Upgrading from Wilson Sophia 2's?

Johnnyb

Yea the best I have heard them was with Audio Research REF3, REF210 and what ever the latest AR cd player was at the time. All cabled with Transparent Opus.

HIFICRITIC used Transparent XL Ref and Yter as loudspeaker cables and Cardas Golden Reference and VDH The First Ultimate ICs. The speakers were +/-3dB 26 to 23kHz. That is with the grills removed, which was essential for best performance.

Also used MSB Platinum 200, C-J 350SA, AR Ref. 3 amps and XTC preamp.

it is inexcusable to have speakers costing over 10 grand (or for that matter ONE grand) that sound this disappointing. the sophias are good transducers, no question, but raising this many issues in (what sounds like) a decent room with very good components upstream just doesn't add up. French_fries (Threads | Answers)

I've never owned gear on a level with some of yours, but I agree with this part of Frenchfries post 100%. Your results don't add up, and you should keep trying with the Sophia 2's. You owe it to yourself, the time effort and dollars spent in your system, and the technology that goes into those speakers to continue to tweak your system until the Sophias sing as you expect. It could be as simple as a change in cables or a bit more complex. Keep trying.

I'm gonna go into a potential hornets nest of ridicule for what I'm about to say, but know that I am sincere. Over the years I have used Transparent Ref Xl and below as well as MIT Oracle V1.1 and V1.2 and below cables, as well as many many others such as Harm Tech, Synergistic, Kimber, Siltech, Cardas ...the mind boggles ove the amount of cash wasted on wires! Recently, I found myself in between speakers (going from bi-wire to single ended) therefore switching cabling again. I had an old pair of Monster Cable M2.2s speaker cables laying around, so I figured what the heck...at least I'll have music until I demo more stuff and make a decision on audiophile grade replacements. Well, they turned out to be remarkable and unique in a way that reinvigorated my passion for music (not the gear) again! They are extended, clean and pure, detailed yet warm, soundstage like crazy, are wildly dynamic and to top it off, they throw a full fleshed out midrange like no other (except for ransparent). I also learned that they use the same basic technology as Transparent..an in-line filter network that reduces the noise floor and capacitance allowing the amp to deliver the signal more easily and with less roll off. In any case, proof is in the pudding so to say. Bottom line is that I used them on my Sophia 1's and my new maggie 3.6R's with sunning results. I then picked up several cables for demo from the cable company, my local dealer and various online suppliers (signal cable ect..). They all sounded different but when I put the M2.2s's back in, I felt renewed and refreshed...in love with the sound, like back in my childhood home with my Sansui Model 8 and Bozak B313's and a Revox reel to reel. Everything was in balance and the tonality was as realistic and natural as I've ever heard. Strings were smooth but not glossed over, highs were clear and delicate with a sweetness and purity beyond reproach. For under $500...well that's a side benefit. Lastly, I challenged my MIT Oracle V1.2 IC's with some Monster Proline balanced SP1000M5 cables from sweetwater.com. These are cables for professional sudios and cost $49/5ft run with gold neutrik connections. They almost match my $6500 IC's and in some ways offer a tad more warmth and a roundedness that is addictive. I kept an open mind and open ears and I have experienced a paradigm shift as a result. Both products are easily available and returnable from either online stores or local oulets. $600 could be all that's standing between you questioning your speakers and falling in love with them again. Of course, more IC's might raise the cost significantly to, oh, let's say a staggeringly high $800 maybe?