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What Wilson to Buy?

I owned a pair of WP5.1's for many years. While there were many things I liked about them, ultimately I felt their upper midrange was simply to hot. Over the years I've moved more toward classical music. Massed strings were edgy on too many recordings. While perhaps the Wilson was simply revealing flaws that were embedded in the recording, I decided I needed something that didn't emphasize the flaws quite so much. In short, strings sounded much better on my old ESL-63's.

Now that I've sold the Wilson's I miss their dynamics, bass slam, soundstage and resolution. While I don't expect the newer Wilson's to make strings sound as sweet as my Quads did years ago, I was hoping they've improved enough where they aren't as ruthless as the 5.1's. Most of the reviews I've been reading of their newer models would indicate that Wilson has moved in this direction.

The two models I've been considering, used of course, are the WP8 and the Sophia 2. I might be able to swing the Sophia 3, but beyond that is out of my price range. I'd appreciate comments from Wilson owners. Particularly those that at one point owned 5.1's. Has the move from clinical to more musical been material? Can you listen to massed strings on the newer models at higher SPL's without ear bleed? I'd rather have sweeter string tone than a stronger low end, would the Sophia be a better fit for me than the WP8?
egrady
rgs92
974 posts
 
Isn't that Focal Titanium tweeter the source of the edginess that I also found to be my old Watt Puppy 6's downfall?
(I actually loved the speakers except for that edgy, razzy, scratchy sound on strings and especially vocals.) I always wondered why Wilson never tried another tweeter type all these years and versions later. Really love that Wilson transparent bass...
I heard this scratchiness on WP8s at a show a year or 2 ago, so I know it's not just my system.
rumadian
152 posts
 
My 5.1's have been freshly updated (all new parts) and are currently hooked up to an all tube set-up consisting of an AMR CD-Player and the incredibly inexpensive Vista Audio i34. I gotta say, this combo on the 5.1's is killer, and showcases this speaker in a whole new light. Originally I was thinking about ditching them in favor of something else, now? Psh, forget it. :D

So all I can say is: Try tubes. Good ones. You may find that the Wilson's have had what you were looking for all along.
nolitan
865 posts
 
Somehow Wilson audio likes the focal tweeters. Someday, they should experiment some soft dome tweeters on their speakers.
I think in most cases, its those focal tweeters that is standing out in their speakers & calling attention to itself.
rgs92
974 posts
 
Yep, Nolitan, you echo my thoughts. I have noticed that the Duette had a soft-dome tweeter (never heard them, though).
I thought that was interesting. Focal moved on to Beryllium, and Kharma to diamond, but Wilson loves those Titaniums...
Wilsons do seem to change a lot with upstream gear. I hear the comments about tubes, but, actually, the best Watt Puppies I ever heard were with Mark Levinson 33Hs (and an ML pre and CDP) 10+ years ago. Smooth as silk, even with old, ordinary CDs. But that was only once.
janeb
40 posts
 
Rgs92 and Nolitan, I have heard almost all of the Wilson's and i agree with
Nolitan; it's the damn Focal titanium tweet that is their downfall.

For some reason, DW seems to stick with this old design and while he has
done some good things in the midrange and bottom end of his speakers,
the top end is just LACKING!
What strikes me as strange is that there are numerous other drivers that i would think DW has access to that are miles ahead in all areas; even from Focal themselves.
When my husband and I were shopping for speakers, the Alex 2's were quickly eliminated as soon as i heard the high freq reproduction.
A pity as we liked the overall build quality and look.
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