I first heard the XVX using Boulder pre/power amps and found it distressingly "bombastic" and felt terribly underwhelmed. However, as an owner of Alexia 2's I knew it was very unlikely that the XVX was at fault. Then about 9 months later I got to hear them again but this time with top-end Spectral gear and all became clear - this speaker is tremendous. And in retrospect, it cannot hide deficiencies of what's upstream. And I don't know what electronics and any other upstream components Harley owns and uses with the XVX but likely as not, these have been selected with experience in using prior Wilson speakers as well as input from Wilson and others who test and test the hell out of equipment. After all we're not buying a complete high-end auto, but putting together a system of components ourselves. Every link in the chain will matter.
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