2. speakers
  3. 1123524319

Wilson Sophia

I have been looking at stepping up from my B&W 704s and heard the 802Ds, the Naut 802s and the Wilson Sophias. I was all set to spend the 4500 on a pair of used 802s but then I heard the Wilsons. All I can say is that the Wilsons absolutely spoke to me. My problem is that this is a huge investment for me and I think that I must be crazy to even be thinking about this purchase. Even more so, because I live in an apartment building and cannot "crank up" my system to massive volume levels.

My question is-am I going to be able to truly appreciate these speakers with my McIntosh MA 6500 integrated and my Lector CD player? There is not going to be any money in my budget to even consider other changes for a long time. Wilson's were set up with mid level Naim gear.

Are there any risks with buying the units off the floor if I can get a deal?

As always thanks for your input.

John
jhorton19
Post removed 
larryi
3,732 posts
 
One of the reviewers in an audio magazine, I believe John Marks, had great advice on this subject. He said to buy the speaker that you fall in love with, even if you have to sacrifice in other areas for now, because that will determine the basic quality of the sound.

I would do the same. Buy the speakers you love. Then buy other parts that complement it. In particular, the speaker-amp interaction is so critical and hard to predict, so I cannot imaginge not selecting an amp for a specific speaker.
rottenclam
59 posts
 
Funny, my gf also declared that the WP7's look like "trash cans", but that the Sophias look "less trash-canny". These women must have all been watching the same TV design show or something.

Anyways, I have never heard the Sophias, but wholeheartedly agree that you should buy the speakers you fall in love with. Have fun with the addiction.

-Jake
yxlei
31 posts
 
Tried B&W 802D and Sophia at medium volumn. Been a B&W speaker owner, I suddenly understand why some people say B&W have some house sound. it just sounds a little bit too emotional comparing to the Sophia. Sophia sounds very natural, relax and no color been added to the music. Actually the sophia is most colorless speaker I tried. JM lab Utopia is too warm with the YBA passion. All the music tested sounded like X'mas songs.

You mentioned you live in a apartment. Do you have a big living room as I am not sure if the sophia appretiate small room?

My wife and I both think the Sophia is better than the B&W 802D with the same list price and the best speaker we heard. Then I can't help asking myself that is this all I get for a $10K speaker. Sophia is good but in my mind I feel I should get better sound for $10k.

The sophia is the best I heard in that price range, but I am also disppointed to see diminished return in the sophia and have no big rush to buy it.
donbellphd
205 posts
 
It is interesting that my wife's first reaction also was that the Sophias and WPs look like trash cans, and I must admit that they do somewhat resemble the cans we see on the street. But she was impressed by the sound of WP-7s.

What I was aiming at in a clumsy way in a previous post was that the enjoyment of an expensive component needs to be balanced against the joy of reaching financial independance a year or so earlier. So often on other web sites I read of folks approaching their 60s who bemoan that they have insufficient savings. Too many on this site talk only about the ability to pay for some component, seemingly with no concern about longer term consequences.

db
More to discover