Wilson Sabrina Review

[Mike]

In the August 2015 issue of HiFi News, Ken Kessler concludes: "...the Sabrina is the best-value Wilson speaker ever - and I've heard all of them since the first WATT. It sounds as 'big' as a speaker double its height and there isn't a trace of compression when blasting loudly. Indeed, it's so startlingly good that I almost considered swapping my Alexias for this more 'small room-friendly' alternative. It's truly sublime." 88/100 score.

[KeithR]

has Ken Kessler ever disliked a Wilson speaker?

[Mike]

has Ken Kessler ever disliked a Wilson speaker?

Has Harley or Fritz never gushed over a Magico speaker? Has Atkinson never gushed over a Revel speaker? Has Cordesman never gushed over a Pass amp (and he's always right to do so I might add ).

What's the point? He likes the house sound and respects the entire Wilson team for their achievements.

[Myles B. Astor]

J

Has Harley or Fritz never gushed over a Magico speaker? Has Atkinson never gushed over a Revel speaker? Has Cordesman never gushed over a Pass amp (and he's always right to do so I might add ).

What's the point? He likes the house sound and respects the entire Wilson team for their achievements.

Actually John said if he had to choose one speaker, it would be the Alexia.

But you have a valid point that Ken is familiar with the line.

[Mike]

I truly miss my Alexia's. I was thinking about that this morning. If I had a better, bigger room, they would still be here.

[mauidan]

Magico S3 got 88/100.
Wilson Sophia 3 got 89/100.

[Zero]

I *really* need to get my ears on a pair of Sabrinas.

[Elberoth]

Thay might have hit the jackpot with this speaker.

I bet is a headache for Magico & YG. Great for the consumer though !

[Myles B. Astor]

I truly miss my Alexia's. I was thinking about that this morning. If I had a better, bigger room, they would still be here.

Uh-oh.

[Audio 1]

I really want to audition the Sabrina's and I hope they are being shown on active display at RMAF this year.

[LVB]

Magico S3 got 88/100.
Wilson Sophia 3 got 89/100.

getting 88 from PM is like getting 99 from KK

[XV-1]

I truly miss my Alexia's. I was thinking about that this morning. If I had a better, bigger room, they would still be here.

Do it , build another room

[Big B]

I have heard them they are pretty nice sounding quite musical,refined,clean. Probably better in a 2 channel setup but I'm considering them.

[Paul]

I have heard them they are pretty nice sounding quite musical,refined,clean. Probably better in a 2 channel setup but I'm considering them.

+1.

I heard them last week and I can't agree with you more. It was vary musical to my ears as well. They took 3 years to develop this brand and I think they pay off well with their sounds.

[highEndguy]

They arrived today
More toys !!!


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[highEndguy]

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[Zero]

Wilson Audio has really dropped the ball in marketing these great loudspeakers. Meanwhile, congrats on the new toys HighEndGuy. They look great!

[highEndguy]

Thank you Zero
You can call me Nelson like everybody else




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[BobNY]

Nice!!!!
We have the same finish on our Sabrina's.
Every time time I listen to them I am blown away by how good they sound.

[BruceLet]

Nelson….They look beautiful in your room.

[mauidan]

Nelson,

Thanks for the pictures.

I'm surprised that WA switched to cardboard boxes on these.

Do they come mounted on casters?

[Mike]

Nelson, I bet in your room they will be excellent! They really are a pleasant surprise sonically. Big sound.

[highEndguy]

Nelson,

Thanks for the pictures.

I'm surprised that WA switched to cardboard boxes on these.

Do they come mounted on casters?

Thanks guys
Keep you all posted after some hours of use

And don't know about the caster because the shipping company was
The one that handle it for me
But they came very well protected it

[Mike]

http://youtu.be/_GDiYBPDPqI

[Mike]

http://youtu.be/KMIZ-lwj8gI

[BobNY]

Here's another Sabrina picture to add to the thread.
I've been breaking in some Moon gear on the Sabrina's for the past week. I'm really liking the Wilson/Moon combo.

[Joe P]

TAS review:

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...a-loudspeaker/

[Bavarian05]

I just picked up a pair of Sabrina and love them. My first Wilson's...
Wondering if they are typically placed close to a rear wall in most environments?
Many of the photos I see show them within 15" of a rear wall, which is very contrary to what usually sounds best in my room. Anyone else notice this or use them close to your rear wall?

[Joe P]

I just picked up a pair of Sabrina and love them. My first Wilson's...
Wondering if they are typically placed close to a rear wall in most environments?
Many of the photos I see show them within 15" of a rear wall, which is very contrary to what usually sounds best in my room. Anyone else notice this or use them close to your rear wall?

No.

[Bavarian05]

That is my room. Were you using it as an example of them not being close to rear wall?

[blownaway]

I heard the Sebrina's for the first time on modestly price Rega electronics. I love the sound I heard. The best of all the speakers I've auditioned in the 5-16K price point. I'm thinking (and so did my dealer) that these speakers with an integrated amp from the likes of Rega, Naim, Arcam, Musical Fidelity will sound terrific. I'm thinking of a Supernait 2 with a Naim Streamer would be the ticket.

My dealer said the quality of the Amp is what's most important with Wilson, not the quantity of output. True?

[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum blownaway, thank you for joining.

[ReferenceAudioMN]

My dealer said the quality of the Amp is what's most important with Wilson, not the quantity of output. True?

I think in general terms that is very true. It really depends on your space and what levels you enjoy. The Sabrina will gladly play fiendishly loud if you have the available current.
The lowish 2.4 ohm impedance swing really means high current and a power supply doubling of power as impedance halves will have a true benefit here. I have the Sabrina and adore them. Crazy good loudspeaker.

[mauidan]

New review:

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipmen...io_sabrina.htm

[Kuoppis]

Magico S3 got 88/100.
Wilson Sophia 3 got 89/100.

Wow, if that is not subjective.

[Elberoth]

I'm surprised that WA switched to cardboard boxes on these.

Do they come mounted on casters?

I can only guess cardboard boxes are cheaper. But they are VERY thick - easily double the thickness of regular boxes.

Do do not come on casters ... but you can lift the speaker using the reflex port as a handle if you are strong enough (at least that is how I was carrying them; they are like 100lbs each).

BTW - they DO sound as good as people say. One of the best Wilson speakers ever.

[bzr]

Adam, congrats! Looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts.

[mauidan]

Wow, if that is not subjective.

I finally got to hear the Magico S3s last week, and I agree with those ratings.

I wouldn't trade my WA S3s for them, but I am interested in the new S1 MK.IIs.

[Kuoppis]

I finally got to hear the Magico S3s last week, and I agree with those ratings.

I wouldn't trade my WA S3s for them, but I am interested in the new S1 MK.IIs.

Understand your point. I auditioned the Sophia 3 in a joint session with the Magico S1 mk1 when I bought the latter a couple years back.

The Sophia was the more accessible speaker, Wilson-style a tad colored though (as is the Sabrina). But really pleasant speakers.

Of course the lack of high frequency extension needs to be accepted, a matter of taste. At that time I had the Dyn C1s with the excellent Esotar tweeter, which probably made me sway towards the Magicos.

[Elberoth]

Adam, congrats! Looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts.

The review posted on The Audio Beat is spot on. This is great sounding speaker, that does everything just right. They are beautifully balanced, throw a big and stable soundstage, and sound much bigger than their size may suggest. I think Wilson may have a winner in the sub-$20k category.







They were a bit too bass happy in my room (or maybe I got used to sealed box bass from my Magicos), but part closing the bass port with a sponge did the trick for me.

[nicoludio]

Looking good in your system. Seems that the interaction of the port with the room is unpredictable. Some have reported being able to place them within 1 ft (?) from the rear wall while you have experienced bass happiness (boom or excessive bass) in your decent size, treated, room some 3 - 4 ft from the rear wall.

Would you say that they sound great for the money or do they compete with higher priced speakers?

[Elberoth]

Would you say that they sound great for the money or do they compete with higher priced speakers?

It think they are hard to beat in the sub-$20k category. If I had $23k available, I think I would go with the Rockport Atria or Magico S3.

But for $16k, Wilson has a winner IMO.

[Dr Tone]

Here are mine:

[Dr Tone]

This is my post #9 leading up to the next post which will include a link to the new Hifi+ review.

[Dr Tone]

Here it is:

http://www.absolutesounds.com/pdf/ma...brina_4web.pdf

[mauidan]

Stereophile Review:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/w...BusOMwkYyC3.97

[FlexibleAudio]

If the silk dome tweeter in these is anything like what I heard in the Alexx's at Axpona they must be awesome.

[Dr Tone]

If the silk dome tweeter in these is anything like what I heard in the Alexx's at Axpona they must be awesome.

Yes, probably not the exact one but a close variation there of.

[Vapor1]

Yes, probably not the exact one but a close variation there of.

Since they're all made by Scan Speak, they're likely nearly identical. There's not anything new that can be done with silk domes anyway. But I've never seen a nasty 15khz resonance like that on a Scan silk dome.

[Elberoth]

Alexia shows similar peak.