Wessex Sinfonico and Adams E3

[John Morgan]

After doing a recent review of the Wessex Sinfonico Euphonium, I was asked to compare the Wessex, a very, very nice horn under $3K to my Adams E3 Euphonium, with a price tag over $10K (the entire bell engraving drove the price over $10K). I recorded on my Adams, three of the same pieces I recorded for the Wessex. I then put both clips of each piece together in a comparison video. The results are below.

1) Sleepsong from Secret Garden, Wessex Sinfonico, then Adams E3

2) Solo from Holst 2nd Suite in F, Wessex Sinfonico, then Adams E3

3) Danny Boy, Wessex Sinfonico, then Adams E3 (some inopportune valve sticking right before the last phrase on the Adams clip)

My recording gear has now been sold to someone down the street, so that takes me off the hook for any more recordings. I'm kidding, sort of, but I am not too good at recording, and I can't seem to really capture the Euphonium very well. But hopefully this is good enough to compare the two different Euphoniums.

[Shawn]

Thanks--good stuff.
And thanks for keeping the excerpts to a most useful length.

[MichaelSchott]

First of all, I love your heartfelt expressive playing. Second, as good as the Wessex sounds, the recordings show it having an edge and a bit of tightness. The E3 has a roundness and openness. The word that best describes the sound is effortless.

[John Morgan]

Thanks Shawn and Michael. I like the characterization of the sound of the Adams as effortless, it is an amazing horn, and I think I am so used to it now after 5 years, that it feels almost effortless to me when I play it, and I want it to sound that way. The Sinfonico is a brand new, unplayed horn (at least it was when I first got it), so there might be a little breaking in and getting used to it before it totally settles in.

I would not expect the Sinfonico, nor most horns for that matter, to sound as good as the Adams does, but there is no denying that the Sinfonico is a very, very nice horn and extremely hard to argue against at its impressive price point.

[bbocaner]

both sound great! the adams is a really big expansive sound whereas the wessex is smaller and perhaps a tiny bit sweeter.

[John Morgan]

Thanks, Barry! Keen observations, I think.

[RickF]

Great playing John! Good comparison excerpts. Considering the price difference the Sinfonico sounds pretty good.

[John Morgan]

Thanks, Rick! I suppose one could buy 3 1/3 Sinfonicos (that would be 3 complete horns and a bunch of spare parts) for what the Adams cost. That sure makes the Sinfonico a great horn for the price. I am even hesitant to say it that way, because I truly believe the Sinfonico is a really good horn, regardless of price.

[Shawn]

How many people testing this thing also tested the ACB Doubler?
Would be interested in that comp.

[daruby]

Shawn,

The same team is involved in testing the Sinfonico as the Doubler. However, these are fairly widely spaced in time. Also at different price points. The Doubler positions more closely with the Wessex Dolce.