new speakers, with Humbolt

G

greystoke4

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Hi, thinking of upgrading my speakers, some of you may know, i have a Audionet Humboldt amp, Wilson Audio Sasha mk1 speakers, and an Esoteric k-01x cd player, and MIT cable loom matrix HD 60, love the sound, but i think the speakers might be getting a bit old, love the sound of the wilsons, and am looking for a pair of sasha DAW, used, not easy in the UK, and there is a premium as import duty etc, i know i would like the daw, no brainer, but a few months ago i tripped my humboldt, it was loud over 90db, as some of you pointed out they can be a very hard load, is there anything else i should be looking at in the 6-8 ohm load rage, will i get a better free flowing impactful, and dynamic sound if the amp has an easier life, i play mostly classic rock, about 70db, or should i look for the DAW, as after reading reviews, although looking the same-ish, they are really a different and new speaker, the new price in the UK is £40,000, $54500, as of todays exchange, what is the price in the USA, cheers andy,
 
I know nothing about Wilson's so I am no help there. Let's see...classic rock, easy load on the amp, free flowing, impactful and dynamic? Easy peasy, either the Volti Rival or Volti Vittora. BTW, they do not sound like other horn speakers.
 
I’m getting the Kharma DB9-S 1.1 this week, also to run with the Humboldt.

Will be able to tell you end of the week how they sound [emoji3].


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Congrats on ordering the new Kharmas. Awesome!!!

Kuoppis said:
I’m getting the Kharma DB9-S 1.1 this week, also to run with the Humboldt.

Will be able to tell you end of the week how they sound [emoji3].


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
greystoke4 said:
Hi, thinking of upgrading my speakers, some of you may know, i have a Audionet Humboldt amp, Wilson Audio Sasha mk1 speakers, and an Esoteric k-01x cd player, and MIT cable loom matrix HD 60, love the sound, but i think the speakers might be getting a bit old, love the sound of the wilsons, and am looking for a pair of sasha DAW, used, not easy in the UK, and there is a premium as import duty etc, i know i would like the daw, no brainer, but a few months ago i tripped my humboldt, it was loud over 90db, as some of you pointed out they can be a very hard load, is there anything else i should be looking at in the 6-8 ohm load rage, will i get a better free flowing impactful, and dynamic sound if the amp has an easier life, i play mostly classic rock, about 70db, or should i look for the DAW, as after reading reviews, although looking the same-ish, they are really a different and new speaker, the new price in the UK is £40,000, $54500, as of todays exchange, what is the price in the USA, cheers andy,
Click to expand...

Sounds like you are looking to obtain more resolution from your speakers that your electronics and front end can provide.

That said, what about some UK brands such as the B&W Diamond series, KEF Blade Meta (Upcoming ) or Wilson Bensch?

I'm sure the DAW is a fine speaker but, you might get more value with the domestic brands over an import.

Keep us posted.
 
Just some thoughts based on your taste in music. Have you considered any Focal?

An efficient 8 ohm load and I would think meets your needs, look at some of the Legacy models. Some have powered bass that would help with load on your amp as well. Also, the Wavelet can be added/included depending on model which provides room correction and a host of features.

I shoudmention JBL. I'm not sure if a K2 model would be in your budget. A departure from Wilson but good detail and willing to Rock. I listen to several genres and spoiled to mine. If fed good signal things like cymbals and horns are pristine.

Just my thoughts in addition to some good suggestions already provided.
 
Give a listen to Tidal speakers if there is a dealer near you. I have heard them and was very impressed with the sound. There is a dealer in the UK. I don't know the ohm ratings.
 
I haven't heard them with Rock but they do sound good. They did have a model around $30k USD.On an all Tidal system I could have sat an listened to piano all day long.

Mechnutt said:
Give a listen to Tidal speakers if there is a dealer near you. I have heard them and was very impressed with the sound. There is a dealer in the UK. I don't know the ohm ratings.
Click to expand...
 
graystoke4, i am unsure but I think the DAW is EASIER to driver than the Sasha? See below links. A 0.5 ohm difference sounds minimal, but cf 2.0 ohms I guess it's 25%!
I saw / heard them side by side and thought the difference was marked- the DAW easier to drive and also sounded MUCH better.
FWIW, I drive Magico A5s to high levels with the Humboldt, but the room is small (18x22 "feet") and I have powered subs.
I get very high levels and it is SO clean that my family come and complain - what I mean is that there are no distortion clues as to sound level being too high, it's clean as a whistle up to stupid volumes.
Google Image Result
Google Image Result
 
ICUToo said:
graystoke4, i am unsure but I think the DAW is EASIER to driver than the Sasha? See below links. A 0.5 ohm difference sounds minimal, but cf 2.0 ohms I guess it's 25%!
I saw / heard them side by side and thought the difference was marked- the DAW easier to drive and also sounded MUCH better.
FWIW, I drive Magico A5s to high levels with the Humboldt, but the room is small (18x22 "feet") and I have powered subs.
I get very high levels and it is SO clean that my family come and complain - what I mean is that there are no distortion clues as to sound level being too high, it's clean as a whistle up to stupid volumes.
Google Image Result
Google Image Result
Click to expand...

glad to hear the humboldt works good with the a5 as well. first humboldt-magico i heard of.
what amp did you use before?
 
Humboldt arrived first, Magicos took like 26 weeks.
Previously had Hyperion HPS-938s, which were the best value speakers of all time!
Magico break-in was astonishing, literally sounded broken at first.
Now they sound real :)
One thing that really changed my impression of the Humboldt was input voltage. I am not sure if the preamp section is low-gain, but the amp sounds even more effortless with higher-voltage inputs. With 1.6volts it sounded good, but I needed to increase volume a lot to get "lively" sound. With input of 2.5 volts, same output level gives livelier sound, still with that astonishing pellucid clarity and tonal saturation. Now it's profoundly enjoyable at even low levels.
 
u-sound said:
i would look for a 2nd hand alexia2.
Click to expand...

+1 If you want to stick with a Wilson this might be a great option over a new DAW

If I were to guess we will see the Alexia 3 or Alexia V in 2022. With trickle down tech from Alexx V

UK Dealers/owners might be looking to upgrade when the version comes out.
 
Kuoppis said:
I’m getting the Kharma DB9-S 1.1 this week, also to run with the Humboldt.

Will be able to tell you end of the week how they sound [emoji3].


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Andy, my first impression is the Humboldt/ DB9-S pairing is immaculate.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
ICUToo said:
Humboldt arrived first, Magicos took like 26 weeks.
Previously had Hyperion HPS-938s, which were the best value speakers of all time!
Magico break-in was astonishing, literally sounded broken at first.
Now they sound real :)
One thing that really changed my impression of the Humboldt was input voltage. I am not sure if the preamp section is low-gain, but the amp sounds even more effortless with higher-voltage inputs. With 1.6volts it sounded good, but I needed to increase volume a lot to get "lively" sound. With input of 2.5 volts, same output level gives livelier sound, still with that astonishing pellucid clarity and tonal saturation. Now it's profoundly enjoyable at even low levels.
Click to expand...

thx for the report!
how do you change input voltage?
 
b&w comes from england i think, so probably you would get a good deal on for example the new 801 d4. havent herad it though.
 
Hi, thanks all for the welcomed advice, maybe i am just after something, i just can't afford, or maybe need, i will be checking out your recommendations, and will get back to you, the Humboldt has only tripped out once and it was loud over 96db i think, crazy,

I think the problem is, when i sold my Spectral 360 mk 2 mono's and 30 ss mk 2 pre, which are about 10 years old, and bought the humboldt, i was expecting a HUGE improvement in sound quality, yes the humboldt is more organic, more realistic, but the jump was nowhere near what i was expecting, and i think this has clouded my judgement, i'm not sorry i sold the spectral, but just expected more,
not the first or last to say that, i think, :rolleyes:
maybe i should be looking at cables also,
 
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