Speaker Upgrade: Wilson Sabrina vs Avalon Transcendent

I'd listen to the new Kudos Titan 808.  Never could wrap my head around the Wilson sound, but I do respect the build quality.   

I have listened to the Sabrina a couple of times, with a good Naim system (CX2.2, 282, 250.2); as for the Transcendent, I would never buy loudspeakers with such a name, but this is just me(*). I have some experience of Wilson Audio, and in my opinion the Sabrina have been voiced differently, to appeal to EU taste perhaps. In short, they have a more lively and forward midrange than the bigger siblings, and manage to sound somehow more integer, coherent and fast. I am not sure that Naim is the ideal partner for them, but I found them the most interesting Wilson designs in years. As for the Magico, I wouldn't want them for free. The Sabrina are very much worth some investigation and trial, I believe, but one must be ready to experiment with electronics too.

Hope it helps.

M

(*) Yes, I know that one should not judge by a name, but when an audio product is called Transcendent, really...

Avalons have mostly been put out at hifi shows with Cardas wires and hi wattaged amps,  Cardas speaker cables usually have a Litz design that doesn't work well with Naim, so other non Litz wires with spade connectors will be needed- although there might be compateability issue . Wilsons speakers esp Sabrina's seem more universally tractable with all sorts though may be off less quality to the Avalons,    Maybe the Magicos S1 would be more appropriate!

Ah, sorry, the Transcendent are really Avalon. I hadn't noticed. Well, Avalon is a respectable brand, although I still think that Transcendent is a silly name, good for people with too much money and too little taste. Precisely, btw, what the main target of present day audio is.

I've heard the Sabrina recently and it is very good. They also have a pleasing size which I think is a first for Wilson floorstanders.