AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Manufacturers Forums > Wilson Audio

Wilson Audio Authentic Excellence

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-13-2022, 10:26 PM
Charles Charles is online now
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,230
Default New ActivXO Crossover Installed

The installation went smoothly. No surprises. The unit seems extremely well made. I had no difficulty adjusting the subwoofer output. Sounds great. Mac and Wilson are a super combination.







Installed but not adjusted, or fine tuned. I think it very beautiful in appearance.


__________________________________________________ _
Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest
New gear on order: 3 AS125 custom made McIntosh amps stands
Most recent updates: Latest is the last one posted: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee; Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx replaced by Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; new subwoofer crossover; new Galaxy Grey Thors Hammer; Wilson Pedestals; heating and cooling completely reworked and reinsulated resulting in a much quieter, cooler, and more efficient room (cost about 10,000.00). McIntosh MCT 500 SACD/CD transport; Wilson Audio Acoustic Diode for XVX Chronosonic; WEL Signature digital Coaxial cable for MVP 881/D1100 digital connection replacing the optical connection; New plinth for Thor subwoofer made of X material with the Wilson Acoustic Diodes; Thor is now off my floor; MC3500MKII mono block amps (2) and two custom granite slabs; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover; new 75-ohm multi-directional FM antenna for tuner
Amps: McIntosh MC3500MKII mono blocks (2), McIntosh MC1.25KW’s (3). All amps set on floor on custom made granite slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCT500 SACD/CD Transport, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; custom made Wilson Acoustic Diodes
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie; custom plinth of X material with Wilson Acoustic Diode feet; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover
Cables main system: Audioquest WEL Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); WEL Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; WEL Signature digital coaxial cable for MVP 881/D1100 digital connection; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for MVP 851 DVD player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Audioquest Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for MR87 tuner
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals for D1100; MVP881 BR player; MCT500 transport; MR87 tuner; plinth for Thor subwoofer made of X material with the Wilson Acoustic Diodes
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet recently installed Ruud split system 3-ton heat pump.

Last edited by Charles; 05-14-2022 at 12:13 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-14-2022, 12:17 AM
SCAudiophile SCAudiophile is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 4,531
Default

Congratulations Charles!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-14-2022, 09:51 AM
PeterMusic PeterMusic is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 636
Default

Hi Charles--looks beautiful. I have to confess that I don't understand the value of the Active XO relative to internal subwoofer controls, and I could not glean it from the Wilson site. What is your hope here? Thanks
__________________
Clearaudio Ovation with Tracer Dynavector KARAT 17DX Naim Uniti Core Schiit Yggdrasil McIntosh C22/MC275 Wilson TuneTots B&W DB3D Nordost QKore/QBase/Frey 2 Transparent Super IsoAcoustics GAIA II
Stax SR-009S with SRM-700T
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-14-2022, 10:59 AM
Charles Charles is online now
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,230
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SCAudiophile View Post
Congratulations Charles!
Thank you Mark. You have an absolutely amazing system. You too have put a tremendous amount of thought and effort into your absolutely reference system. I think most people when they come over to listen, have no idea of the effort or cost we have put into our systems. If you simply throw money you wind up with a hodgepodge chasing after every new power conditioner, cable or doodad. I try to stay disciplined. I have had two Watch Controller's and it was time for an upgrade. I am extremely pleased with the ActivXO.

Best

Charles

Last edited by Charles; 05-14-2022 at 03:32 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-14-2022, 11:10 AM
Charles Charles is online now
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,230
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterMusic View Post
Hi Charles--looks beautiful. I have to confess that I don't understand the value of the Active XO relative to internal subwoofer controls, and I could not glean it from the Wilson site. What is your hope here? Thanks
Peter, the new unit has significantly improved my sound. I have a good friend whose name I can't mention. I asked about ancillary gear for subs, like cables, amps, crossovers, etc. I have found that these do make a huge difference to the overall quality of your sound. Not just the bass.

The Thor has no internal controls. It's just a massive woofer. I run low pass only at 30 Hz. Phase is set a zero. Mono. Balanced. Line In. High Pass is out. It was quite simple to adjust the overall volume. A properly tuned sub like a Thor improves the quality of the mids and treble.

I don't know why I didn't upgrade from the Watch Controller sooner. I have significantly improved my sound. Making the sub second class dies hard. I have told my friend who is very knowledgeable and has the money, and he has finally provided his subs the amps they need. Actually, the subs need at least the amplification as your mains.

Best

Charles

Last edited by Charles; 05-14-2022 at 02:52 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-15-2022, 10:17 AM
PeterMusic PeterMusic is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 636
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles View Post
Peter, the new unit has significantly improved my sound. I have a good friend whose name I can't mention. I asked about ancillary gear for subs, like cables, amps, crossovers, etc. I have found that these do make a huge difference to the overall quality of your sound. Not just the bass.

The Thor has no internal controls. It's just a massive woofer. I run low pass only at 30 Hz. Phase is set a zero. Mono. Balanced. Line In. High Pass is out. It was quite simple to adjust the overall volume. A properly tuned sub like a Thor improves the quality of the mids and treble.

I don't know why I didn't upgrade from the Watch Controller sooner. I have significantly improved my sound. Making the sub second class dies hard. I have told my friend who is very knowledgeable and has the money, and he has finally provided his subs the amps they need. Actually, the subs need at least the amplification as your mains.

Best

Charles
Thanks, Charles. A number of interesting points in here, and they all ring true. Especially your global point about treating the subs as well as you treat your mains. The vast majority of audiophiles, me included, have a track record of underinvesting time and money in subs relative to mains. To save some small amount of face (haha), I am pleased to report that Gaias for my sub, to match the Gaias on my mains, arrive next week, and I am hoping to audition the LoKe in the Fall.

As to your other post noting that almost no one knows how much we've spent on our systems...thank goodness!
__________________
Clearaudio Ovation with Tracer Dynavector KARAT 17DX Naim Uniti Core Schiit Yggdrasil McIntosh C22/MC275 Wilson TuneTots B&W DB3D Nordost QKore/QBase/Frey 2 Transparent Super IsoAcoustics GAIA II
Stax SR-009S with SRM-700T
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-17-2022, 12:09 AM
Charles Charles is online now
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,230
Default

To give a bit of an impression of the ActivXO, I really like it. I have played most of my bass references. Just finished one and I am impressed. The bass sensitivity and resolution is significantly improved over the Watch Controller. The noise floor is significantly lower. I will tell you, the MC3500 is the best amp for bass I have ever heard, hands down, no question, WOW. Who would have thought this from a tube amp? Combined with the new ActivXO, my bass has reached a new level. It's hard to turn the system off.

Best

Charles
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:22 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video