Thread: Former Sasha 1 owners...what have you moved to?

Hi all, I'm new here. Found this site through Jim Smith. Seems to be much more active and positive than the alternative audio sites.

I've owned my Sashas for 6 years. Rest of system includes: Doshi Jhor monoblocks, Doshi Alaap full function preamp, TW Akustic Raven table with Graham Phantom Supreme arm and Air Tight PC1; Transparent reference cables. My listening includes acoustic and light rock, singer songwriter, and small ensemble jazz as well as big bands.

I am moving to a new house and my audio room will be 17' wide, 9' tall, 35' long, with a partial dividing wall half way down the length.

Where I live in Louisville, it is impossible to get home auditions and the nearest high end stores are several hours away. I can audition Magico, Sonus Faber, Focal, Ariel, Dynaudio, B&W, JBL, Revel. The Magico S line (3 or 5 mk2) is interesting to me, and so is Sonus Faber like the Amati Futura. My budget is $30,000 total including trade in or sale of my Sashas, and I don't need to buy new.

So for those of you who owned Sashas in the past and have happily moved on, where did you end up and why? Any regrets?

Thanks much,

Dave

Thanks Mike. This is a great site! I look forward to hearing from others on my questions.

Dave

Hi Madfloyd. Yes it has been a while. I hope you are well and thanks for your reply.

Magico is on my radar screen. I heard the S3 and was impressed.

Have you compared the S3 to S5 to S5 mk II?

I understand about the Doshi amps. Makes me think I need to take them with me to audition.

Thanks for the input!

Dave

Hi Keith. Great question. Most of the time I really enjoy the Sashas. In fact I have kept them for much longer than any speaker before.

There are 2 general reasons I am considering a change. First is that there are times that the titanium tweeter calls attention to itself and in a non complimentary way. Wilson has abandoned this tweeter in favor of a soft dome. Either due to the tweeter, or other voicing and tonality issues, I cant always just relax into the music like for example the "warm embrace" of Sonus Faber.

The second issue is that in the six years I've had them technology marches on. I'm in the place now where I can buy my next long term speaker so I am evaluating options.

Thanks for the question.

Dave

Thanks Mike. Yeah, the Sasha 2 is also on my radar screen. But it will take a 5 hour road trip to audition them at Paragon. The good news is that Larry has the Doshi Amps on hand, so that would be a valid audition.

I just wonder if the upgrade cost of going from Sasha 1 to Sasha 2 is worth it ($15,000 - $20,000), versus other options. I know...only my ears can make that decision! But my hope is that by hearing other people's experiences of moving beyond Sasha 1 and their long term satisfaction, it will help to narrow things down.

Thanks,

Dave

Thanks Keith. I appreciate the recommendations. I have heard the Devore 0/93 and they did have some very nice qualities. I'd like to hear the Evolution Acoustics, but finding a place to audition is always a challenge.

Dave

Hi jfrech,

I see those great deals on Max 3, brand new for low $30's. A seriously great deal. But is their tonality that different from Sasha's? If so, then I need to check them out.

My Transparent Ref are MM2. I know they make even better cables, but they get very pricey and cable upgrades aren't in the budget right now. Maybe next year.

Thanks,

Dave

Thanks Brian. Yes, I have been considering making the drive up to Chicago. If I do, I will stop by and talk with you.

Dave

Hi Adam,

Thanks for the suggestion of the S5. Both you and Madfloyd have gone the same direction from Sashas to S5.

Have you heard the S5 mk2? If so, how would you describe the difference from the S5?

Thanks,

Dave

My speakers in recent years: WP7 -> Sasha -> S5. When I heard the S5 at my dealer's I thought it was superior on technical aspects: transient, resolution, coherence, bass definition, but I wasn't sure I could love it. I bought the S5 before selling the Sasha so I could compare at my own environment. The S5 has been with me for almost 3 years now.

Add the Wilson Benesch ACT One Evo in your price range.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...one-evolution/

Hi Charles, thanks for sharing your experience going from Sasha to S5. So I assume that after long term listening...you love them? If you don't mind me asking, what is your associated equipment?

Thanks,

Dave

Hi Dave, yes I love my S5, at least better than my previous speakers. What I appreciate most is its bass definition and coherence with the midrange. In my case the closed enclosures seemed to make them more tolerant to non-optimal placement. My listening room, approx. 16' x 18' with opening at the rear to another area, would not allow for much flexibilities.

My front consists of a Rockport Capella air-bearing tt/arm with Benz Ruby, and a Lumin streamer for digital. I have driven the S5 with 3 amps: ASR Emitter II, Devialet 400, Vitus RI-100. They are all enjoyable and my preference is in that order. Previously I thought amps with slightly dark tonality, like the ASR, would be more suitable, until I heard the Devialet. It is more sunny yet not lean with great resolution and ambience. I still prefer the ASR overall but the Devialet works wonders with the bass.