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Wolf Von Langa SON (TAS 2022 PofY) and Gestalt Audio - my experience & review

In light of the recent accolades for the Wolf Von Langa SON speakers as The Absolute Sound product of the year, I am sharing some feedback.  The WVL brand, along with the technologies used are not well publicized in the US as of yet so I thought it would be helpful to those that read the most recent article.  I also can't do so without sharing feedback on the outstanding experience I have had working with Colin King, owner of Gestalt Audio in Nashville.

This isn't intended to be an extensive review so check out the Jan 2023 TAS for that.  I have been an audio nerd for many years and have owned a decent variety of equipment but I'm generally not a frequent equipment flipper.  That said I have listened to a lot of gear from budget to very high end.  I over-research before making any changes.

My previous setup has been in place for about 10 years and was a Red Wine Audio (now Vinnie Rossi Audio) hybrid DAC/Pre , a VTL tube amp, and Reference 3a Grand Veena speakers in a dedicated small to mid sized room.

The WVL SONs were truly a rare speaker experience compared to anything else I had listened to.  They provide a combination of outstanding detail, tone, realistic sound stage or image, and ultimately musicality.  It achieves this all in addition to being one of the most enveloping speakers I've heard.  I assume this is attributed to the di-pole design.  However, its not imprecise like di-poles I've heard in the past.

Two more thoughts stand out.  First, is that bass information sounds more like instruments than just frequency sounds than most other setups I've heard. The field coil driver technology likely is the reason for that.  It's WVL's hallmark technology and worth the read for those interested.  Second, the most unique thought I've had listening to the SONs is that voices sound like they are coming from a human head.  Many speakers do a great job of placing a voice in 3D on the soundstage.  But this is the first time I've noticed the source of the voice in addition to the voice itself.

The SONs are very good at very delicate as well as very complex or dynamic music.  I listen to anything from vocals, jazz, and guitar only all the way through orchestra, metal, and rap...truly everything.  Good recordings are spectacular but it also makes the worst recordings sound much improved.

These are not the right speakers if your preference is a much more direct, out front, image.  That said WVL makes a horn version that was outstanding but not my style.  Also, the SON's detail is excellent but its delivered in a slightly less edgy manner than many speakers.

In short, they were the best speakers that I can remember every listening to for my taste in audio.  My preference is on the more linear and accurate side of the tube/analog spectrum if that helps.

If you are looking for the WVL line or other audiophile level needs, Colin is the owner of Gestalt and is truly exceptional to work with.  His style is to understand your interest and simply let you hear some things.  He has a great ear but most importantly is extremely non-salesy so you never feel like you're pushed to make a purchase.  His "store" is his house so its more like going to hang out and listen to great gear and great music with a friend.  I've been to far too many audio shops or talked on the phone with many others and he is a rarity in the industry.  For those interested, I live in Louisiana so if someone wants to listen to the WVL's in the area let me know.  He works very well with people that don't live nearby and will ship gear to you if you'd like.

To complete the picture, I also bought the Gold Note DC-10 DAC and power supply.  Also fantastic for my musical tastes after listening to many DACs.  I can share info on that if you'd like to message me.

I'm glad to answer any questions. 

Steve

geauxaudio

Showing 5 responses by geauxaudio

geauxaudio OP
9 posts
 

Thanks for the feedback!  Yes I've heard the 211's as well and they sounded outstanding and provide 20 watts if I remember correctly.  I've read nothing but great things about the Circle Labs but haven't heard it.  The new room sounds like  fun so congrats on getting that project passed through in-house legislation!

geauxaudio OP
9 posts
 

I am currently using the VTL ST-150.  It allows for switching between tetrode and triode mode which I almost exclusively run in triode with the SONs.  That being said, I have heard the SONs with true SET amps and will probably go that direction at some point.  The SON's are very efficient so they are built to work well with SET amps.  As you probably know, Colin has a few very nice options on that front as well  that I have heard (Lamm, New Audio Frontier).

My room is 13 wide x 15 deep x 110 tall.  My understanding is they are very appropriate for larger rooms also but I haven't heard them to comment.

geauxaudio OP
9 posts
 

Hi Metaldetektor,

I had to think about your question a little.  I'm not sure that I would describe the SONs as papery.  I do think that they are very good at representing the detail and harmonics associated with lower lower frequency instruments.  For example, bass drums have a lot of detailed sounds generated from the materials the drum is made from.  I don't hear that from more "clean frequencies" such as electronic instruments (eg. synthesizer).  Again, i'm guessing the precision afforded by the field coil driver technology has much to do with that outcome.  

 

In terms of quirks, I don't any real true deficiencies to speak of.  I would say the characteristics of the SONs that you would need to decide if they are to your liking are that the presentation is centered or possibly even a little set back.  So if you're wanting a very forward or outfront soundstage you won't get that.  Don't read "set back" into that though.  Second, the detail is not overemphasized.  Grannyring said it better than I above in that they are wonderfully resolving but utterly smooth.  It is easy to listen to for a long time vs many speakers that tire out my ears after a while.  The AMT tweeter is outstanding in that I think it is primarily responsible for this resolving yet smooth result which is pretty rare in my experience.

The setup is interesting.   I find they are fairy generous in providing a good image if you have a people listening off center.  Much more so than my previous Reference 3a's.  But they are also very particular when find that last 5% of perfection in setup.  I notice very small tweaks to toe in and position.  I've got my chair about 8 ft away and front baffles about 2.5 - 3 ft from the front wall.  I ended up putting the AMTs on the outer most position as it allowed me to move the cabinets a little closer together.  This was done to move them a little further from the side walls which sounded more linear in my room.  The flippable tweeter is a unique setup feature that can you don't have with most speakers.

One more interesting note.  The speakers are not tall so you'd think it creates primarily a shorter soundstage.  I think it is possibly a littler shorter than my previous speakers that were probably a foot taller.  However, it produces much more variation in soundstage height than other speakers i've spent time with.  I can only assume its more accurately representing the recording given the height variance.  Some recordings sound quite tall vs others.

Hope this helps but let me know if you've got other questions.

geauxaudio OP
9 posts
 

HChilcoat,

I haven't heard the Circle Labs but I know it reviews very well and Colin is a big fan.  I trust his ears.

I'll be interested on your thoughts once you get the gear home.  My VTL delivers 70 watts in triode mode but its not the pure SET signal design that I may end up moving to at some point.  FYI, I probably have around 200 hours on my speakers and they definitely opened up, became more extended, and created a more accurate image in the first 100.  That said you won't be disappointed in the first hour. 

geauxaudio OP
9 posts
 

weebeesdad & hchilcoat,

Before I responded I measured my speaker positions and I apologize but they are just short of 3.5 ft. so I should have checked that before commenting originally. I have played with speaker position a lot and 6 inches to a foot will make a big difference.  If you want a more detailed discussion on that then you can direct message me and I can discuss further on a call.  As mentioned above, they are very good speakers for creating a nice image from multiple seating positions.  But if you're perfecting your main listening positions then little adjustments matter.  I've personally never heard speakers that don't though when listening to good equipment.    I also posed similar questions to Colin.  His comment was that the di-pole/open design doesn't always abide by speaker position norms.  So the short answer is my speakers are optimized at about 3.5 ft out, similar distance from the side walls.  Moving them closer to the front wall does create some low freqency bloom and soundstage isn't as deep.  

My room doesn't have any true room treatments but is carpeted, one wall is 2/3 covered in a heavy curtain, and i have a big cloth couch behind my seat.  

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