Just to add my 50cts worth;
Wilson and ML??? that's the most ridiculous comparison on our planet! This is black and white / night and day, these two systems cannot be compared at all mate.
Wilson's are dynamic driver designs (probably the best ever produced) but there are other brands that can do just as good for relatively far less spend. Magico, Rockport, Gryphon, Genesis and similar mega buck stuff belong in this category and Wilson's are one that have been around for quite a while and know their stuff. Cabinet design, internal bracing, rigidness and stiffness of drivers are like no other, plus weight! No point pumping iron in the gym, you need a bloody forklift to transport these things.
There is currently a pair of Shasa's going for 10 grand in Melbourne, belonged to a previous dealer for ARC and SF. Had a listen to them, although quite good driven with ARC amps (Ref150 SE) soundwise not my preference after having lived with stats for so long. Colour black with gold spikes, looks stunning with the piano black finish but not as stunning as that granite colour, oh very nice...
ML stats, whether hybrid or full range have been bettered along the way in every model produced. I did have the CLS IIz back in tropical land, it was the most coherent stat I've ever had. Bass was not that great, agreed but it could do tuneful and musical bass that was good enough to my liking, although I would have preferred a bit more low end punch. The CLS didn't last too long in the tropics, same issues with my older Quads, hence moved onto Maggies, which lasted longer but required frequent ribbon tweeter replacements due to high humidity- we're talking around the 90% region, and after the heavy rains this goes up to 95%, you just sweat buckets even trying to change the tweeter, and forget about biasing 16 output tubes per channel unless close to the fridge! Being naked doesn't help either...
Comparing the CLX Art- I am very passionate about these stats, as they are the best I have heard to date! ML's new masterpiece series is certainly a force to admire, I am sure they are well capable of all the superlative traits of internal bracing and cabinet rigidness, being far heavier than the Reserve line. Not only that, they also include ARC (anthem room correction) and DSP in their line up, so this is where that critical integration of panel to driver will be a perfect match. I am already getting a taste of that in the Ethos and I don't see nor hear any shortfalls in integration whatsoever (ML has come a long way in this regard, and they take it very seriously).
I am not sure what you have finally decided on but all I can say is I hope you are addressing the sonic factors that you are looking for?
What is lacking with the CLS? Are you not satisfied of certain things it can't do? In which case what areas? Once you have identified these areas of sound then matching a so called "better" component will allow you to accomplish those areas that were lacking. Therefore, you should really be heading in the direction of stats, since you are familiar with this sound and design, and manufactured from one of the most respectable stat specialist- ML!
If you are trying to fill these "in-adequate" areas of the CLS with dynamic driver types, I am afraid that is not the right direction, as this is a completely different type/kind of design altogether! Once you get the Shasa's, later on you will realise their faults and want to "better" that sound, and then the vicious cycle begins and our dealer folks and brands love your extra spend! Obviously there is no ultimate and true end to this madness. There will always be better along the way.
I have learned along the way, that at one point we will get very very old and our ears will fall off. Plus the wax build up will make no speaker cable nor any maga buck interconnect sound best, even if it was made from diamond material from another planet. I would prefer to just enjoy what I've got for as long as possible having all senses in working out with a good hair cut and less wax as possible- after all there is better transparency when you clean your ears...
Cheers mate and trust you make a wise move to YOUR specs, and that your ears will be the ultimate judge. Don't do any final purchases without a proper listen in the right set up. Also as one member stated, if you are/were using a Krell with the CLS, yes he's probably right, you have not heard what the CLS can really do with a Krell.
At the time I was using a CJ Premier 11A and Manley 350 reference series (built by VTL)- wow wee indeed!
The Krell may actually suit the Shasa's better though, as it will drive it better producing an effortless sort of dynamic affect that you were not experiencing on the CLS's, just my thoughts...
Have a good one, RJ