Wilson Sasha auditioned.

PHC1 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 07:15 PM

Here I was sitting listening to vinyl on a rainy afternoon when my dealer calls me and asks me what I'm doing... That's always a sign he's got something up his sleeve..

So I got to audition a pair of Sasha's that have been cooking for a few days. I brought a few CDs with me that I know well.

Right from the start and it didn't take long at all to crack the sonic signature of this new speaker, I can tell you this, if you didn't like the Wilson speakers before, you may really like the Sasha. If you liked the Wilson speakers before, you may actually fall in love with the Sasha even deeper.

I was instantly able to pick up on the fact that this new speaker has a warmer, slightly darker sonic signature. Gone is the slight upper midrange leanness that can be a problem with bad synergy of partnering gear with other Wilsons. This speaker is more forgiving in terms of overall tonal balance, the tweeter is smoother and sounds sweeter, the midrange a bit warmer, giving the speaker a very musical and a more "romantic" tonal balance.

I do have to say that the Sasha draws you into the music no matter what is playing and evokes a strong emotional response. That has not always been the case with many other Wilson speakers as they can be analytical sounding depending on partnering gear and recording quality.

The bass is very impressive, it is fast, articulate, deep and well controlled but it is not overly tight and dry at all. It does have more impact and slam but retains much of the bass qualities I like about the Sophia 2.

Overall the speaker is well balanced from top to bottom (after I asked the dealer to move the bass traps behind the speaker as I heard an annoying standing wave at certain frequencies and the problem disappeared).

Of course the dynamics are still a very strong trait as is imaging. In fact the Sasha was able to recreate full bodied drums with the same impact and palpability factor way to the outside of the speaker which I can only duplicate in my own system with 2 JL subs with Sophia 2's.

Imaging is superb as is the soundstage width, height and depth. I wouldn't expect anything less from this speaker or other Wilsons.

I was expecting this speaker to be better in many parameters but what I didn't expect is for it to be so "musical", "engaging" and even a bit on the "romantic" side. I'll probably catch some flack for this but I'd even go as far as saying it is not quite as neutral as the previous or current Wilsons....

I don't mean that in a bad way though, after all we all have our preference and at the end of the day, it is the emotional response the system evokes from the listener that is important, not how accurately it can reproduce every recording across the board. Well, to say the least, I was really touched by it.

I should add that the Sasha were driven by all Ayre gear. The C-5xeMP, the Ayre KX-R and MXR monoblocks. I am familiar with every piece except the MXR. So it may be that some of this sweetness and musicality can be coming from the MXRs but whatever the case may be, the synergy was uncanny.

I also should add that I feel this speaker may not be the easiest to drive, giving the system some more kick from the volume control to get into the meat of the dynamic range that was truly impressive, I could hear some congestion and loss of grip. The Sasha does have a dip in impedance that is rather punishing and the 300w MXRs, could have been just about running out of juice at that point... This may not be a problem for many since the room we were listening in is fairly spacious and well damped and the recording had great dynamic range which all require quite a bit more juice from the amp. My Lamm's should be up to the task on the low impedance setting.

Yes, I fell in love with the Sasha and ordered a pair in Topaz. The wait could be a little long as there are many pairs on order from dealers.

Masterlu · #2 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 07:35 PM

Good for you Serge!

Nice review.

gregswaim · #3 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 07:42 PM

Matching the correct amp with the correct speakers is very important.
It sounds like you've done just that.

Good for you!

Enjoy the music.

1KW · #4 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 07:46 PM

Excellent review

PHC1 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Good for you Serge!

Nice review.

Thanks Ivan. I can't really ask for much more from a speaker for my planned room. It's got everything that defines hi-fi and has now become less critical/analytical and has a more musical, engaging personality. It's what I liked about the Sophia 2 but the Sasha raises the bar in all parameters. Job well done, I'd say. Dave Wilson has certainly impressed me with his new speaker and deserves my hard earned dollars.

PHC1 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregswaim

Matching the correct amp with the correct speakers is very important.
It sounds like you've done just that.

Good for you!

Enjoy the music.

Well I didn't hear them with my own Lamm's but the MXR/Sasha is actually a very similar pairing in my opinion in terms of sonic signature so I don't expect too much deviation from what I heard today. The MXR's have impressed me with their musical presentation that seems to possess the best attributes of SS with the harmonic richness of tubes. I could live with the MXRs for sure if I didn't have the Lamm's.

gregswaim · #7 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHC1

Well I didn't hear them with my own Lamm's but the MXR/Sasha is actually a very similar pairing in my opinion in terms of sonic signature so I don't expect too much deviation from what I heard today. The MXR's have impressed me with their musical presentation that seems to possess the best attributes of SS with the harmonic richness of tubes. I can live with the MXRs for sure if I didn't have the Lamm's.

If,for whatever reason, your Lamm gear don't measure up to your expectations with the Sasha's, will you sell the Lamm gear and get the Arye gear in order to have the sound that you liked so much at audition in order to acquire the Sasha's as your next speaker?

PHC1 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregswaim

If,for whatever reason, your Lamm gear don't measure up to your expectations with the Sasha's, will you sell the Lamm gear and get the Arye gear in order to have the sound that you liked so much at audition in order to acquire the Sasha's as your next speaker?

I would but the chances that the Lamm's will be dethroned by MXRs are slim..D The Lamm's are extremely musical and have the muscle to back up their musicality as well. The MXRs have impressed many a reviewer but the Lamm's have earned their own dollars more often than not. Actually a critical employee at Wilson Audio has the same pair of Lamm's as does the owner of Transparent as do at least 3 professional reviewers I know of. Yeah, they are awesome amps.

gregswaim · #9 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHC1

I would but the chances that the Lamm's will be dethroned by MXRs are slim..D The Lamm's are extremely musical and have the muscle to back up their musicality as well. The MXRs have impressed many a reviewer but the Lamm's have earned their own dollars more often than not. Actually a critical employee at Wilson Audio has the same pair of Lamm's as does the owner of Transparent as do at least 3 professional reviewers I know of. Yeah, they are awesome amps.

I figured that would be your answer, but I was not 100%.
I know of some people that would start over completely if they thought even for a second that they were missing out on even the slightest of details.
I'm sure that your amps are a close enough match so don't worry.
When I called the Lamm factory they said that they regularly pair the gear with Wilson speakers at audio shows with great results every time.

PHC1 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregswaim

I figured that would be your answer, but I was not 100%.
I know of some people that would start over completely if they thought even for a second that they were missing out on even the slightest of details.
I'm sure that your amps are a close enough match so don't worry.
When I called the Lamm factory they said that they regularly pair the gear with Wilson speakers at audio shows with great results every time.

The Lamm/Wilson pairing is legendary in the professional audio circles as are other few pairings. Based on what I heard today, I wouldn't hesitate to pair up the new Sasha with the Ayre gear either, very musical combination and would be my second choice after Lamm as far as SS goes. Of course my own system is a hybrid mix of Lamm and Ayre.

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