Loved the Sabrina's!

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by Jagman

After reading about Wilson speakers for years I had never actually heard them. I have managed to hear or own a reasonable amount of very good to excellent speakers but I have never heard anything quite as pleasing as the Sabrina's a couple of weeks ago. I'm going back for a longer listen and would like to hear the Sophia's as well since I've seen some good deals on the used market. The Sabrina's were driven by an Audio Research tube amp. I'm not sure about the cables, but will check after good advice from folks on here. I had and still have my eye on a pair of B&W 802 Diamonds, and haven't ruled out a pair of 803's, but these Wilson's really turned my head. My biggest concern is my McIntosh MA8000 integrated amp. At 300wpc I feel like I'm at the minimum amount of power I would need but not sure with Wilson's. Any thoughts on my amp and either the Sabrina's or Sophia?

Hmm, wanna come over and I'll make your ears bleed with my Ref 75?

[Jagman]

Originally Posted by Charles

I haven't heard the Sabrina's yet but the important thing to keep in mind is that Wilson is not going to make an entry level speaker that is a difficult load. The 8000 working off the 4 ohm tap will, IMO, get 98% of what the Sabrina is capable of sonically, amp wise. Agree with Jim. Sabrina will shine with the 8000.

Thanks Charles. That is nice to hear and a real compelling argument for Wilson Audio. Since I asked this question I've read a number of reviews where the Sophia's were being driven by insanely low powered mid-fi amps as a demo of their ability to play well regardless of amp size. It seems that was/is a design philosophy of Dave Wilson's, to your point about the Sabrina's. So, would you say the same for the Sophia's? There doesn't seem to be anything that would make them harder to drive than the Sabrina's.

[Jagman]

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

Hmm, wanna come over and I'll make your ears bleed with my Ref 75?

I read a review on that amp somewhere touting its ability to play incredibly loud

[Picto]

Here is an extract from the review of Sabrina speakers by Hi-Fi News of August 2015:





The full review: Wilson Audio Sabrina reviewed by Hi-Fi News.

Bertrand

[Jagman]

Thanks Bertrand! It's great to read that my initial impressions were the same as this reviewer; sounded much larger than its size, unreal imaging (drums!), taut bass, real.

I can't remember when a pair of speakers sound has remained etched in my brain like this one. The small session I had was breathtaking. I also found it interesting that the reviewers impressions of the aesthetic of this speaker matched mine. As with any Wilson speaker, it couldn't be further from the look of a conventional speaker design as a beautiful piece of furniture. Yet before the heavenly sound it emits begins to flow, it's elegant design speaks to you. I doubt even the fussiest domestic partner would object!

My concern as it relates to my original topic regarding amplifier matching was not completely alleviated. I read the review to say they are a relatively inefficient speaker with a very aggressive plot line, and deserving of stout power to match loads as low as 2 ohms, not to mention evidence seems to suggest they are more of a 3 ohm speaker than 4 ohm. Seems odd Wilson suggests a minimum power recommendation of 25 watts. The Constellation Centaur Stereo amp in use is of the $24K variety with up to 800 wpc channel into 2 ohms. With Autoformers holding tight at 300 wpc on the Mac MA8000 into all loads, I'm going to have to hear for myself how these components match.

I will be sure and understand what price Transparent cables are being used when I audition these next week. Other Wilson owners have expressed the need to inspect this carefully as the cables could be 50% or more of the speakers price. As I mentioned I will be hearing these on a Mcintosh MA7900 integrated amp which is close in spec to my MA8000, so I should be able to alleviate that concern. Any speaker I own has to be able to play loud with great clarity, even if I only "redline" them once in a blue moon, so I'll be looking at that too.

I cannot wait to get back in front of these gorgeous speakers!

[2fastdriving]

Interesting that the Sabrina's are reviewed before the Sasha 2. I don't think they've ever been reviewed!

[j3brow]

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

Interesting that the Sabrina's are reviewed before the Sasha 2. I don't think they've ever been reviewed!

The audio beat will be reviewing both Sasha 2 and Sabrina soon ..... Roy Gregory has the Sasha 2 along with a pair of Watch dogs!!!! What an awesome system that must be!!!!!

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by j3brow

The audio beat will be reviewing both Sasha 2 and Sabrina soon ..... Roy Gregory has the Sasha 2 along with a pair of Watch dogs!!!! What an awesome system that must be!!!!!

Apparently hi-fi news reviewed it too, I searched and found that. I heard the same system Roy mentions at RMAF last year and loved it.

[Picto]

Originally Posted by Jagman

Seems odd Wilson suggests a minimum power recommendation of 25 watts.

Kevin, where did you find this information for the Sabrina?

On Wilson Audio's website, the specifications of the Sophia 3 indicate "Minimum Amplifier Power: 25 watts per channel". But can't find anything for the Sabrina...

I had the opportunity to listen to Sophia and Sasha speakers with tube amplifiers (60-70 watts) and they sounded great to my ears. They provided a kind of physical and intimate listening of music, as if we were very close to the musicians and singers.

Bertrand

[Jagman]

Originally Posted by Picto

Kevin, where did you find this information for the Sabrina?

On Wilson Audio's website, the specifications of the Sophia 3 indicate "Minimum Amplifier Power: 25 watts per channel". But can't find anything for the Sabrina...

I had the opportunity to listen to Sophia and Sasha speakers with tube amplifiers (60-70 watts) and they sounded great to my ears. They provided a kind of physical and intimate listening of music, as if we were very close to the musicians and singers.

Bertrand

You know what, I thought I read the same info for the Sabrina's as the Sophia's since I'm looking at those as well in the pre-owned market. I can't find that info either on their specs page. My bad. I would have to agree with Charles however that surely Wilson wouldn't require their entry level floor standers to require more power to drive than their bigger siblings. I've read so many reviews where a core part of the review was demo'ing how easy Wilson's are to drive I must have made an assumption. I also haven't read much regarding Wilson's and SS, almost always tube demos. I will get to hear these as I mentioned with a SS Mac 7900 though.