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Wilson Audio of Provo, Utah, is executing a multiyear revision of their product line, resulting mostly in a series of "remastered" redesigns that carry in their names the designation "V." The latest V model is the Sabrina V, which replaces the prior SabrinaX. "V" refers to Wilson's proprietary V-Material first used in the Chronosonic XVX. This is the third iteration of the Sabrina series. Other current Wilsons designated V are the Alexx V, the Alexia V, and the Sasha V. The Chronosonic XVX uses the V-Material but precedes the "V" revisions; the 50th anniversary WATT/Puppy also uses the V-…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I performed a complete set of measurements on one of the two Goldmund Telos 2800 monoblocks sharing serial number T2_LN000023 with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system. I preconditioned the amplifier by operating it at 1/8 power into 8 ohms for 20 minutes. At the end of that time, the top panel's temperature was 89.8°F/32.1°C. The temperature of the hottest section of the heatsink on the rear panel was 108.9°F/42.8°C.
The amplifier preserved absolute polarity, ie, was noninverting, with both the single-ended and balanced inputs. (The XLR jack is wired with pin…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid state mono power amplifier. Output power (IEC60065): 300W into 8 ohms (24.77dBW), 530W into 4 ohms (24.23dBW) at 1% THD. Damping factor: 600 at 1kHz assuming an 8 ohm load. THD+N, unloaded: <0.05%, 20Hz–20kHz at 30V output. Intermodulation distortion (SMPTE), unloaded: <0.05% noisefloor, analog input terminated with RCA shorting caps, unloaded: <3µV, 20Hz–20kHz. Gain: 35dB. Max input level before clipping: Analog input: 1V; digital input: –6dBFS. Max output level before clipping, 1% THD, unloaded: 170V peak–peak. Dynamic range, 22kHz…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way bass-reflex floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive units: 1" (25.4mm) Convergent Synergy Carbon doped silk fabric-dome tweeter in sealed carbon-fiber enclosure, one 7" (178mm) QuadraMag paper pulp composite cone midrange unit in rear-slotted enclosure, one 8" (203mm) paper pulp composite cone woofer in rear-ported X-, V-, & H-Materials enclosure. Frequency response: 27Hz–24kHz, ±3dB average response in-room. Sensitivity: 87dB/W/1m @ 1kHz. Impedance: 4 ohms nominal, 2.23 ohms minimum @ 121Hz. Minimum recommended amplifier power: 50Wpc.
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: SME Model 35 turntable; Ortofon Verismo, Lyra Etna λ Lambda phono cartridges.
Digital sources: Innuos ZENith Next-Gen server-streamer, CH Precision C1.2 D/A processor.
Preamplifiers: Pass Laboratories XP-32 (line); Pass Laboratories XP-27 phono.
Power amplifiers: Pass Laboratories XA60.8 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx V; Marten Mingus Septet.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Carbon, Cinnamon, & Coffee USB; CAD USB; Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8 Ethernet. Interconnect: Jorma Statement, AudioQuest…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: VPI HW-40 turntable, VPI 12" Fatboy tonearm, Pro-Ject Classic EVO turntable, Lyra Etna λ Lambda, Ortofon Bronze Cadenza cartridge, Sumiko Amethyst cartridge.
Digital sources: MacBook Air running Tidal, Roon, Qobuz. Bricasti M21 DAC, Musical Fidelity M1 CDT and Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T transports.
Preamplifier: McIntosh C12000.
Power amplifiers: McIntosh MC462 stereo.
Integrated amplifier: McIntosh MA252.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties The WATT/Puppy, Harbeth P3ESR.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Diamond AES, Coffee…
Sidebar 3: Associated Equipment
Vinyl playback: Technics SL-1200mkV with KAB 3-speed mod, fluid damping and tonearm wiring; Ortofon 2M Blue, Audio-Technica AT-VM95E, Hana SL MKII cartridges.
Phono preamplifier: Pro-Ject Phono Box RS2.
Preamplifier: Benchmark LA-4.
Power amplifier: Benchmark AHB2.
Loudspeakers: Bowers & Wilkins 808.
Accessories: Butcherblock Acoustics equipment rack, SME turntable cable, various cables and connectors made by Belden, Canare, Mogami, Switchcraft, ITT Cannon, Neutrik, etc.—Tom Fine
The technical evolution of the Sabrina V over its forebear, the SabrinaX, can be gleaned by comparing a few key performance indicators. For example, the newcomer still achieves a higher sensitivity than the 87dB specification at 88.9dB despite being slightly less sensitive than the 'X (89.6dB, all ref. 1kHz/2.83V/1m). Also, the V's response is slightly less uniform than its predecessor's (see fig.2) with errors of ±3.80dB/±3.90dB (L/R) versus ±2.85dB/±2.90dB for the 'X (both 200Hz– 20kHz), and it's also a little tougher to drive. However, all this is traded for lower distortion and…
John Atkinson (left) and Larry Archibald (right) remininisce about JA joining Stereophile in 1986. (Photo: Larry Greenhill)
It was the summer of 1976. My career as a professional musician was not panning out as I had hoped. I'd played bass guitar on quite a few singles and three albums, and toured with erstwhile teen singing sensation Helen Shapiro—but I was better at playing than I was at getting paid. My then wife, Maree, showed me a classified ad in the British newspaper The Guardian: the magazine Hi-Fi News & Record Review was looking for an assistant editor.
It was the summer of 1976. My career as a professional musician was not panning out as I had hoped. I'd played bass guitar on quite a few singles and three albums, and toured with erstwhile teen singing sensation Helen Shapiro—but I was better at playing than I was at getting paid. My then wife, Maree, showed me a classified ad in the British newspaper The Guardian: the magazine Hi-Fi News & Record Review was looking for an assistant editor.
"You read Hi-Fi…
Sidebar 5: Phono Stage Measurements
Out of the box, the T+A Symphonia streaming integrated amplifier Rogier van Bakel reviewed in the November 2025 issue has two pairs of single-ended analog line inputs. The second pair can be used as a moving magnet–compatible phono input by selecting an internal phono module with the front-panel Menu buttons.
As RvB is a digital-only guy, he wasn't able to audition the Symphonia's phono stage, but before I shipped the amplifier to Tom Fine for a phono audition, I performed a complete set of measurements on the phono input with my Audio Precision…