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EQUIPMENT REVIEW - Wilson Audio Sophia Series 3
can’t quite match the fullest bloom that the Sophia
communicates in the lower bands. This was the
one aspect that reminded me most keenly of a
studio control monitor, albeit unlike any studio
monitor I’ve ever heard before! I was also less
than over-the-moon regarding its ability to recreate
soundstage depth , which was merely so-so in my
room.
A fair discussion of the Sophia 3 wouldn’t be
complete unless I referenced a couple other
speakers that I’ve written about in recent issues.
The Magico V2 and the TAD CRM-1 were reviewed
in Issues 202 and 205, respectively. Each competes
head-to-head with the Sophia 3 but sonically arrives
at slightly different conclusions. The trio all boast
exceptional midrange transparency. The Magico
has superb tonal color, balance, and control.
Among other factors part and parcel of its acoustic
suspension design, the V2’s pitch and attack are
precise and measured. Though not as extended as
the Sophia 3, the V2 is pure magic when it comes
to deep stage dimensionality and the ability to
transport the listener into a purely acoustic world.
The TAD, thanks to its all-beryllium coincident driver,
has a midrange/treble integration that is second
to none and probably the most open treble in the
trio. There’s an uncanny top-to-bottom coherence
that places images across the dimensional
soundspace with an unearthly precision. The
Sophia essentially splits these differences but its
combination of low-end extension and impact will
trump the V2 and the CRM-1. Take for example the
sound of a bass drum being struck. The Sophia 3
enters the spotlight with a heavier although looser
initial attack, deeper extension, greater bloom,
and lengthier decay. The V2 encapsulates and
tightens that fundamental tone, making it easy to
The Sophia Series 3 In Depth
Visually the Sophia 3 harmonizes with the rest
of the Wilson line, in spite of the fact that if it
weren’t for the extraordinarily lustrous finish
it would almost appear pedestrian—a lack of
ornamentation that reflects, in part, Dave Wilson’s
recording engineer roots. Construction tolerances
as they’re commonly known don’t even seem
to be tolerated at Wilson. Seams, lacquer peel,
rough edges Please. I did some pretty intensive
sleuthing and couldn’t come up with a single
flaw. The 43" tall cabinet is a single box rather
than the decoupled/modular head-unit models
beginning with the Sasha and cresting with the
fully adjustable MAXX 3 and Alexandria. The
Sophia is built around general if exquisitely wellmeasured
box patterns with interesting angles
and delicately radiussed edges. For example, the
woofer section of the cabinet has angled nonparallel
sidewalls that bow outward progressively
separate the timbral character and focus of the
instrument from its surrounding space. The TAD
falls somewhere between, neither extending as
deeply as the Sophia nor moving the same volume
of air but sounding less plummy compared to the
Sophia. That’s not to say this esteemed pair don’t
offer a significant war chest of other charms—they
most certainly do. But in terms of sheer concert
level, “Who’s your Daddy” slam and attack, the
Sophia 3 has few peers.
The Wilson Audio Sophia Series 3 is the complete
package. And dollar-for-dollar maybe the most
as they reach the floor.
Key changes to the Series 3 include borrowing
the more advanced tweeter and midrange
transducers from the Sasha and MAXX 3. The
aluminum-diaphragm woofer receives a more
powerful motor design. The baffle angle is also
modified to optimize time-alignment and jibe
with the impulse response of the new midrange
driver. Construction is now Wilson’s proprietary,
engineered X-material throughout (a highpressure
composite of mineral, polymer, carbon,
and paper) with the exception of the mid-range/
tweeter baffle, which is S-Material (which uses less
carbon in the composite and is 20% less rigid than
X). Both these substances are very monotonic but
have differing resonant frequencies appropriate
to each speaker/crossover combination. The
Sophia 3, while designed to be friendly to modest
amplification, thrives on the best power.
inspirational speaker Wilson has produced to date.
It performs at or near the highest levels, and it’s an
unquestionable crowd-pleaser. Can a loudspeaker
in this range be considered a best buy I’ll leave
that to others, but I will say the Sophia sure makes
you want to throw caution to the wind and open up
your wallet. Like the Italian cinema bombshell of
the same name, Sophia is unforgettable.
80 Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers www.theabsolutesound.com
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