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Sophia 2/Magico V2 versus Sasha/Magico V3

So I'm currently enjoying Wilson Sophia 2s and Magico V2s in my home.

Amplification is Pass XA 100.5, preamps alternate between H20 Fire (solid state) and Audio Valve Eclipse (tube). Sources are Modwright Transporter and Raven One/Tron Seven.

These speakers are very different. The Sophia 2s are more energetic and vibrant, have more robust bass and a lot more forward presence. They can bark at you with certain recordings (upper midrange glare), they are not gentle. Used with a tube preamp, I find the timbre to be very natural sounding, giving a great deal of the 'instruments are in the room' feeling. With solid state preamp, they sound a little cold - a little 'ceramic' if you will.

The Magico V2 is slightly colored in comparison - more of a wood sound, not as much as Avalon, but it's there. The highs are nowhere as crisp, the bass comes up a bit short and they do not have the dynamics of the Wilsons. However, they offer a heck of a lot more detail in the upper midrange and highs. I hear so much more of what is going on than the Sophias. For example, horn sections on the Wilsons almost sound compressed, whereas on the Magicos they open up and come to life; I can't get over the difference.

So here's where I'm going with this: the natural upgrade path for the Magico is the V3 and the Wilson, the Sasha. Can anyone speak to what characteristics are retained versus gained (or lost for that matter) in the two upgrade paths? If it were easy to hear them in my own home, I wouldn't ask, but unfortunately it's going to be work and I may only get to hear one of these.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.
madfloyd
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
I heard the V2, V3, and Mini2 at the same dealer, but each speaker was set up with different electronics, so it was very difficult to know what was what. The dealer did'nt want to move stuff around, so I just listened for a while, got some initial impressions and left. If you are serious about learning the differences, call the dealer up ahead of time, explain what you want, and ask him to set up a room similar in size to yours with similar SS or tube electronics to yours and compare each speaker in the same system with your music. A good dealer should be willing to accomodate you. Once you think you understand the differences, take your favorite home for an audition.

I have heard various Magicos at three different dealerships in a variety of systems. For what it is worth, I found the V3 the least coherent of the three, but I only heard it once and it did not seem to be very well set up. The bass was separate from the mid/tweet. I was very impressed with both the Mini2 and the V2. The V2 had more bass weight, but did not seem quite as flat in response as the Mini2. Otherwise, it was remarkable. The Mini seemed the most complete design. Very little distortion, very clean/articluate and beautiful timbre, staging, scale.

I haven't had much time with Wilsons.
bjesien
1,337 posts
 
V2 is a sweetheart. Disappears, tonal purity, great bass. What sounds more natural will win in the end.

The V2's do cost quite a bit more than the Sophia but IMO are worth the leap.
hce4
48 posts
 
Madfloyd,

Any further insights, comments, thoughts, decisions, etc.?

I'm in the same situation as you, Sophia II owner looking at Magico as an upgrade. I can post some of my thoughts and experiences, although they are slightly contradictory to the other posters thusfar.
ricred1
2,058 posts
 
I currently own Sophia II's and was considering changing to Magico V2's; however after listening at length, I decided that the Sophia II's were more balanced. In addition, I loved the dynamics of the Sophia's. On a side note: my listening room is 26' x 28' and that does influence my preference for a certain type of speakers.
madfloyd OP
411 posts
 
I've been really enjoying the V2s, mostly because (and this doesn't match Ricred1's experience) I find them more balanced. I feel I'm hearing everything in the recording at proper levels whereas with the Sophia 2 the upper midrange frequencies are recessed/compressed.

I'd love a mix of the two speakers because the Wilsons have more slam and presence. I've ruled out the V3 for the time being and am pursuing the Sasha. I will be auditioning them again this coming Thursday.
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