First time I heard a DAG or Sabrina X they were hooked together. That got me started down a very scary path…
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Ron, my audio guru has a pair of Vivid G3 Series 2 speakers in the crates that he wants a measly $14k for. They just might be even better than the Sabrina Xs. I am tempted but I don’t really have a need for any more speakers. I do love the Wilson sound though and the guy who wrote the review that sold me on buying Yvettes thinks the Sabrina X might be better than the Yvettes.
I got my Astell and Kern AK380 gear a few days ago. With my Shure KSE 1200 Electrostatic IEMs it is a sweet sweet setup!
I used to use a Euphony PTS server before I bought the Pink Faun. It’s been sitting on a shelf. Yesterday I hooked it up to my Keces P8 which also powers my Matrix. I hooked up a Stealth USB cable to the Matrix and an Audio Art AES/EBU cable to my Gryphon Kalliope DAC. I am running the Euphony in Stylus mode as I can only run one Roon server at a time. It sounds really good. Soon my Grimm MU1 will arrive and the Pink Faun and the Euphony server will likely go into storage. I think the MU1 is going to be other worldly. Can’t wait. Stealth is shipping me a 2m AES/EBU cable for use with the MU1. I need a Stealth power cable as well. My Guru is so impressed with the MU1 he is ordering one for his home and one for his store.
Bring on Winter.
I’ll try the Jay’s Audio CDT2-MKIII with the MU1 but I should try a PST as well. No i2s on my DAC but I do still have my DSD Sr. and the upgrade transformers. I will put those in and plug the PST into it for SACD play. That would mean I will have to consider the DSD MKII in the future. But my Kalliope is other worldly good. It made listening to the May Kitsune Edition excruciating. Nearly physically painful.
Fun.
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Two comments.
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Wilson and Vivid have very different sounds. You know better than me Al on Vivid but very different speaker systems. Better? Person dependent I suppose.
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Something I do have direct experience in (but still just an old farts opinion I guess) The X’s DO sound better than the Yvette. I have heard all three and owned two. Anyone upgrading from a Sabrina should skip the Yvette and grab the DAW. A WORLD of difference. Ron has probably already heard both and I bet you have too Al (or Mr. Vivid
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My 2c. Good luck Ron…!
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Thanks Al.
I really love the sound and the feel of the sound of the Sabrinas. And also the way they look.
I listened to some other Wilsons today:
Sophia 3, used. Nope
Yvettes, used. Nope
Sasha DAW, holy freakin moly, but but but–$40K. so, nope
Sabrina X, I just never wanted to stop listening. Articulate, believable, exciting, revealing, beautiful, zero fatigue, very close to the DAWs, yes please.
And how would you compare your streaming sound to your vinyl and CDs?
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Synergy, as the Sabrina X pair nicely with Pass Labs. The XA60.8 comes to mind as the sweet spot. Go for the Sabrina X and pass on the Sabrina.
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Sweet… I recall dealer commented that Sasha can be picky on amps (to get the best out of it); while Sabrinas are designed to be easier to match and integrate;
It’s weird actually. When I am listening to Vinyl I’m so thinking nothing could top this. But who cares? CDs sound wonderful, streaming sounds amazing, DSD is most enjoyable. It’s all good.
But vinyl slays all.
Edit: or maybe Vinyl slays Al
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Loud and clear my friend. When I went down to Chicago to hear the Vivid Spirits I sat there and said oh my god no, not for me please. It was totally alien. Wilsons define the sound space in realistic size. A pristine well defined enjoyable space. The Vivids took imagination to determine the size of the galaxy. Way too larger than life. Frightening perhaps. These days it amuses and delights me as did the Wilson setup. I could not believe I was willing to unWilson. I very well may go XVX some day. But not soon.
You don’t always recognize the qualities of something you have never encountered before. For me my audio advisor said my speakers were not worthy of the rest of my system. So I put my trust in his choice and I’m glad I did.
This week he is pushing MBL 101 Xtreams before the price increase. My interest in odd looking speakers certainly is a factor. But na.
Big Wilsons next.
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I always imagine you with Big Wilson, not Ice Cream Cones. 
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Al’s ice cream cones are one of hobby’s great speakers and the final resting place for most audiophiles.
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There is this huge soundstage and these two ice cream cones just sitting in the way. It’s so odd. No sense that they have anything to do with the sound. And in a dark room who cares? [evil laughter]
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100% I agree Al
Vinyl Slays ALLLLLLLLL
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I just joined the Wilson club. I found a 2 year old set of Sasha DAW’s for a really good price. I won’t be able to get them setup for a few weeks but looking forward to hearing them.
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You’re in for a treat @Baldy! What are you driving them with?
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The DAW is definitely my end all and a great speaker. I can’t afford ice cream cones but it would be great to hear them one day. You can find DAW at some good prices (mine were demos) but not Sabrina cost. A X is a perfect spot to start a Wilson journey.
Keep us posted Ron when you grab those white Xs.
U2 Baldy
happy listening All
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The chain looks like this:
Pink Faun 2.16x > DSD > BHK preamp > BHK 300’s.
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Chronsonic XVX, Momentum M400s and Momentum HD preamp with transparent cables. That is what I heard. That was one of the best setups I have ever heard from anywhere in the room. Sometimes the sound and tone is a no brainer. If you have space why take baby steps?
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Will do. It’s going to be a few weeks before I’ll get them in the system
That’s what they have in “the big room” that I will listen to soon. I especially like the Transparent cables; you can barely see them.
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Baldy…are the Crescendo II’s not floating your boat?