The Wilsons, in their earlier incarnations, leaned (no pun intended) from thin sounding (Series 1), to richer sounding (Series 2) to lean again (Series 3). Depending on which incarnation you are using, this may be helpful information.
I don't believe that Dave ever used components that sounded "lightweight" as did older Classe equipment (I don't know about current lines; haven't heard them). He always went for a "rich" sound, as in Rowland Research, which assisted in his "voicing" of the very earlier WATTS.
As for the WATTS not having "macro" dynamics, all I can say is Dave must have radically changed the speakers over time. When I had them, I used them with VTL 300s, and, believe me, they had not just macro, but MACRO!!!!! In fact, I might have said, at the time, there were fewer microdynamics than macros.
Someone else suggested the front end would be important and I agree with that wholeheartedly.
And as for "warmth" hiding detail, well...hmmm...not sure I'd agree with that. Just listen to a pair of Avalon Ascents or Eclipse speakers, which have a very natural warmth to them, and they always had terrific ability to convey details. Not to mention their sense of space, which was, on Jadis electronics, Heaven on Earth. I don't think it matters if a sound is warm, unless that warmth is an overabundance of upper bass/lower midrange frequencies. Music needn't sound sterile to convey detail.
I don't believe that Dave ever used components that sounded "lightweight" as did older Classe equipment (I don't know about current lines; haven't heard them). He always went for a "rich" sound, as in Rowland Research, which assisted in his "voicing" of the very earlier WATTS.
As for the WATTS not having "macro" dynamics, all I can say is Dave must have radically changed the speakers over time. When I had them, I used them with VTL 300s, and, believe me, they had not just macro, but MACRO!!!!! In fact, I might have said, at the time, there were fewer microdynamics than macros.
Someone else suggested the front end would be important and I agree with that wholeheartedly.
And as for "warmth" hiding detail, well...hmmm...not sure I'd agree with that. Just listen to a pair of Avalon Ascents or Eclipse speakers, which have a very natural warmth to them, and they always had terrific ability to convey details. Not to mention their sense of space, which was, on Jadis electronics, Heaven on Earth. I don't think it matters if a sound is warm, unless that warmth is an overabundance of upper bass/lower midrange frequencies. Music needn't sound sterile to convey detail.