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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
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
80 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.
firstnot's avatar
firstnot
248 posts
 
Focals don't sound quite "Natural"

Wilsons will bore you to death.
These are the two you have narrowed it down to.

Doesn't your brother in law rep any other lines?

Like Vimberg for example??

What say yeah?
mepstein10's avatar
mepstein10 OP
19 posts
 
Mepstein, neither the WIlsons or the Focals' will 100% synergize with your Origins.

We have been doing surround sound for over 30 years, if matching your origins is a priority, then the Wilsons will be a much closer sonic match, as their tweeter is also a soft dome, so at least they are in the same family.

Did you hear both of these speakers on Mcintosh gear?

The Mcintosh gear tends to be rolled off in the treble vs other brands of electronics which are more neutral, Mcintosh products mirror a more tube like presentation, which would favor the pairing with the Focals whose Beryilium tweeter does show more detail than the Wilsons, but then you are less close to matching the Origins.

If you are doing surround sound the most important loudspeaker is the center channel, the rest of the loudspeakers for back or surrounds the Origins will still work no matter which main speakers are chosen.

WIlsons tend to image better with a more holographic presentation than the Focals which throw a wide but less specific soundstage.

Personally we would recommend that you keep looking and not limit yourself to just these two companies.

We heard some speakers at Axpona that combine many of the traits of both of these speakes in a somewhat similar price point.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

Matching the origin is not exactly a priority, I just do not want them to clash.

For music I generally do 2-channel, but since I have the theater setup already done and in the walls, no harm in also going that way.

Mcintosh only does the 2 channel for music, and powers the front speakers for the theater via passthrough.

The Anthem 1120 does the home theater. 

My setup is 70/30 for music/home theater.

No disrespect meant, but it does seem that you are quite seriously pushing against both Wilson and Focal with my setup. May I inquire into why? 

Which speakers did you hear at Axpona that combined the traits? Where they on par with the other two? Not saying I will switch my view but would be interesting to consider. 

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.

Which Focals did you listen to? I was not impressed with anything below the Sopra 2s.

Also, I don't want my speakers to fall apart :( 

Focals don't sound quite "Natural"

Wilsons will bore you to death.
These are the two you have narrowed it down to.

Doesn't your brother in law rep any other lines?

Like Vimberg for example??

What say yeah?

Not sure what brother in law you are referencing...

Agree, that Focal does color the sound a little

Have not heard of Vimberg before. I do like the looks of the cabinets, though I can't seem to find much information on them or dealers who have them to audition nearby. I won't be considering a speaker unless I am able to audition them. 
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