New Wilson Shasha W/P Series 2

Every time I listen to music through my WP's I'm getting a return on my investment !!!!! Why are you worried about what I do with my money !!!!???

I just looked up you system....how ironic.....your heavily invested in ARC !!!!!!!

Samhar ... just looked up your system. Gorgeous system and gorgeous room. Just love the back wall.

Did you use sound treatments for your room? My wife has given me permission to "refresh" the decor in my basement/soundroom, e.g., paint, new sofa, etc. Looking for some decorative ways to tame thye nodes in my room.

Interesting. I will need to have a listen.

Dave must have been back to the Musikverein again. I would expect that this newfound knowledge will result in upgrades to the entire line within the year.

The Sasha 2 speakers pretty much look like the Wilson Alexia speakers, except the Sasha 2 speakers uses two 8 inch woofers, where the Wilson Alexia speakers use a 10 inch woofer and a 8 inch woofer.

Also the Sasha speakers use a Focal tweeter, where the Sasha 2 speakers use a Scanspeak tweeter.
Here's a pic of the Sasha 2 speakers.
http://cybwiz.blogspot.com/2013/11/wilson-audio-sasha-watt-puppy-series-2.html

What's the opinion from the people about this tweeter change? What do you prefer?
Thx

the Duettes have the tweeter also, so it was "inevitable" to incorporate it into the Sasha. they should offer an upgrade path from the original speaker imho.
the watt/puppy has to be the single most important product that Wilson audio
hopes to show what they offer in a full range speaker for most living rooms.
I like the Duettes too but they cannot be placed out from the front and side walls
(as of yet- i hope they re-engineer them to be used as a mini-monitor regardless of where you put them).

While there is no hint that I'm aware of, I suspect we'll see little effort on Wilson's part to give current Sasha owners an upgrade or preferred trade in option.

Their business model may push the state of the art, but the depreciation cost to their customers is a too big a hit. Current Sasha owners have already lost half their investment. When the reviews of the Sasha 2 come out touting how much better it is, well you get the picture.

50% depreciation on a 2k item is one thing, but at Wilson prices they owe their current customers more.

@Egrady, your post is a perfect example of the neuroticism exhibited by audiophiles and perhaps played upon by certain manufacturers. Anyone who dabbles in this ridiculous hobby realizes that high-end equipment value plummets like a stone if you're buying new. Anyone who bought a Sasha should be as pleased with their purchase now as they were when they made it. The fact that a new model is out doesn't detract from what they already have - except in their minds maybe.

Those who must have the latest model of everything must pay the price. If they can afford it, great. If they can't, then live with it. Besides, anyone who buys the Sasha 2 should know there's a V3 around the corner anyway. On the + side - used Wilsons are a great buy if you like the sound.

Chayro,

While I don't disagree with most of what you say, you illustrate the fact that used Wilson's are a good buy. New ones are terrible. Because they seldom offer upgrade or trade in options to their old customers.

Speakers may be more difficult, but ARC came out with the Ref 5SE and offered an upgrade to Ref 5 owners. Wilson would have come out with the "Ref 6" and left Ref 5 owners to taking a bloodbath at trade in/replacement time.

I realize that high end equipment is like high end cars, a big depreciation hit comes with the territory. But there are plenty of companies that at least try and cushion the blow to their customers. Wilson, almost never.

Maybe they'll come out with an upgrade for the Sasha 1. Maybe not to a full Sasha 2 level, but as far as they can take the Sasha 1. But I'm not holding my breath.

Chayro is exactly right. When did you get an upgrade for your old Ford Galaxie? High-end audio is no different than any other commercial endeavor. Enjoy what you have.

Maybe Wilson should introduce a lease program for those who need to have the most up to date versions.

Brf. Actually--a good idea for all super high end manufacturers. There is a residual value to all things.
As for the new silk dome tweeter. Don't know if it makes sense to offer an upgrade to Sasha I owners (of which I am one) as Sasha was voiced with a tweeter with very different physical and sound characteristics than the new tweeter. Also, the new tweeter is in a different cabinet position in the Sasha 2 than the former tweeter was in the original Sasha. Frankly, looking at the design changes, I'm not sure that the Sasha 2 will be that much better than the Sasha as much as it will be different.
I remember liking the WP 7 much more than the 6. I did not like the 8 much more, if at all, than the 7. But I do love the Sasha.The Sasha 2 will have to be much better than the original for me to consider a move.

In the WP series to me the best until now is the Sasha WP, and then the 5.1 system

Egrady,

You don't know what you are talking about. While there may not be an official trade in program I think most dealers work with their clients. My dealer gave me a great trade when I upgraded from the w/p 8 to the Sasha w/p. I had a little depreciation on the 8s but nothing like 50%.

Why is it that the ignorant post with such authority?

Bjbcab,

Exactly what is it you're claiming I don't know? Dealer trade in's have nothing to do with Wilson's business model. A Wilson Audio backed upgrade or trade in policy would be news to me.

I'm glad your dealer took care of you none the less.

You ever think that Wilson's policy is to work through the dealer in helping their clients upgrade?

Your statement of this massive depreciation hit was not my experience and not the experience of other Wilson owners I know. My point is I suspect you have no experience with upgrading through the Wilson. Your statement is backed by a review of the items listed on Audiogon. You don't know what you are talking about on this subject.

Bjbcab,

Explain what you mean by "upgrading through Wilson"? If you mean that there is enough profit margin for dealers to offer generous trade in's, well that can vary from dealer to dealer and how far up the chain the customer is going. But that has nothing to do with Wilson Audio as, I think, you suggest.

My statement of a massive depreciation hit is a fact. Look as the asking price four Sasha 1's listed right now. A dealer might take a bit of a loss on the trade, but that goes back to the profit margin. Which, once again, doesn't have anything to do with Wilson Audio, other than their pricing. The fact that a dealer might absorb some of the depreciation to make a sale, which is a dealer choice and has nothing to do with Wilson Audio, doesn't mean the massive depreciation didn't take place. The Sasha 1 is probably now worth 16-17k. That's pretty massive in my book. And just wait until the reviews of the Sasha 2 come out and say how much better the new tweeter is.

I really don't have a clue what you're talking about. Your dealer's conduct, which I'm glad you're happy with, has nothing to do with my comments about Wilson Audio.

While there is no hint that I'm aware of, I suspect we'll see little effort on Wilson's part to give current Sasha owners an upgrade or preferred trade in option.

They DON'T have to to stay in business.

But there are plenty of companies that at least try and cushion the blow to their customers. Wilson, almost never.

Again, they DON'T have to to stay in business.

Depreciated is the cost to use and enjoy the product. You want to use it for free and have the companies replace with new after it's been used/worn?

If you don't agree with Wilson business practices, DON'T buy their speakers. There's NO penalty like Health Care if you decide NOT to participate.

01-15-14: Chayro
@Egrady, your post is a perfect example of the neuroticism exhibited by audiophiles and perhaps played upon by certain manufacturers. Anyone who dabbles in this ridiculous hobby realizes that high-end equipment value plummets like a stone if you're buying new. Anyone who bought a Sasha should be as pleased with their purchase now as they were when they made it. The fact that a new model is out doesn't detract from what they already have - except in their minds maybe.

Those who must have the latest model of everything must pay the price. If they can afford it, great. If they can't, then live with it. Besides, anyone who buys the Sasha 2 should know there's a V3 around the corner anyway. On the + side - used Wilsons are a great buy if you like the sound.

Well Articulated!

Knghifi .... kinda agree with you. As I said above or elsewhere, that's why I buy -- for the most part -- hi-end preowned or factory "refurbed" demo gear. I can flip it for almost what I paid for it.

Case in point. I recently sold my "old" ARC VS-115 amp for $4K. I bought it about 4 years prior directly from ARC as a "refurb" demo for about $5500. So ... some quick math: $1500 delta ($5500 less $4K)/4 years is $375 per year. Not a bad annual "user fee" for a piece of gear that provided me with a lot of pleasure. And now, my Buyer will get a chance to enjoy an excellent amp in mint condition already broken in courtesy of ARC and me.

Incidentally, the VS-115 is still part of ARC's current product line-up and has a MSRP of $7000. So why pay retail for a piece of top end gear that may have a useful life of 20+ years??

Guess the answer is someone has to buy retail or how else would folks like me buy preowned gear?? :-) Unfortunately that puts a lot of pressure on the B&M middleman. Sorry .. I ain't rich.

P.S. I used the cash to buy a preowned 2-year old ARC Ref 150 that had about 1100 hours of time racked up for about 60% of MSRP. Frankly, I was grateful for the prior use because that meant I could plug and play the Ref 150 right-a-way. I'm happy because I step into an amp that I've had my eyes on for a year or so.

And guess what .. Al you'll be happy to know this ..., the Ref 150's output impedance off the 4 ohm tap is .4 ohms less than the VS-115's 4 ohm tap. That means the output voltage regulation of the Ref 150 is slightly tighter than the VS-115 and my speakers sound slightly less bright. Isn't that just wonderful?? ;)

The ARC dealer who sold me the amp is happy because he took the Ref 150 in trade from a customer who stepped up to ARC Ref 250 monos and made some coin for the flips. And his customer is happy because he bought Ref 250s. I'd be happy too.

See -- everyone is happy. :) :) :)

I assume the same paradigm (pun not intended) applies equally to Wilson speakers and other hi-end kit.