A brutal review of the Wilson Maxx

Richard has auditioned the speakers in familiar surroundings. He is one of Brook Berdan's best friends and has speant time with the speakers.

Bigtee, I agree.

As most of us did, I purchased on sonics alone. I don't entertain, I have a large dedicated room designed by Rives that only myself and my 6 and 8 year old girls see. Finish and aesthetics are decidedly secondary to the point of inconsequence. I respect and admire Richard Vandersteen and the 5a's, They are great speakers. want more?

Mr Hyde-----

OK, I admit to being a superficial schmuck, driven by gloss and appearance. I paid a premium for speakers merely because they looked cool and stood tall, and my surfer bud's respect me better --and the gals, well, they fall over at the sight of my monolithic Wilsons--It's all in the name, dude.

Although the sound is terrible, it gives me an excuse to post in audio threads, arguing with people that post opinion with no direct experience, crapping on products they know little to nothing about.

peace.

:-) just for fun

Brutal is right.

I've read some of Hardesty's articles a few years ago and enjoyed them and even had the pleasure to meet him at CES earlier this year.

At the very least, Hardesty brings up some interesting points. How valid or invalid they may be matters little to me. I will say that this is not the first time I've heard such statements about the Wilsons.

But considering the risks of a review like this I seriously doubt Hardesty didn't "do his damn homework" as somebody above exclaimed.

I could be wrong but I think the audioperfectionist is Hardesty's primary source of income. Regardless, for him to write such an insincere review is professional suicide.

Forget whether he's right or wrong. If he wrote this with even a hint of a "get even" attitude as another put it, he's probably done.

If he's sincere but sincerely wrong, he has potentially seriously damaged his reputation.

If he's right but with wrote with ill-motives, he has potentially seriously damaged his reputation.

If he's right and wrote with proper motives, he's a real standup guy willing to risk his profession and there's going to be a lot of angry customers.

In other words, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the odds are not in Hardesty's favor to pen such an unfavorable review.

Certainly Hardesty realizes this. Even if others don't.

-IMO

I didn't listen to the MAXX, but I did listen to the Sophia model and they were thin, very bright, and didn't image well. The build quality was excellent, although I'm not a fan of the shiny finish but if you are, wow.

I hoped that they were as good as people's comments as I need a carrot on the end of the stick for my Quatro wood signature II speaker replacements. The sophia just isn't it.

Go figure ,

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/speakers/messages/29/292811.html

Very interesting thread.

I wonder 6 or so years later if anyone's opinion's or tastes have changed :-).

I see the audioperfectionist is no more and Wilson has gone from strength to strength, but probably no less controversial

Interesting read. I have listened to the MAXX IIs and Sophia IIs and with the correct associated gear, they are excellent speakers. Over priced, that is not for me to decide. I can also agree that without the correct assocaited equipment, they can sound very poor. Most of the dealers that I have heard them at had unfortunately had very poor sound. It wasn't until hearing them at a friends home and switching some components in and out did we hear their potential.

Happy Listening.

I have listened to them and the Alexandria, and found neither to my liking.

This may be less a reflection of Wilsons, than a statement on the way most loudspeaker much larger than the norm prove unable to put forth a convincing portrayal of the music to me.

For what it's worth, I consider the Sashas truly exceptional loudspeakers.

Just picked up on this thread 9 yrs late.lol Does anyone have the original article? The link on the initial thread has expired.