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General Speaker Discussion Calling all Speakers |
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#11
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I never owned a Wilson speaker system, but in 1982 heard the initial iteration of the WAMM driven, IIRC, by Classé electronics at Garland Audio in San Jose. It impressed me at the time as a system capable of "big", detailed, and dynamic performance, but ultimately sterile in its communication of music. How much that had to do with the speaker system/electronics interface, I can't say.
I'd worked at Garland from 1977 to 1980 (John G. had hired me away from a labor relations job), and in 1979 took, at Dave Wilson's request, a pair of Maggie Tympani 1Ds to his home in Marin County's Terra Linda to demo them in a not-quite-large-enough living room that required a fair amount of panel twiddling to get them to "lock in." Dave and his wife listened intently to a number of recording tracks, and I recall that he was quite impressed with the 1Ds' midrange. But after the demo concluded, I returned to San Jose with the 1Ds in my station wagon. He was looking for more "whomp" in the low end...something that showed up in the WAMM when I heard it in 1982.
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Jim Bedroom: Aurender N150, TEAC UD-505 (AKM version), EMIA Cu Elmaformer passive line stage, conrad-johnson MF2500, Paradigm Studio 20 v5. Shunyata Delta D6, Altaira CG hub. Shunyata Alpha XC, Delta NR v2, Alpha USB, Alpha and Venom CGC/SGC. Wireworld Eclipse 8 interconnect & speaker cables. Stillpoints footers, Butcher Block Acoustics maple platforms. Stillpoints and GIK acoustic panels. Home Office:Windows 11 PC/JRiver 31, TEAC UD-501, Luminous Audio Technology Axiom II Walker Mod passive, conrad-johnson Sonographe SA-250, Paradigm SE-1. Shunyata Hydra (Original Version), Venom 10 NR. Wireworld Eclipse 7 interconnects. Blue Jeans speaker cable. Living-Dining Room: Windows 11 Laptop/JRiver 29, Oppo BD-83, TEAC UD-501 DAC, SOTA Sapphire TT, Graham Slee Era Gold V, Ortofon 2M Black, McIntosh MR-77, c-j Sonographe SC-25, c-j MF2500, Paradigm SE-3. Wireworld 8 IC, Blue Jeans SC. Shunyata Hydra 8 v.2, Shunyata Delta NR, Venom NR. GIK 244 bass & scatter-plate panels. |
#12
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Listened to a Wilson DAW paired with D’Agostino stereo amp with its pre-amp in a good room at JL Audio, Bethesda, MD. Beautiful music. Very detailed, holographic, precise, air, dynamic, tall/wide/deep soundstage, just a tad dry and analytic. A compelling experience.
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McIntosh: MC 1.2kW, C1100, MX123, MC8207, MVP901 Esoteric: D-02X & G-01X, Aurender: W20 SE Paradigm: Persona 7F, C5v3, ADP3, JL Audio: F113v2, CR-1, Shunyata: Everest, Denali 6000/Sv2, Altera Shunyata and WW: PCs, SCs and ICs. |
#13
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Reading some of the comments I am thinking what I remember about all the different Wilson’s I listened to is they were really good at imaging, detail, and slam. To me that says the have a lot of high end detail... a dangerous thing if not carefully matched with electronics. Women usually have better hearing and will pick up on harshness (not necessarily the speakers fault) than men. I gravitated to more integrated whole, rhythm and pace instead of detail at all costs. This is where taste comes in... what do you value? Wilson speakers are exceptional like Magico. But I have gone running from a room with Magico and so much detail (and high frequency noice) my ears were bleeding. I like being ever so slightly on the side warm and musical. Finding the right balance is the attraction and source of frustration of this pursuit.
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George Main: Aurender W20SE music streamer, ARC REF 9SE DAC / CD, Linn LP 12, Koetsu Rosewood SignCartrige, ARC REF 3 Phono Stage, ARC REF 6SE Preamp, ARC 160s amp, Sonus Faber Amati Traditional Speakers,Transparent Ultra IC & SC Library:Aurender N100, Ayre QB9 2020 DAC, Woo WA5-LE amp upgraded tubes, Focal Utopia HP, Sennheiser 800s HP, LCD HP. |
#14
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Wilson uses non-resonant cabinets that push the resonance points lower and lower, near 2 hertz I heard lately? So the drivers are free to strut their stuff without coloration. What are the drivers? Paper Pulp woofers, Doped Paper Pulp mids, Doped Silk Fabric tweeters... Does any of that sound like metal? Again, we all have our preferences and we hear different not only due to age but for physiological reasons. It would be wise to sit and spend some time with Wilson speakers under conditions that allow for a fair and honest audition if one is interested in pursuing a magnificent sound that can be just about everything one asks for. Or not... Go and audition a dozen of other high end speakers and perhaps one of them will connect emotionally. Wilsons as well as some other speakers, in the context of proper synergy, more than speak to me and I can easily build a system around each and enjoy. Precisely what I did with the current system that is not Wilson based. |
#15
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I am very tempted to stay out of this minefield, but I just cannot. I have owned Wilson Sophia 2’s paired with BAT amplification for years. This matchup is effortless, natural, engaging, dynamic and emotionally satisfying. System integration and room treatments are the key elements regardless of brand. YMMV
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#16
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#17
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I’ll chime in, and simply say after an extensive listening session conducted by Peter McGrath, and the great, late Dave Wilson in Boca Raton, FL.
Wilson Audio just isn’t for me. I listened to their finest at the time, with all very high end electronics. It just proves different horses for courses; YMMV.
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Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
#18
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#19
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The approach to this thread seems a bit loaded...but I may be a snowflake. I started out with a pair of B&W 803D eight years ago. Found them to “polite” so added a JL Audio F212 for some heft. Had an opportunity to trade in for a pair of Sasha 2’s. Liked the sound profile more but still somewhat unfulfilled. Traded in for Sasha DAW. This was closer to what I was looking for. Two years later traded for Alexia 2 - and liking this change as well. I do not have any experience with Sonus Faber though lots of props for that line and many others in this forum. In my very finite experience- The Wilson sound has evolved noticeably since the Sasha 2 and I like the direction Daryl is taking things. Enjoy your choices...and hopefully your spouse does as well. :-)
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#20
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I had a pair of Sabrinas for an extended home loan. They were magical on vocals, but really insufficient on the low end. Between that and my wife opining that they looked like coffins, it was a short-lived affair.
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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 |
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