In this review, we will be comparing Reference Alpha 2 and Sasha V, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Canton and Wilson Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Canton Reference Alpha 2 and Wilson Audio Sasha V first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Canton Reference Alpha 2 | Wilson Audio Sasha V |
|---|
| Brand | Canton
Germany · founded 1972 | Wilson Audio
United States · founded 1974 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 7" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 8" Paper pulp |
|---|
| Frequency response | 19-40k Hz | 20-32k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | from 25 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 91.00kg / 200.2lbs | 111.13kg / 244.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 55.91" x 16.14" x 25.98"
1420.1 x 410.0 x 659.9mm | 45-1/16" x 14-1/2" x 23-15/16"
1145.0 x 368.0 x 608.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Canton Reference Alpha 2 and Wilson Audio Sasha V speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Canton Reference Alpha 2 |
Wilson Audio Sasha V |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Good |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Reference Alpha 2 is a 2-way design whereas the Sasha V is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Canton Reference Alpha 2 |
Wilson Audio Sasha V |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 7-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Reference Alpha 2 features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 170/3300 Hz. On the other hand, the Sasha V features a 1" Doped silk fabric Dome Tweeter, a 7" Midrange and 2 x 8" Paper pulp Woofer.
Frequency Response
Reference Alpha 2 has a frequency range of 19-40k Hz whereas Sasha V has a frequency range of 20-32k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the Reference Alpha 2 can go slightly deeper then the Sasha V's min frequency of 20Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
Reference Alpha 2 and Sasha V have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reference Alpha 2 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Sasha V's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Canton Reference Alpha 2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wilson Audio Sasha V, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Reference Alpha 2 and the Reference Alpha 2 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Reference Alpha 2 features Binding post type posts and Sasha V has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Canton Reference Alpha 2's and Wilson Audio Sasha V's external dimensions. Canton Reference Alpha 2 has external dimensions of 1420.1 x 410.0 x 659.9mm (55.91 x 16.14 x 25.98inch) whereas Wilson Audio Sasha V has external dimensions of 1145.0 x 368.0 x 608.0mm (45-1/16 x 14-1/2 x 23-15/16inch).
Canton Reference Alpha 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 42mm wider, 275.1mm taller and 51.9mm deeper than Wilson Audio Sasha V.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Canton Reference Alpha 2 needs about 21% more floor or shelf area. Canton Reference Alpha 2 is 52mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Canton Reference Alpha 2 is 275mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Canton Reference Alpha 2 is approximately 2705.6cm2 / 419.4inch2 and base area of the Wilson Audio Sasha V is approximately 2237.4cm2 / 346.8inch2. The Reference Alpha 2 requires 21% more surface area than the Sasha V which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Canton Reference Alpha 2 weighs 91.00kg / 200.2lbs and the Wilson Audio Sasha V weighs 111.13kg / 244.5lbs. This makes the Sasha V 22% heavier than the Reference Alpha 2.
Here is a comparison of how Reference Alpha 2 and Sasha V's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
32k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1145mm
vs
1420mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2237cm2
vs
2705cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
54600USD
vs
55000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Canton Reference Alpha 2 |
Wilson Audio Sasha V |
| Brand |
Canton |
Wilson Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
2.36 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
19-40k Hz |
20-32k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
2 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper pulp |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
7" |
| Crossover Frequency |
170/3300 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1420.1mm (55.9") |
1145.0mm (45.1") |
| Width |
410.0mm (16.1") |
368.0mm (14.5") |
| Depth |
659.9mm (26") |
608.0mm (23.9") |
| Weight |
91.00kg (200.2lbs) |
111.13kg (244.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (19Hz vs 20Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Size | depends | Wilson Audio Sasha V is easier to place; Canton Reference Alpha 2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($55,000 vs $54,600 a pair). |
A Canton Reference Alpha 2 B Wilson Audio Sasha V
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate Wilson Audio Sasha V the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same. In a large or open-plan room, Canton Reference Alpha 2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Wilson Audio Sasha V is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.