It’s fun to dream about owning a time machine such as the Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic or Chonosonic XVX loudspeakers, but the reality is that their DNA is readily available through the entire Wilson Audio line. Completing this mission, Wilson is bringing some of our favorite innovations from the WAMM, XVX, Sasha DAW, Alexia Series-2 down to their new entry level Wilson Audio SabrinaX loudspeaker.
When Daryl Wilson set his team in motion to re-design the Sabrina Loudspeaker, his goal was clear. Daryl said: “We must make it represent the best we can do in its simple, yet elegant form.”
As we peel back the layers of the updated Wilson Audio SabrinaX, we can discover what that “best” is. The SabrinaX feels like it took the best ingredients from its siblings and put them all in a smaller enclosure and a lower price point. First, let’s dig into the changes from the original Sabrina to the new SabrinaX.
Enclosure Update
The original Sabrina used proprietary Wilson X-Material in its front baffle, as well as its bottom plate. The rest of the speaker enclosure and internal bracing was made with High Density Fibre (HDF) to reduce cost. The new Wilson Audio SabrinaX uses X-Material for the entire outer enclosure, which is consistent with the larger Wilson loudspeakers. This change may yield the largest impact for the SabrinaX.
The result of the infusion of X-Material in the Wilson Audio SabrinaX results in a significant reduction in resonances within the cabinet housing those drivers.
Cabinet resonance for the Wilson Audio SabrinaX is measured using a fancy laser vibrometer. I had the opportunity to see this in action a few years ago when I visited their factory in Provo.
The results can be seen in the following image provided by Wilson, measuring cabinet resonance at 125hz of the current Sabrina vs. SabrinaX.
Additionally the finish tolerance for the Wilson Audio SabrinaX also matches the larger Wilsons by achieving a tolerance of 4/1000″. The craftsmen use a very precise metal bar to measure the tolerance.
Following a cue from those larger Wilson siblings, the rear port behind the tweeter has been changed into a long horizontal port, consistent with the designs used on the XVX, Alexia Series-2 and DAW.
The centered port behind the tweeter allows for improved air flow and consistent tuning. The impact of this change on the Sasha DAW was large, so I can imagine the impact will be similar on the Wilson Audio SabrinaX once we get to hear it. Additionally, the vent is milled into the X-Material enclosure, which also improves musicality and overall midrange presentation compared to aluminum ring used on the original Sabrina.
The bass port has also updated geometry to further reduce audible turbulence and reduce the low port noise, consistent with the Alexia Series-2 and Sasha DAW which use a similar design.
The following images remind us of the rear of the Sabrina series-1.
Updated Drivers
Building on the advances of the enclosure, the Wilson Audio SabrinaX employs the new Wilson Synergy MK5 Tweeter that was originally developed for the WAMM. It was later used in the Alexia Series-2, Sasha DAW, XVX and now SabrinaX. This tweeter is a key ingredient of the modern Wilson sound that combines low distortion, micro detail, and high resolution that seems to be a winning combination.
The 5.75-inch midrange driver has also been updated and extends flat to 2kHz, facilitating the elevated crossover point to the tweeter. The Wilson Audio SabrinaX woofer is the same 8-inch woofer that was previously used in the Alexia Series-2 and Sasha DAW. The driver now operates in a very quiet cabinet due to updated bracing and outer X-Material enclosure. Once we get to hear it, I expect it will provide fast, articulate bass like its larger siblings. Screws for the drivers are now matte black consistent with the XVX and Sasha DAW.
Updated Binding Posts
A new binding post was developed for the Sasha DAW and XVX that improves ergonomics as well as sonics. This is now standard on the Wilson Audio SabrinaX. I expect we will see it on all new Wilson models moving forward.
You can purchase these binding posts as an upgrade for existing Wilson Audio speakers. It is fairy straightforward to swap them, and I recently performed the upgrade to my Alexia Series-2. They were definitely easier to use and tighten around the large spade connections that I use on my Alexia Series-2.
Updated Shoes
The Wilson Audio SabrinaX now uses the same super-size spike/diode found in all other big Wilson speakers, starting with the WAMM and XVX and moving all the way down to the Sasha DAW. This attends to the mechanical impedance path and vibration “draining.” They work like a tank and I’m happy to see them available on the SabrinaX now. They are easy to level and don’t move once they are set in place. These same shoes are used on my Alexias and have have been faithful for years, even with kids and dog playing in close proximity.
I have experimented with other feet, but always return home to these stock spikes and diodes provided by Wilson.
Wilson AudioCapX Capacitors
In 2018, Wilson Audio acquired one of the leading companies in capacitor design and manufacturing–the owner was 81 and ready to semi-retire. The first Wilson loudspeaker to benefit from this recent integration of capacitor design and speaker manufacturing in the Provo factory was the Chronosonic XVX. Led by engineer Vern Credille, the design team developed a proprietary multi-wound capacitor specifically for the XVX, which the engineers dubbed Audio-CapX-WA. The team took a similar approach with Wilson’s smallest floor standing speaker.
The Wilson Audio SabrinaX benefits from a version of the Wilson AudioCapX explicitly designed for its crossover. The new capacitor technology significantly lowers the noise floor to even greater extremes, allowing the listener to hear more detail and resolution. As is true for all Wilson loudspeakers, Wilson’s craftspeople painstakingly hand-assemble the SabrinaX crossover. Wilson leads the industry for the quality of its crossover execution and ultra-rigorous manufacturing tolerances. The AudioCapX advances Wilson’s ability on this front as well.
It’s pretty exciting, and it could potentially give Wilson an advantage moving forward. I will be excited to see these improvements in custom wound capacitors benefit more speakers from Wilson in the future.
In order to build these, they invested in proprietary machines to fabricate them. Just a few are in existence, all of which are owned by Wilson.
Summary
The original Sabrina came out five years ago for around $15,900 USD. Five years later, it is getting an exponential upgrade with a mass infusion of X-Material, a Synergy MK5 tweeter, a new woofer, new ports, new hardware, and custom capacitors.
The updated Wilson Audio SabrinaX is priced at $18,500 USD. We haven’t heard it yet. But if its anything like its larger siblings, Wilson might have just created the speaker to beat under $20k USD.
The SabrinaX is available for audition in Wilson Audio dealers starting today. We may need to pop on a mask and drive down to our local dealer with some LPs to give it a listen. If you visit a dealer, please share your thoughts.
-Mohammed
