Loudspeakers

The new Sasha V's response [Graph 1, below] is almost identical to that we measured for the Alexia V [HFN Jan '23] between 6kHz-40kHz while the 5dB depression from 1kHz-5kHz is closer to that seen in the earlier Sasha DAW [HFN Mar '19], contributing to the ±3.6dB and ±3.3dB response errors, respectively. Pair matching is superb, however, at a tight 0.75dB (200Hz-20kHz) although the mid/treble grilles have an adverse effect, bringing a deep 6dB notch at 2.7kHz [blue trace, Graph 1]. Sans grilles, listening above or below the tweeter axis tends to pull up the upper midrange but treble extension suffers. Otherwise, the boosted 1kHz response lifts the Sasha V's sensitivity to 90.3dB/1m, but even the reduced 89.3dB (averaged 500Hz-8kHz) is still higher than Wilson's conservative 88dB spec. (The Sasha DAW was slightly over-spec'd at 91dB/1m/2.83V.) Distortion is a low sub-0.3% from 100Hz-10kHz at 90dB/1m but there are still minor cone mode/misterminations associated with the mid response dip and silk treble dome at 14kHz [see CSD waterfall, Graph 2].

The Sasha DAW was fairly tough to drive and the Sasha V follows suit, but the load is still well within the compass of any likely partnering amp. Wilson's specified 2.36ohm/82Hz minimum is met at 2.31ohm/81Hz while the modest +29°/–44° phase angles contribute to a worse-case 1.1ohm EPDR at 63Hz. Bass extension is impressive, for while the two 200mm pulp woofers have a symmetrical but rather 'peaky' response (46Hz-133Hz, –6dB re. 74Hz) they are augmented by the broader 23Hz tuning of the rear reflex port to deliver a diffraction-corrected 30Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz). PM