Focal v Wilson

Thanks guys -- to answer a couple of the questions:

-- why these 2 models?

-- upgrade your electronics first?

I am not an audiophile, I just enjoy music and inherited this system from my dad (who was an audiophile way back when): MC2720 amp (my replacement to 2100 from the '70s), preamp (C28) and Tuner (MR77)  Kyocera DVD and Bluesound dac -- current speakers are MC XD-715 - so a mix of '70s and 'late '80s/early 90's (other than DAC))

system will go to a much larger space so I am thinking i need a larger sound and that speakers (which are light even for current bedroom setup) would be the thing to change to most economically achieve that?

i listed the 2 that I did because they appeared to be the "best" for sale in the used market driving distance to me in my price range -- i am not looking to backward upgrade my entire system into the speakers that I choose - but rather would like to figure out what would best complement what I have and project more sound

it sounds like super high end/modern (or the label you wish) used speakers like the ones mentioned (which are modern compared to '70s electronics but both are 15 to 20 yr old) are "too good" for my electronics? -- so what should I be looking for ... some 10-15 year old Khorns? at the end of the day it always seemed smarter buying used in a premium market b/c there is such a markup for new...kind of like the value that drops off a car the moment it is titled one time even if it goes no miles

on the other hand, technology changes and maybe today's $5K speaker does what Wilsons' WP7 $22K speaker did from 15 years ago? I have no idea...that's why i am asking...................

@edelbby speakers are very personal. I do believe you can get fantastic speakers for 3K easily, especially used.

these are the ones I would audition:

Dynaudio, Totem, Fyne, Harbeth, Revel, Paradigm. These are great values, $ for $

About a year ago I too was considering the Focals and Wilsons. I also added in Sonus Faber as well. I really enjoyed listening to the Focal Alto Utopia BE and the Sonus Faber Amati Homage. But in the end it was the Wilson Audio Alexia's that won me over. In my dedicated listening room  they just simply spoke to me more. I could have easily lived with any of those three quite happily. Perhaps it's my overall system; Conrad Johnson LP275M monoblocks (or my Bryaton 28B-SST monos), Aesthetix Callistio Eclipse preamp, Modwright PH9.0XT phono or Cary DMS-600 dac/streamer. My cables are all Audience Front Row. Three TT's; My room is 22 X 25 with a vaulted ceiling. The Wilsons seemed to need more power and that I had in spades. The Focals and SF Amatis seemed to need less power to get the most out t of them. The Wilson's bass extension is as deep as I could ever hope for. No more using separate subs as I was doing with my Avalon's. I really liked the Avalons but do admit that I am a sucker for a good soft dome tweeter. I feel that Focal does about the best job with a BE tweeter. My absolute favorite speaker of all time is the Focal Grand Utopia, but those cross over into six figures price wise and would not have been feasible. There are so many great speakers available these days. Listen to as many as you can, preferably in your home with your equipment. If it's at a dealer, see if they will let you bring your amp/preamp for the listening session. 

It's true that this particular Wilson has a 2 Ohm impedance dip in the bass, but the Focals tend to not be great there either.  They tend to dip in the "punchy" part of the mid-bass and are unusually sensitive to the current delivery of an amplifier.

The biggest difference however is probably not in the tweeter or bass but in the midrange presentation, and I'd encourage a listen before deciding.

Thanks to all

@8th Note - the MC7270 is solid state - here are specs - can this keep up?

POWER OUTPUT
STEREO
270 watts minimum sine wave continuous average power output, per channe,l both channels
operating into 1 ohm, 2 ohms, 4 ohms, or 8 ohms load impedance, which is:
16.4 volts RMS across 1 ohm
23.2 volts RMS across 2 ohms
32.9 volts RMS across 4 ohms
46.5 volts RMS across 8 ohms
MONO-BRIDGE
540 watts minimum sine wave cont inuous average power output into 2 ohms, 4 ohms, 8 o hms,
or 16 ohms load impedance, which is:
3 2.9 volts RMS across 2 ohms
46.5 volts RMS across 4 ohms
65 .7 volts RMS across 8 ohms
93.0 volts RMS across 16 ohms OUTPUT LOAD IMPEDANCE STEREO
1 o hm, 2 ohms , 4 ohms, and 8 ohms; separate terminals
are provided for each output. MONO -BRI DGED
2 ohms, 4 ohms, 8 ohms, or 16 ohms, balanced to ground.
RA TED POWER BAND
20 Hz to 20 ,000 Hz
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION
STEREO
0 .0 2% maximum harmonic distortion at any power level from 250 milliwatts to 270 watts per
channel from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, both channels operating .
MONO
0.02% maximum harmonic distortion at any power level from 250 milliwatts to 540 watts from
20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
INTERMODULATION DISTORTION
STEREO
0.02% maximum if instantaneous peak power output is 600 watts or less per channel with both
channels operating for any combination of frequencies, 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
MONO
0.02% maximum if instantaneous peak power output is 600 watts or less for any combination of
frequencie s, 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
FREQUENCY RESPONSE (AT ONE WATT OUTPUT)
20 Hz to 20,000 Hz + 0 - 0.25 dB.
10 Hz to 100 ,00 Hz + 0 - 2 dB.
NOISE A D HUM
100 dB below rated output.
RATINGS DAMPING FACTOR
Greater than 30
INPUT IMPEDANCE
20,000 ohms.
INPUT SENSITIVITY
Switchable : 0.75 volt or 2.5 volts-level control provided for higher input voltage s.
POWER GUARD
Clipping is prevented and THO does not exceed 2% with up to 20 dB overdrive a 1 kHz.
GENERAL INFORMATION POWER REQUIREMENTS
120 volts 50/60 Hz; 13 amps.
SEMICONDUCTOR COMPLEMENT
79 silicon transistors
31 silicon rectifiers and diodes
7 integrated circuits
MECHA ICAL INFORMATION SIZE
16 3/16 inches wide {41.1 cm) by 7 1/8 inches high (18.1
cm) by 14 1/2 inches deep (36 .8 cm), including connec­ tors. Knob clearance required is 1 1 /4
inches {3.2 cm) in front of mounting panel.
FIN ISH
The front panel is a combination of glass and black anodized aluminum . The chassis is black.
WEIGHT
82 pounds (37.2 kg) net, 96 pounds {43.5 kg) in shipping
carton .