Focal Scala Utopia vs Wilson Sasha?

Hamburg,

Thanks for the comments. Maybe I will wait after all. It seems that its quite an intersting comparison with all the comments so far presented. I have heard Acapellas but they were only the La Campanella's...I was interested in hearing the High Violin II's but haven't been able to find them anywhere and the problem is, Acapellas are really expensive here...Not to say that Focals arent either but I mean ridiculously so. I could always go back to my previous option of flying to the YG Acoustics factory and auditioning the kipod/anat studio but I think I'll keep it as a Sasha/Scala decision now...
Thanks again.

Camali,

You'll get as many answers as there are speakers so as I said, you have to listen for yourself. Nobody is right or wrong. The only time I heard Wilsons I was unimpressed but that was a long time ago and they must've changed a lot. Likewise, I've heard some Focals sound really bad due to bad partnering.

So take your time, you're going to have to live with the speakers you'll end up buying, unless you don't made reselling and taking a loss.

Another thing I really enjoy with Focal is the fact that you know where your money goes. Drivers and cabinets are made by them and not bought from others. Of course that's not a guarantee of good sound!

Make sure the Scala get plenty of power when they're demoed, and avoid clinical sounded digital. They'll show you what's behind them, that's their strength!!!

Good luck and keep us posted when you've made your choice.

JB

Well, I wasnt expecting to hear them so soon, but I heard the 'Sashas' today. Amp was a Gryphon Diablo which I have heard previously with the Watt/puppy 8's sound really great so the following surprised me...
I wasn't really that over the moon honestly...I really wanted to like them more but I feel that they are more 'different' than 'better' than the older Wilson sound. On classical orchestral music I think they were superb and if I primarily listened to classical I might have bought them ,but it seems in making some refinements (top to bottom coherency eg), it seems to have come at a price, noticebly in the excitement factor. I listen to heavy rock a lot as well as classical, jazz, blues etc and they just lacked some impact for me. I really feel that the Focal Scalas took me further into the music more with everything except orchestral works. Trust me, I thought it would be the opposite way around, and whilst the Sashas appear to play deeper on paper, I feel that the Scalas had more energy and impact with things like kick drums etc. Overall, I'm sure some others will think the opposite, but I went away from the Sashas really wishing they were better. I actually also got to hear the Gryphon Atlantis speakers which I think were fantastic and a little better overall-at a considerable cost (but I will save those comments for another thread) With the Scalas, the longer I spent with them the more I understood what they were doing, and not doing. I didnt expect to have it be this way- but the Scalas have my pick now.

Cameron,

I think you really need to give the Rockport Ankaa a listen. It retails for about the same price as those two speakers and I would say without a doubt outperforms both. I have listened to all those speakers you mentioned plus much more.

To be honest I even prefer the Ankaa's over the Wilson Maxx 3's, despite Maxx3's having a slightly bigger soundstage and more "holographic" imaging. The Ankaas in my opinion has the sheer musical naturabeads, beauty, timber etc that not many speakers can match at this price. It swings way bigger than it's price tag which I cannot say for most speakers out there.

"sheer musical naturabeads"

Ok guys. This is a new one for me. Can someone please tell me what naturabeads are? Can I buy them off the shelf, or are they custom made for each audiophile?

TIA,

Shakey