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Wilson Sophia 2 vs Revel Salon2--fair comparison?

I've narrowed my search to these two speakers. The prices are in the same ballpark for my current situation: I would be buying the Sophias from a local authorized dealer vs buying the Revels new/barely used here at Agon (since I have no local dealer).

I have been able to audition the Sophias and loved them. Since there is no local dealer, the Revels have remained unheard. The praise in the press and various forums have still kept them in the running though.

They will be palced in a 20x27' room. Power will come from an all Bryston front end including the all new 4B SST squared. Music is a mix of classic rock and jazz. I tend to value bass slam and depth as well as the ability to disappear. Coherence is also important.

So what does the forum think? Is this a fair fight? Should I just go for the Revels? Thanks!
e30m3
e30m3 OP
5 posts
 
Thanks for all the thoughtful responses guys. Still going back and forth, but I guess that's part of the fun of this obsession!
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
Given the amount of money involved, wouldn't it be worth traveling to a Revel audition to make a decision you're completely comfortable with?
foster_9
1,610 posts
 
I'm with Johnny. For the cost involved in purchasing high end speakers at this level, it's worth it to at least hear the Salon2's before making any decision. Take a weekend and fly if you have to.
newton
79 posts
 
Auditioning would be best, but absent that I would vote to buy the Revels. Why? It's their top of the line speaker---at the price your getting them at you're getting a speaker from a higher price and performance segment than the Wilson's.
Secondly, the Revel's have gotten good critical acclaim; Voecks is a superb and competent engineer.

Good luck-let us know what you buy.
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
They will be palced in a 20x27' room. Power will come from an all Bryston front end including the all new 4B SST squared. Music is a mix of classic rock and jazz. I tend to value bass slam and depth as well as the ability to disappear. Coherence is also important.
From a theoretical standpoint (I've heard the Sophias, not the Revels), for a room that size the Revels have a big advantage on moving more air with their multiple drivers. They have nearly double the radiating surface of the Sophias (198 sq. in. vs. 117). The Revels should have more bass slam for classic rock; either will do well for jazz; the Revels would have an advantage on big band jazz.

The Sophias are well known for disappearing and having good coherence. OTOH, when the room gets too big, *any* speaker loses its ability to disappear, and you become more aware that the sound is emanating from two appliances trying to fill the space. Both speakers are known for good coherence. The Sophia is sort of time-aligned.

The Revel makes no pretense of time-alignment, but I have the S'phile review of the Revel by Larry Greenhill, who's been reviewing high-zoot speakers for decades, and his summary stated that the Revel Salon 2 is the best sounding speaker he's ever had in his house, and that it sounds particularly coherent.
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