Wilson Alexia - what's the competition

Soix,

My wife and I listened to Aviors connected to Nagra electronics, DCS stack, and Transparent speaker cable. In the context of that system and that room Avior's sound on the dark side of neutral. My wife and I submit Sasha's are neutral in comparison...they disappear better, better tonality, better layering of instruments. That being said, I know there are no absolutes in Audio and with the right equipment some may prefer Aviors.

((That being said, I know there are no absolutes in Audio and with the right equipment some may prefer Aviors.))

That being said Its nice that you mention the no absolute observations.
The Aviors would perform much better with a neutral cable like an AudioQuest where a Transparent by comparison is a more laid back and darker sounding wire.
Use it on a neutral speaker and thats what you get.
This in itself would explain your observations.
My choice for the Rockports would be Audioquest
Best JohnnyR

Audioconnection, Do you mean Transparent cables are laid back and dark sounding in an absolute sense or in a given system context?

In my system, I actually found that Transparent Cables sounded more neutral than either Harmonic Technology (a bit laid back and dark) or MIT (a bit bright with emphasized highs and lows and recessed mids).

Rockport and Wilson speakers use Transparent cables internally.

Audioconnection,

I always include the phrase: there are no absolutes in Audio...everyone has a preference! I think it's funny that your quick to connect the "dark sound" to Transparent cables. I'm not suggesting "dark sound" is bad, it's just not my preference. I submit that some like Rockport speakers because they interpret "dark sound" as "neutral" and/or natural. Dealers want people to believe there are absolutes, but I think that arguments does all audiophiles a disservice.

ricred1, hey i don't want to argue with what you heard or how you describe it...we're all entitled to our opinions and to be able to express them (i am saying this sincerely)

However, not a lot of folks describe Rockport's as "dark side of neutral." I don't hear it that way for sure. Now I do agree with you that the Wilson's and Rockport's sound different.

I'll kindly submit you were hearing the information presented in a different way. The wilson's more up front in perspective and the Rockports deliver in their resolution in a more relaxed way. Which is right...well we'd have to have a few musicians in that same room and compare to the real thing.

Personally, after owning several pairs of Wilson's, I really appreciate the way Rockport's deliver their information, to me is seems more transparent, more resolute and more natural.

I'd love to hear the Alexia's or the XLF using Wilson's new tweeter one day soon!

I recently heard a pair of Focal Grand Utopia's EM's. They were about a week old and still breaking in...however I could hear a similar quality with the Rockports...very high resolution...but delivered in a very appealing way (to my ears anyway). Maybe it's a quality on these beryllium tweeters they both use (but different tweeter mgr's). Anyway the Focal's are clearly another GREAT speaker like the Wilson's and Rockport's...

I've heard those Rockport Avior's vs the Wilson Sasha's in that same room as you...both are great, but I came to the opposite conclusion and much preferred the Rockports...again...we all hear and value things differently.

Appreciate everyone allowing me to express my thoughts...Thanks