New Sashas! But how do I insert pictures?

[Waboman]

Very nice, Dave. I bet it sounds as good as it looks!

[daveneumann]

Thanks for posting my pics!

The speakers have over 100 hours on them and every time I sit down and listen they sound better and better. One thing that is clear at this early point in my listening is they excel at any kind of music. Last night I cranked "I'm a Man" from Chicago Transit Authority and the percussion just filled the 20' width of my listening room with the best dynamic punch I have ever heard. The next album was Neil Young Live at Massey Hall and there he was, by himself in my listening room, playing his acoustic guitar and singing "Old Man". Both presentations were very different...and very believable!

The electrostats I've had in the past just could not do big music in a believable way. They lacked body, scale and punch. But the Sashas also present small acoustic music even better than the Quads or Logans.

Here is another cool thing about getting these speakers. My wife, who is not an audiophile but does support my hobby, wants to invite some friends over tonight for drinks and music listening! Now that is a first that she wants to have people over JUST to listen to music! If the Sashas become one more thing that we do together to enjoy each other then they were worth every penny.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by daveneumann

Thanks for posting my pics!

The speakers have over 100 hours on them and every time I sit down and listen they sound better and better. One thing that is clear at this early point in my listening is they excel at any kind of music. Last night I cranked "I'm a Man" from Chicago Transit Authority and the percussion just filled the 20' width of my listening room with the best dynamic punch I have ever heard. The next album was Neil Young Live at Massey Hall and there he was, by himself in my listening room, playing his acoustic guitar and singing "Old Man". Both presentations were very different...and very believable!

The electrostats I've had in the past just could not do big music in a believable way. They lacked body, scale and punch. But the Sashas also present small acoustic music even better than the Quads or Logans.

Here is another cool thing about getting these speakers. My wife, who is not an audiophile but does support my hobby, wants to invite some friends over tonight for drinks and music listening! Now that is a first that she wants to have people over JUST to listen to music! If the Sashas become one more thing that we do together to enjoy each other then they were worth every penny.

"Post of the Day!" Congrad's! Dave

[chessman]

Beautiful room. Awesome Speakers. Congrats!!

[frequentflyer]

Hi Dave,nice system. What color are your speakers? How is the imaging and staging from the left and right chairs? Again,congrats and many happy hours of listening.

[daveneumann]

Hi Frequent Flyer...

The speakers are dark titanium with slate grills. To your question about off axis listening, one of the reasons I bought the Sashas is that they are much better in this regard than any other speaker I have auditioned. So yes they sound good in each of the side chairs. The music still has the dynamic punch, body and tone of the center seat. The center image is shifted probably 3-4 feet, but the soundstage remains relatively stable and does not completely collapse as it can with other speakers.

I had 3 audiophile buddies over yesterday for a first listen and there was not the typical compunction to play musical chairs with the center seat that you get at audio get togethers. Everyone seemed to be content whether in the center or side chairs.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by daveneumann

Thanks for posting my pics!

The speakers have over 100 hours on them and every time I sit down and listen they sound better and better. One thing that is clear at this early point in my listening is they excel at any kind of music. Last night I cranked "I'm a Man" from Chicago Transit Authority and the percussion just filled the 20' width of my listening room with the best dynamic punch I have ever heard. The next album was Neil Young Live at Massey Hall and there he was, by himself in my listening room, playing his acoustic guitar and singing "Old Man". Both presentations were very different...and very believable!

The electrostats I've had in the past just could not do big music in a believable way. They lacked body, scale and punch. But the Sashas also present small acoustic music even better than the Quads or Logans.

What you are experiencing is what Dave Wilson calls "Dynamic Contrast" of the speaker. I remember being also very impressed by this quality when I first got the Sophia IIs into my system. It was a quality that has never been present to the same degree with any of my previous speakers, both conventional and electrostatic. Here is Dave talking about it. YouTube - Conversations, Part II

[JSCC]

Serge,

Everytime I read this thread and your postings, I get "resurrected" from the hifi dead. Just thinking, might as well get ONE last scolding/nagging and go for it.

Now where did I put my balls ... ping pong balls I mean ... must be somewhere.

Back to reality, the Sasha's are great. Just thinking what gears they should be partnered with apart from McIntosh. A complete Ayre perhaps (KXR+MXR+Latest Universal Ayre Bluray Player) or .... Until I sort this out, just play dead!

Cheers!

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by JSCC

Serge,

Everytime I read this thread and your postings, I get "resurrected" from the hifi dead. Just thinking, might as well get ONE last scolding/nagging and go for it.

Now where did I put my balls ... ping pong balls I mean ... must be somewhere.

Back to reality, the Sasha's are great. Just thinking what gears they should be partnered with apart from McIntosh. A complete Ayre perhaps (KXR+MXR+Latest Universal Ayre Bluray Player) or .... Until I sort this out, just play dead!

Cheers!

Jerry, just remember it is often much easier to ask for "forgiveness" than ask for "permission".

The Sasha seems to be very tolerant with many different combinations of gear but also allows the true characteristics of the gear to shine through. You can easily nudge the tonal balance and other aspects of playback with some well thought out gear matching that balances the whole outcome to your preference. The Ayre MX-Rs make Sasha's sound more like you are listening to valve amps than solid state, Krell makes them sound like a more classic solid state combo with lots of slam, sharp transients, etc.. I like Lamm most, the Sasha allows the true nature of Lamm and its rich harmonics to come out and play. There are plenty more combinations out there that would work as well.

One thing for sure Jerry, if you got the Sasha's, I doubt the upgrade bug would bother you again anytime soon.