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Sonus Faber vs Wilson

I currently own a pair of absolutely gorgeous Serafino Tradition speakers. They are about 3 months old and I’ve finally got them positioned nicely in my room. They are being driven by a Gryphon Diablo 300. Great soundstage and imaging even off access. Tremendous detail and I just love the way the speakers look. I must add that it’s really important to me how all this stuff looks in my home. I love the tight fast and nuanced delivery of the Gryphon but not loving the way it looks…alas..that sound made the decision for me and I’ve hidden it away so my wife doesn’t have a coronary.

So….this brings me to my newest quandary. My local dealer has a gorgeous dedicated listening room in the lovely Biltmore hotel just minutes from my home. (Very dangerous…!) There are a pair of Wilson Sasha DAW speakers that sound…well…that sound like the best speakers I’ve heard. I absolutely HATE the way they look…and I would dread getting them up the three front steps of my home…but that sound….

Do I keep the lovely sounding and gorgeous looking Serafino’s or swap them for the ugliest best sounding speakers I’ve ever heard.? 
(There is an $18k price difference so there’s that too…!)
128x128jomonhifi
lawyer203
8 posts
 
OP, Having a Gryphon amp and SF Strads at home, I can see why your considering Wilsons upfront and less dark sound, but I have a suggestion. 
Go listen to Gryphon Pantheons. I heard them last week with Essence stereo amp and was frankly blown away by the better mids and clearer highs and same bass. 
coppy777
141 posts
 
I also know your dealer.  And those speakers.  They are an easy load so your amplifier will love them.  Getting back to John Ic... if he sets the Sasha's up for you, which of course he will, you will be forever glad you made the change.  As long as your bride is in for the trip.  As to his listening space, it's fine but small, a larger, better designed room would sound even better.  Suggest you take your wife over, have lunch, meet John and let her make the final decision after seeing and hearing the Sashas.  Happy hunting.
larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,008 posts
 
All I can say is you must be filthy rich.

My wife would kick me out of the house if I purchased a pair Wilson's.
dynamiclinearity
258 posts
 
I like Wilsons a lot but 2 things mentioned in a few answers.
1. Wilsons are not an easy load. The newer ones are better but they still drop to 2 ohms or lower at spots and are very reactive. But good amps designed for these characteristics will work very well.
2. Wilsons like big rooms. But they can be set up to be excellent in small rooms. I've heard Michael Fremer's Wilson XVX speakers, much bigger than the Sasha and they were excellent in a small room, so small that almost everyone would look at it and foolishly not even try the speakers there.
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,871 posts
 
@keithr   Keith, your fiance may have a point if they are going to be center of your main living room. OTOH, the Sasha DAW's or the smaller Sabrina X's can be perhaps 'blended' into the space with a choice of color. I guess I am lucky, I don't have to worry about these things, as the dedicated room is rarely visited by the better half. 
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