Bartokfan - You are a riot!
I like to think that I'm not completely deaf, being a musician, (piano guitar and cello), going to symphonic and chamber music concerts regularly, but out of: Kharma, JM Lab, Dynaudio, Revel, Totem, B&W, Quad, Klipsch, Von Schweikert, Verity, god knows how many others... out of all these, the BEST STUFF (asin, made me forget about gear and hear music) that I have EVER heard, have come out of Wilson speakers.
Unless I hear something that I like better (unlikely, but possible) my next pair of speakers will be a brand new pair of Wilsons, pride of ownership and all.
Talk is big, and I'm "going for it," right? |
Bartokfan:
You were probably talking about 5.1 or 6s back then---i agree they were fatiguing. The 6s drove me crazy and it didn't matter what electronics i heard them with---that tweeter was hot.
The Sophia broke that mold and has followed through with the W/P7 and Maxx2. I don't find any of the new models fatiguing. Honestly, its a very different sound and one you should hear for yourself before coming to a definitive conclusion.
KeithR |
i own the 6s and have never had a problem w/ a hot top end once i set them up right.
plug & play, the older versions are not. system matching is critical. but get it right, and they're quite special.
and i for one am THRILLED about dave raising prices. two reasons why: Resale Value.
good man.
rhyno |
No one thought about the fact that the guy in Arizona who replaced his Alexandrias for Zu Definitions may have just been desperate for cash and needed to downgrade. It does not automatically mean that if he went to a cheaper speaker that it must be better. Sometimes people go from a Ferrari to a BMW, just another of life's sacrafices. |
KeithR,
Spot on comments. I would _never_ have purchased the 5.1's or 6's as they weren't my cuppa', I found the mid-treble beamy and the upper bass pronounced.
I liked the Audio Physic sound (Old V. Caldera). The Sophia changed all that, and I went from the Sophia to the 7's/WatchDog, then to the MAXX 2's in quick succession, maybe over two years. despite comparing them to many top models--in my home, how many that slander Wilson have done that? The answer in this and other Wilson "bashing" threads is self evident.
I don't begrudge anyone their choices and biases as we all have our own. However there are _way_ too many posts in this and other recent Wilson threads categorically denouncing Wilson speakers as if they're a scam, and anyone that owns them is a dupe, a status seeking mongrel or part of the Wilson marketing machine.
All those opinions are _nonsense_, and pure ill-informed speculation They are excellent speakers made in the US that are fairly priced for what they cost to produce. That was the thrust of the advert as I saw it, and more of a defensive ad, given the abuse that gets heaped on anything Wilson in these and other forums.
The kicker is, anyone that works in this industry, with intimate, in home experience with the current Wilson speakers at a _minimum_ respects them. And those of us privy to the costs of US labor/ production and the make-up of their speakers has _no_ qualms regarding Dave's sincerity in stating his opinion in the ad.
Either it's an elaborate conspiracy involving Fremer, Harley, Bolin, Mickelson, VTL, Audio Research, BAT, Lamm, Shunyata and countless other companies, professionals and music lovers that back Wilson, or... the speakers are actually really well designed and perform well in many applications--not all--no product does.
Me, I'm not big on conspiracy theory other than what's on HBO. But I am aware that these forums _thrive on it_.Enjoy yourselves, what a colossal waste of time and energy.
Best,
Grant
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Gee all this time i felt I had to hear the Theil's in south Alabama to compare with the seas. seems I have to track down Wilson's new line. Might have to go to Houston for that. |
Hey, Bartokfan - no need to track down the new Wilson line for a listen. It seems your mind is already made up... |
Froggerz how you can read folks disingenuious comment. Shame on me. But let me ask you, if it OK someone is a devotee of one brand, another of a different line, and a3rd audiogon member a big fan of yet a totally different line. I shouldn't even be on this thread. I'm like in aforeign land, sorry to impose myself where I do not belong. I've learned a lesson here, I need to keep silent in opinions on all other labs , except the one I like.
Nice Day
Paul |
Samuel...Grant
Thank you for your post, well put.
Getting back on thread,
I have learned from the Wilson people and that the 8's have a TOTALLY new cabinet design "The 8's cabinet does not share any parts with the 7"s"
The Tweeter and Midrange drivers are from the Maxx2
Also the speaker is not into production quite yet, should be in couple of weeks.
As for cost vs. value...it took me about 3 years to decide (and save), for me it was cost vs affordability. In those years, and prior, I tried to audition as may speakers as possible...IMHO none matched MY listening enjoyment as the Wilson's did
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As a former customer of Wilson Audio and owner of Watt/Puppy 7's, I have nothing but good things to say about them. I've always found the bashing of Wilson Audio amusing. It's human nature to want to hear good things about your "stuff" even if it comes from someone whose only qualification to comment is that he/she has access to a computer and can type. Audiogon is certainly one valuable tool to use when looking to purchase but be it still comes down to what it sounds like to you. |
Two thoughts....as for electronics for Wilson (presently have Sophia 2...but moving to WP8 when available)...I don't care for the Audio Research sound....or for that matter most tubes....they make records sound great....but very far removed, at least for me, from live sound...be it a Jazz combo, classical or rock...on the other hand I also agree that many, if not most solid state amps aren't particularly musical....but there are some nice ones out there....I enjoy Spectral....and presently use Ayre...waiting for the new mono blocks to arrive...I have been very impressed with what Ayre does....and feel its a great match with Wilson...
John |
Hikejohn
not sure where you live however if you are ever in the Bay Area I would love to give you an audition to not only dissuade you about your notion of tubes and Audio Research. It is about as real as it gets |
John- i spoke with Ayre about Wilson compatibility, and it is one of the references I believe they use (with others, of course). From the room i heard at the show, i think it would be an awesome combo (the new monos)although i would still prefer a tube pre I think.
I'm not a huge ARC fan either, although Oneobgyn has been dying to prove me wrong on the Ref 3 :) My general feeling about ARC is that it is a tad too SS-like for my tastes (and therefore, why not get SS)
KeithR |
"I'm not a huge ARC fan either, although Oneobgyn has been dying to prove me wrong on the Ref 3 :) My general feeling about ARC is that it is a tad too SS-like for my tastes (and therefore, why not get SS)" Keith, I do intend to prove you wrong about the Ref 3 when you are next up here in the SF Bay Area. IMO, it is the best preamp that I have ever owned. |
When I decided to get the Wilson's...after spending about 10 years looking for something clearly superior...I had to listen through the AR Ref 3....fortunately it didn't deter me from determining what the speakers could do....neither did show rooms that added warmth....and to a degree a level in trust of a sales person who had some understanding what I was seeking....and since I was in the speaker business a strong sense of how rooms and setup could greatly injure the potential of any given speaker...so I filtered all that out....given that...Wilsons seem to have the ability to let the music come through...which then gives me a chance to measure the result against live music....which then led to me Spectral and Ayre equipment....all tube stuff (except perhaps in pre amp area)intrude too much into what I hear versus the potential of live music....but some tube stuff....some of the time...sound "magical"...but alas not real....the other issue is the subtle...but always there...degnigration of the tubes themselves...and the level of heat that they generate....that slowly and absolutely erode sound quality...rarely in an obviouls manner...but none the less relentlessly. But not my concern at this point....just hopeful that the WP8s meet expectations |
I had been waiting to get WP7s, and now have the opportunity to get a pair relatively "cheap" with the 8's coming out, but have found the more I listen to them, the thinner and brighter they seem. I thought tubes might add some fullness and warmth to them, so I auditoned them for hours with VTL and Nagra and found it less to my liking then SS- great detail, resolution and imaging, but lacking in emotion and fatiguing. I don't have the same problem with the MAXXs, but was not particularly enamored of the Sophia 2, although a definite improvement over the 1. I'm wondering if the WP8 will resolve (or ameliorate) the problem, but at too high a financial cost, or if the right electronics can satisfy me with the 7s.
OB, I met you at Tzucc's house a few weeks ago- I'd love the opportunity to hear your set-up at some point.
Terry |
"OB, I met you at Tzucc's house a few weeks ago- I'd love the opportunity to hear your set-up at some point." It would be a pleasure |
