£15k $22k to spend on speakers...but which?


Over the years I've built up a system I like but I've saved the speakers till last because I want to spend enough to get them right. It now saved up and am about to embark on this purchase.

My system is Audio Research Ref 3 & 110, Transparent Super speaker cable and a Melco N1/Chord Hugo (which sounds really good) and Rega RP8 turntable.

I've (initially) narrowed down my speaker selection to:
Wilson Sabrina
B&W 800 D3
Focal Sopra 2
Sonus Faber Olympica 2

I listen to everything from choral and piano through pop to Frank Zappa, jazz, progressive rock and orchestral. I like accurate reflection of the human voice, clarity and good deep dry bass.

Should I look at used Sophia 3? Anything else I should add to my list.

I'd be really pleased to hear people's views as, of course, it is almost impossible in the UK to hear comparative listening tests between these different brands.

Thanks

Matthew
mwelliott99

Showing 1 response by bcgator

Hi Matthew, you've gotten lots of great advice already, I'll just chime in that I recently got to hear the new 802D3 and the Olymica III - not the exact speakers you're considering but close enough that it's relevant. They're just too different for you to pick without hearing together.

The Olympica had a luscious midrange, so smooth and sweet and pretty. But there was very little low-end. If you said you were a classical/acoustic/jazz listener, I'd tell you to run to your nearest dealer and buy the SF. But if you love to crank The Clash or Zeppelin 2 quite often, I don't think the SF is the speaker I'd pick. The Wilson Sabrina may be even better than the B&W and SF, I've just not heard them yet but hope to soon. Point being, to my ears, two of the four speakers on your list are not at all interchangeable - they're very different. Like tiramisu vs. trifle!