Upgrading from Martin Logan ESL15a w/Force subs to Wilson Sasha Daw or Alexia 2 w/JL subs

Woots,

The last post was on 3-2-2021 so just curious what you ended up doing.  I just received my Sasha DAW's on 9/30/2022 and as much as it stretched my budget, I am in heaven.  They are incredible.  

I absolutely agree with adding subs.  It doesn't matter if you have a full range speaker or bookshelves - some people just have no clue.  I do agree if you have subs to run an external crossover to let the subs handle the heavy lifting.  I've had both configurations, B&W 804's with a pair of subs and replaced with 805 D3 with a pair of subs and nothing can replace a full range speaker - NOTHING!  You'll never get the same benefit a full range speaker has and anyone that says different - please step into my office and prepare to get smacked down.  

My question is what sub's did you go with?  I'm getting pressured into a pair of the JL Fathom V2 13's.  I've heard mixed reviews on the amps they use and needing to replace the V1 after a few years.  I had a pair of REL T9 with my 805 for years and they worked flawlessly.  With the Sasha I was also looking at a pair of the REL S/812.  I know the JL have the ability to "dial" in them more than the REL - but there's been a lot of praise for the RELs these days.

Any suggestions would be helpful!

@brianslids 

Congrats!!  Way to go!!  After demoing multiple brands I settled in on a pair of S812's.  I also went with the Alexia's and am extremely happy.  As a former REL owner you know the benefits.....but the one I found most useful and successful is how you connect the REL's directly to your amp like your Wilson's, so the subs get the full range. I also upgraded the REL cable and that produced a much cleaner sound.   My system is on the Audiogon systems page under my name.  Let me know if you need assistance getting to the pics.  Interested in your feedback.

brianslides, if you had the opportunity to directly compare a properly positioned JL F113 with any REL in your system, any pressure you're currently experiencing would be replaced with an eyebrow raising at the reading of woots' waxing.

I did it with a then new $10K Studio III and an early F113.

I believe JL Audio has since remedied your concerns. The F113 was every bit as potent as the Velodyne DD-18 which was also present during that comparison.

I strongly suggest shopping for subwoofers that offer remote volume control. Equalization or optimization presets are another very usable asset. 

@brianslids 

By the way I ended up going with Audio Research Ref6se pre amp instead of McIntosh and replaced my McIntosh Mono blocks with an Audio Research Ref160S Amp.  Again everything is updated on my system page.

@m-db 

You make some good points.  For me, the connectivity of the REL sub's was a big plus given location of my mechanical room and my actual listening room. I was able to demo the multiple subs and for me settled in on the REL's.