Geoff won’t like this but i had two 60-90 minute demos with the Sasha Daw in Manhattan this past July and found the $37k speakers too dry and clinical to my ears. Although on the plus side great soundstage, imaging and super clean as I could hear every lyric (which is a problem for me as I have asymmetrical hearing loss), it just tired me out. It had no soul to me. Meanwhile I wound up with the Harbeth 40.2 Anniversary and absolutely adore their warmth and natural sounding musicality. Vocals are liquid smooth.
A move from Harbeth to... Wilson?
Hi gang, hoping for some thoughts.
I'm very happy at the moment with my system, but getting a slight itch for an upgrade. So many options and directions I could go, but the one I'm pondering at the moment is moving from my Harbeth C7ES-3 speakers to Wilson Sabrinas. (The Sabrina X is now out, which may bring the Sabrina down to my budget... maybe.)
My room is approx. 10'6" x 15'6" with the speakers along the short wall and my listening chair is about 2/3 back from said wall. The C7s plus their stands are just about the right size for this room, and the Sabrinas on their floor spikes are similar in "overall" size, though obviously the speakers themselves are bigger.
Current amp is a Pass Labs XA30.5 which doubles down at 4Ohms (plus lots of headroom) and comes just within Wilson's "recommended" amplifier power. The room is on the smaller side, and I don't listen loud; I've never "wanted" for more power with the C7s. (Though every once in a while I wonder what a pair of XA60.5s would sound like in here, but that's an entirely different thread.)
Eh? Any thoughts?
I'm very happy at the moment with my system, but getting a slight itch for an upgrade. So many options and directions I could go, but the one I'm pondering at the moment is moving from my Harbeth C7ES-3 speakers to Wilson Sabrinas. (The Sabrina X is now out, which may bring the Sabrina down to my budget... maybe.)
My room is approx. 10'6" x 15'6" with the speakers along the short wall and my listening chair is about 2/3 back from said wall. The C7s plus their stands are just about the right size for this room, and the Sabrinas on their floor spikes are similar in "overall" size, though obviously the speakers themselves are bigger.
Current amp is a Pass Labs XA30.5 which doubles down at 4Ohms (plus lots of headroom) and comes just within Wilson's "recommended" amplifier power. The room is on the smaller side, and I don't listen loud; I've never "wanted" for more power with the C7s. (Though every once in a while I wonder what a pair of XA60.5s would sound like in here, but that's an entirely different thread.)
Eh? Any thoughts?
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- 71 posts total
Wow, thanks for the great comments and discussion. In answer to a few queries, I do love the Harbeth "sound" - the natural midrange and overall true timbre. (I'm a musician, and timbre is my #1 concern in any speaker and system.) That said, I have found the Wilsons to be less analytical and clinical that some have suggested, and similarly natural and timbral-accurate. I don't necessarily think they're a complete dichotomy, but perhaps I'll reflect on that a little more. To address what I don't like about the Harbeths, that would cause an upgrade "itch" to be scratched? It's hard to say - they do from time to time sound a bit "boxy" on big, orchestral stuff. But overall I have no complaints, just... an itch for something different, maybe? Complacency = first world problems! :) And I think my room is probably a limiting factor for the big Harbeth 40s, though with the overwhelming consensus on those, I may do look at those calculations again. Moving up the Harbeth line does make sense, I just think that's too much speaker for this room, but perhaps it could work? Hmmm... |
The Wilsons are an order of magnitude better speakers. They are the lowest distortion, most dynamic and resolving speakers, the most lifelike speakers anywhere near their price. Anyone who thinks they are HiFi sounding has not listened to current models, or has listened in systems with those horrid flat cables, or ones with high silver content, to through the horrific DACs from PS Audio or Mytek. Or simply hasn't heard live music. |
Hyberbole I doubt an order of magnitude separates many different speakers, unlike the pricing. In case you don't know, an order of magnitude is 10x. Exaggeration At that price there will be plenty of other options. Anyway we all know speakers are a very personal choice. Silly supposition And can any member who 'hasn't heard live music' please put up hand, there won't be any. The above post adds nothing and we can all do without. |
I’ve owned the Harbeth C7 and the M30.1. IMO, they both sounded nice but boxy. My favorite Harbeth is the P3ESR. They really do a disappearing act when in a smaller room like yours. You can get a pair at the fraction of the cost of those others that you are looking at. If they don’t work out they are very easy to sell. Here is a video of a guy that agrees with my opinion about the P3ESR! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqFIaiPT_kY And another! https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=harbeth+p3esr+review&view=detail&mid=5D7EB69CCEBBAAE793... |
- 71 posts total