARC CD3 player (skip the Marantz or at least head to head test them).

I'm not sure if the Marantz Integrated will sound as musical as you are use to with the Pathos integrated. You might consider an Accuphase Integrated instead, then it will be more musical and better built. Pretty good combo with the Wilsons.

I'm not sure Accuphase is better built than Marantz. Have you handled and/or looked inside any of their new stuff?

I have and it's very impressive. Typical Japanese i.e. almost overbuilt; terrific fit and finish.

Disclaimer- I handle neither line.

I've heard both extensively, and I feel that the Sophia is the better sounding speaker comapared to the WP8.

I have heard the Maxx and the Alexandria as well...

So, I completely disagree about the whole Sophia not being good enough relative to the WP8. They are different sounding speakers. There is a reason why the Sophia has so many excellent reviews and "best of" awards. It's because it's a really, really good sounding speaker. 1000%> better sounding than the 802D IMO, which to me sounds disjointed and tinny on the top.

So Dylan, you are welcome to your opinion, but it is an opinion, and not fact.