21-Nov-2020, 03:37
@BoyScout
@sdn660
Yes - the Sabrinas - it was definitely an experience. It was quite revelatory - which also probably speaks to how unoptimized I have had my own setup and how much importance speaker placement and room nodes /correction matter. More on that below. The difference between the Sabrinas and BW 804s was quite stark.
@David A
Really sound advice that - and appreciate that you got me thinking of focussing on the music and the experience that it delivered - that counts over and above everything else.
So, I took your advice and headed to the audition with an open mind. They didn't have to try real hard in terms of placement etc to really make the Sabrinas sing. It definitely yielded a markedly different experience from some of the other speakers that we auditioned. Unfortunately, the 804d3s and the Sonus Faber Olympica IIIs couldn't really replicate the imaging and soundstage dimensionality of the Sabrinas. I really was hoping the Sonus Fabers would do better 'cos I have just fallen in love with their aesthetics. Gorgeous and then some!!
Sabrinas:
+ves: with acoustic music, vocals, live performances and such they absolutely sparkled - great soundstage and pinpoint imaging of the vocals and instruments. Very cool - and I was actually surprised to hear some details and nuances in texture of music - wasn't expecting things to be revealing from that standpoint since I had heard that this wasn't the most resolving speakers
-ves: definitely heavy rock & metal. I played some dark metal/ old school british heavy metal and they left a bit to be desired honestly. I was hoping they'd just switch up and get me a klipsch conrwall at that point so I could headbang to. The music was too muted, vocals while placed nicely - were too recessed, guitar riffs just not aggressive enough.
Other negative is bass: but I think that's actually a negative on me I think - I'm coming to the realization that I'm actually a bit of a bass head - go figure!!!
BW804d3s:
+ves: Tweeter was definitely impressive and it was playing rock / metal much better than the Sabrinas without doubt (but again - don't think they'd really hold a candle to a klipsch)
-ves: soundstage was definitely lacking - no where close to the height and width I experienced with the Sabrinas unfortunately. I did enquire whether there were more tweaks they could do in placement and such to make things a little more holographic. And while they did agree to that, they mentioned that it wouldn't still be quite as close as the Sabrinas. Interesting comment.
Sonus Fabers: They were just a bit too laid back for my liking - might have been that the room was too dead to begin with and that got magnified with the SF's output ....
Net net: I am going to trial the Sabrina's at home for a week and see how it performs at home and whether it can overcome some of it's deficiencies of playing hard rock/ metal. That's the only thing that I'm feeling a little upset about incase I go down this path. I don't want to have to forego my rock music proclivities.
Other things I've realized:
I realized just how boomy my actual apartment is - all speakers that I auditioned with the dealers these last couple of days sounded like their bass was watered down than what I experience at home (that said they were articulate) - and it's finally dawning upon me at how boomy my room is. I've never cared to undertake room correction (either with diffusers/ absorption boards or through software). Definitely something that I need to pay attention to especially if it is robbing away from some of the musical clarity/ details. While I don't think I'll ever actually want a listening environment that is too dead, I definitely do want to make some subtle updates to my room to reduce the boominess.
Speaker placement along with subtle room correction definitely is going to be the next thing I focus on to get more adept around. No point spending this kind of money if I'm going to be lazy with those two things ... so, if you have books/ resources that you feel I should read up on, please share my way - will be much indebted.
Again - thanks for all the inputs and advice along the way!
Quick question: hahaha - what do people think of the Tannoy DC10As? Anyone?
@sdn660
Yes - the Sabrinas - it was definitely an experience. It was quite revelatory - which also probably speaks to how unoptimized I have had my own setup and how much importance speaker placement and room nodes /correction matter. More on that below. The difference between the Sabrinas and BW 804s was quite stark.
@David A
Really sound advice that - and appreciate that you got me thinking of focussing on the music and the experience that it delivered - that counts over and above everything else.
So, I took your advice and headed to the audition with an open mind. They didn't have to try real hard in terms of placement etc to really make the Sabrinas sing. It definitely yielded a markedly different experience from some of the other speakers that we auditioned. Unfortunately, the 804d3s and the Sonus Faber Olympica IIIs couldn't really replicate the imaging and soundstage dimensionality of the Sabrinas. I really was hoping the Sonus Fabers would do better 'cos I have just fallen in love with their aesthetics. Gorgeous and then some!!
Sabrinas:
+ves: with acoustic music, vocals, live performances and such they absolutely sparkled - great soundstage and pinpoint imaging of the vocals and instruments. Very cool - and I was actually surprised to hear some details and nuances in texture of music - wasn't expecting things to be revealing from that standpoint since I had heard that this wasn't the most resolving speakers
-ves: definitely heavy rock & metal. I played some dark metal/ old school british heavy metal and they left a bit to be desired honestly. I was hoping they'd just switch up and get me a klipsch conrwall at that point so I could headbang to. The music was too muted, vocals while placed nicely - were too recessed, guitar riffs just not aggressive enough.
Other negative is bass: but I think that's actually a negative on me I think - I'm coming to the realization that I'm actually a bit of a bass head - go figure!!!
BW804d3s:
+ves: Tweeter was definitely impressive and it was playing rock / metal much better than the Sabrinas without doubt (but again - don't think they'd really hold a candle to a klipsch)
-ves: soundstage was definitely lacking - no where close to the height and width I experienced with the Sabrinas unfortunately. I did enquire whether there were more tweaks they could do in placement and such to make things a little more holographic. And while they did agree to that, they mentioned that it wouldn't still be quite as close as the Sabrinas. Interesting comment.
Sonus Fabers: They were just a bit too laid back for my liking - might have been that the room was too dead to begin with and that got magnified with the SF's output ....
Net net: I am going to trial the Sabrina's at home for a week and see how it performs at home and whether it can overcome some of it's deficiencies of playing hard rock/ metal. That's the only thing that I'm feeling a little upset about incase I go down this path. I don't want to have to forego my rock music proclivities.
Other things I've realized:
I realized just how boomy my actual apartment is - all speakers that I auditioned with the dealers these last couple of days sounded like their bass was watered down than what I experience at home (that said they were articulate) - and it's finally dawning upon me at how boomy my room is. I've never cared to undertake room correction (either with diffusers/ absorption boards or through software). Definitely something that I need to pay attention to especially if it is robbing away from some of the musical clarity/ details. While I don't think I'll ever actually want a listening environment that is too dead, I definitely do want to make some subtle updates to my room to reduce the boominess.
Speaker placement along with subtle room correction definitely is going to be the next thing I focus on to get more adept around. No point spending this kind of money if I'm going to be lazy with those two things ... so, if you have books/ resources that you feel I should read up on, please share my way - will be much indebted.
Again - thanks for all the inputs and advice along the way!
Quick question: hahaha - what do people think of the Tannoy DC10As? Anyone?
Signal path: Macbook Pro (Qobuz/ Vox Player) > Router > CAT 8 Ethernet > Devialet 220 pro > Shunyata Delta speaker cables > Wilson Sabrina speakers
Power path: Wall outlet > Shunyata Delta power cable > Devialet 220 pro
Power path: Wall outlet > Shunyata Delta power cable > Devialet 220 pro
