Alexx V Received Rave Review in TAS
 

I had thought someone would have noted it. There are reviews and then there are reviews. The Alexx V received a notable very well written positive review in the May/June 2022 TAS. It is worth reading for anyone considering a speaker in this price range. Certainly a stout competitor for the Magico M6, Aida, or Rockport Lyrica. Also for the Sonja 2.2i that recently received a crossover update and reviewed in this issue. There are many wonderful speakers in this category that lie just below the flagship category. Although many would think it expensive, you get a lot of speaker and it seems like a significant improvement over the original Alexx, which was being pushed by the Alexia 2. At over twice the price the Alexx V has emerged as the clearly superior speaker, which is as it should be.

With the exception of the upper midrange all the drivers are new and are in a platform that can show off all their excellent features. Before Daryl Wilson I felt that Wilson was first and foremost a materials, crossover, and cabinet loudspeaker company, not a driver company. With the advent of Daryl Wilson exceptional drivers and isolation devices (Acoustic Diodes/Pedestals) have been added to the Wilson repertoire.

It would seem that Alexx V sets the stage for the new generation of Wilsons over the next half decade. :yes:

Best

Charles

I understand the Alexia 2 is to receive the V treatment at some point but I doubt it will qualify for scaffolding. Wilson does trickle down technology extremely well.

Alexx V soundstage height question
 

This is my first AA post ---
I planning to join the Wilson speaker owner family. The question is "which model"? My room is 16 ' by 21' with 9.5 ' ceilings.
My local dealer suggests either the Alexx or Alexia or Sasha. I heard the Alexx V and I think it is an amazing speaker. BUT I'm concerned about what I perceive its high projection of the sound stage. Vocals appears 6+ feet from the floor. I'm normal height (5' 11") and sitting in a normal height seat (at my dealer). I'm used to more direct sound hitting my ears from speakers that are ~40 inches in height. I asked my dealer and he said the Alexx is adjustable and they would fine tune the alignment in my room so I wouldn't have this issue. Well I thought about it--- 1) Tweeters are very directional so I don't see how pivoting the tweeter box will change where the perceived signal is coming from. 2) vocals, as I've learned are in the range of 155 hz to 1000 hz (approximately). the Alexx V lower midrange crosses over from the woofer at 150 hz and the upper midrange at 750 hz (per John Atkinson), so my issue with vocals appearing high on the soundstage may be heard from the midrange drivers, not the tweeter. But the midrange drivers also have the same alignment issue I described above as with the tweeter. Granted, midrange drivers are less directional than the tweeter. Can someone (Bill?) shed some light on this and give the definitive answer? This issue leads me to consider buying instead the Alexia or Sasha. I didn't hear this issue with the Sasha, but I did hear it with the Alexia. Thanks in advance for your comments.

The image height should always vary with the recorded height of the source material. The three most obvious causes of an image too tall all the time would be:

• Speakers are raked - this should never be done on a Alexx V or most other Wilsons.
• Speakers are not vertical side to side. Speakers must be vertical side to side and front to back (again no rake).
• Instead of setting the speaker to the correct nomograph settings, the settings were "tweaked." Nomograph settings are calculated for arrival time at the ear. Set them wrong and all bets are off.

Fine tuning module positions in your room is a misnomer. The speaker is being aligned for your listening distance and ear height in your room. These are measured values. Assuming speakers are positioned in zones of neutrality and the listening position well chosen, overly tall image does not exist and the speaker disappears.

I agree with metaphacts.

One other thought--when I reduced my noise floor with better cables and power conditioning a couple of years ago, my sound stage seemed to rise, at least on women's vocals and horns. Perhaps the size of the soundstage is now covering a larger area due to a better system overall?

Metaphacts - thank you very much for your insights. I think I can put that issue aside (until installation!) and focus on other buying decisions. But can you provide a specific recorded song or two so that i can use as a "reference" on this issue? Thanks again!

I have listened to the new Alexx V's and have found them to be a marvelous set of speakers and great addition to the Wilson line. However, Matt Clott's review in the TAS is rambling mess in need of a good editor's blue pencil. It took Matt a lot of newsprint to finally get to the subject at hand. A principal lapse is not including some known reference recordings and citing aspects of those recordings that are rendered to great effect. There is no evidence of using superior analog as part of the reviewing process. He does make some comparisons with competitive speakers, but only by using his auditory memory which is always a dicey exercise. For comparison, take a look at the writing of TAS reviewers such at Anthony Cordesman, Paul Seydor (who is guilty of long reviews, but they do contain real meat), Jim Hannon, and Harry Pearson in his heyday.

Great speaker! But, sorry, another babble-filled review.

Bob
__________________________________________________ ___________
Sources: Clearaudio Jubilee MC/Clearaudio Innovation Wood TT w/Universal Arm 9” and Professional Power 24V; MCT500 CD/SACD transport; OPPO 205; NAD C446 Internet Tuner; Nakamichi 670ZX cassette deck. Electronics: MacIntosh C2700 preamp w/DA2 and MC462 power amp. Speakers: Wilson Yvettes with Acoustic Diodes Headphones: MacIntosh MHP 1000 Interconnects: Transparent SBL2 XLR GEN 6 balanced and SSC8 GEN 6 speaker cables; MCT - MCT500 -> C2700.Power cords: Transparent (on preamp, power amp and transport). Surge protected. Record and CD maintenance : Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional Sonic RCM; L’Art du Son CD treatment.

Bob, I enjoyed the review. When I read reviews I come away with a general impression and his was very positive. He also owns an Alexia 2 and I believe he will purchase the Alexx V, although he did not specifically say so.

I do think he missed the boat comparing the treble in the Alexia 2 to the Alexx V, implying it was mostly because of the new tweeter. I remember asking Peter McGrath concerning the Alexia 2 vs Alexx treble because it uses the Mark III tweeter. He said specifically and emphatically that the original Alexx had the superior treble. I purchased the Alexx based solely on his recommendation. I think you have "big Wilsons" and "small Wilsons". It is more appropriate to respect this distinction when comparing one Wilson to another.

Although the driver is quite important, it's the overall platform that makes more difference, unless Wilson goes to a Be or other hard dome.

Bottom line, the Alexia 2 has a wonderful treble that competes effectively in its price point. When and if it is upgraded, it will not surpass the original Alexx. It's a significant mistake. I don't think you would see other more seasoned reviewers make this comparison.

But it was a very positive review which I enjoyed reading. :yes:

Best

Charles

Regarding the soundstage height, having owned a Maxx3, for about 5 years, and Alexx for about 3, and an XVX for about 2, the Maxx3 had the highest sound stage which I did not find objectionable in the least. Neither the XVX or the original Alexx have an abnormally high soundstage.

With my XVX misaligned (only by a little), I noted a lower soundstage than the Alexx. When it was properly aligned, it (for me) has a perfect soundstage height at about the level of the lower quad mag midrange driver, almost exactly at or a little above my eye or ear level.

I have always liked a high soundstage and felt the benefit of the large Wilsons was a high soundstage like the performance is on a stage, but that's just me.

Best

Charles

You have had far more experience with 'big' Wilsons than I so I shall readily accede to your observations. I did not find anything amiss with the image height of the Alexx V I auditioned at Paragon Sight and Sound (or with the old Alexx or the XVX for that matter). Properly set up, imaging is quite natural with Wilsons regardless of size.

However, if we add your criticisms to mine, it would appear that Mr. Clott's review as a piece of audio journalism is subpar even though all three of us came to the same final overall opinion about the Alexx V. I do not believe that the review conveys well the experience of listening to the Alexx V. Where we may agree to disagree, I surmise, is that I did not find that mishmash of a review very enjoyable to read.

Respectfully,

Bob
__________________________________________________ _________
Sources: Clearaudio Jubilee MC/Clearaudio Innovation Wood TT w/Universal Arm 9” and Professional Power 24V; MCT500 CD/SACD transport; OPPO 205; NAD C446 Internet Tuner; Nakamichi 670ZX cassette deck. Electronics: MacIntosh C2700 preamp w/DA2 and MC462 power amp. Speakers: Wilson Yvettes with Acoustic Diodes Headphones: MacIntosh MHP 1000 Interconnects: Transparent SBL2 XLR GEN 6 balanced and SSC8 GEN 6 speaker cables; MCT - MCT500 -> C2700.Power cords: Transparent (on preamp, power amp and transport). Surge protected. Record and CD maintenance : Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional Sonic RCM; L’Art du Son CD treatment.