Upgrade path from Wilson WattPuppy 7s? - seeking advice

@gerryah930 Too bad your thread got swamped by bickering.  I hope you got some use of it before it got derailed.  As always, please do report back as you listen and compare speakers.  It's great to see people's real world comparisons to get a data point.  

OP, I would love to hear your thought's on Wilsons, Magico's, B&W, Vandersteen and a few other speakers in your price ranges.  That's the only way that you will ever figure out what you want.  I've seen many folks go audition some speakers they originally didn't think they'd like and change their minds.  As many know I get to listen to a ton of gear both in my house or at some of the shops.  I have never been to any shows, but I would like to one of these days.

I ended up with Vandersteen's and have become a huge fan, because I haven't fallen in love with any of the others from Wilson to Focal to Magico to B&W to Paradigm to .....  I have loved Tidal, but can't afford them.  I actually liked the newest Proacs, but not compared to comparably priced Vandersteen's.  I liked the Rockports that I heard, but I forgot which model.  They were out of my league and I'm not sure they were as good as the Steen's for me, but they were really nice.

The thing is there are speakers for everyone.  We all hear differently.  It also depends on who you listen with and how much you listen to them.  You have to trust your own ears and now what any of us say.  

I have noticed that many folks stay true to one brand and others keep chasing nirvana.  I notice many who do the chasing are always posting about how great their gear is.  If it is, then why are they constantly switching out?  When you read their posts, they aren't happy and keep chasing their tails.  I know when I've made changes, it's after many satisfied years or recently from the Vandersteen Treo to the Quatro as that was my plan as I saved the money to upgrade into that league.  I still auditioned everything I could and felt very comfortable in my purchase.  As I continue to hear other gear, I'm still very very satisfied with what I have.  

Many are like I am in that they do as much homework as possible and don't listen to what dealers or manufacturer's tell us during our listening sessions.  Keep us posted and let's hope the thread get's back on track.  

Not sure if many would think its too much of an upgrade, but you may want to give a listen to the Focal Sopra 2. Also 2nd the Sasha 2 and the Magico S5. 

There are a ton of good options for everyone's tastes in audio right now.  More than at any time I bet.  It's really interesting once you get away from dealers commercials interrupting threads is that folks want to interact with owners of other products or just want validation of what they know or have just purchased.  

There is a reason that many owners stay within their own lines or the opposite happens with folks always buying and selling and chasing their tails (often times), or just wanting a totally different sound.  Some are into their gear and some into the music.  The rest are into their gear for sure, but also are in search of the best recreation of 'real music'.

What is real music?  Do these folks go to live events and try to get that at home?  Do they NOT go to live events and the only reference they have is what a dealer, friend or internet tells them?  A great speaker is a great speaker.  I always hear folks say that a speaker does rock better because it moves more air.  Some say that the intimacy of a vocal group is best on say Harbeth or some other mid centric speaker.  

I honestly say that's all BS.  I really do.  I understand that some want to move more air and add subs, because their speaker can't move what they need in their room (or just simply want). Fully understand and of course respect that.  The more I go listen now days, the more I realize that there are many good speakers.  There arelly are.  I listen to Vandersteen adn love them, but I could be happy with most any speaker over 20k for the most part I think. I'd have to overlook the shrill highs that so many top speakers have, but they do so much right.  I'd get used to the coherency thing or the smearing that so many have as they do other things well or may just be fun to listen to.  I want it all though and that's why I am so careful of my system matching as well as my own room.  I hear so much about DSP and have heard it on speakers, preamps and stand alone devices.  I"m talking state of the art gear and expensive stuff, so it's not crap for what it is. I am still not a big fan.  I now what I hear and for ME, it dont' think it's near where is needs to be for high end.  Will it get there?  Maybe or maybe not.  Hey, I have a high end DAC as have heard most of the upper crust DAC's in more than a few systems as well as in my own as I've had some sent my way at times.  They still aren't analog.  They just aren't and I'm sad since I had to sell my analog rig recently as I can't get up every 25 minutes to flip and clean albums.  Too demanding for my MS and it has been for years, but I waited to sell (still need to sell my albums, lol.....maybe, lol).  

There are many who say that digital is as good or some even may say better, but there's a reason even young kids are buying tables and albums.  Newer technologies have allowed makers to produce the best sounding analog gear we've ever seen.  Same with speakers.  Figuring out ways to use some exotic materials in cabinets, cones and drivers along with components in crossovers (including wire and solder or cold welds) have given us some tremendous speakers.  We all have personal favorites.  For me, any dealer lacks credibility, unless you are close friends and they are honest.  Some really are trying to help, but they are still in business and need to feed their families as well as those who work for them.  

My friends and I talk about this all the time.  We all have favorite posters and folks we've met from the boards who we trust. We know how they are different in their tastes than us and are able to read their thoughts on gear and translate if you will to how we'd hear something.  It's respecting what others hear and fall in love with.  As much as I love Vandersteen's with the gear I've put it with in my room, it's not for everyone.  As much as you guys love Wilson's or Magico's or B&W's or Dynaudio or ........  the same goes for you too.  This is why we can fight, disagree or whatever on a board, but folks really need to go listen. The problem we have is that you can't audition most of the gear in many parts of the country.  I"m blessed to live near a two hour drive where I can audition anything I want for the most part.  Wish others could too.  

OP, hope you aren't scared off by what became of your thread as I felt it was a normal starting thread until the hijack.  What have you done?  Have you auditioned anything yet?  Did you get a new set of Wilson's or something else?  

audiotroy
474 posts

I could go on and on,

I don’t think anyone doubts this fact.