PMC versus Wilson Audio

Coincidentally I auditioned the Alexia 2s and the new PMC Fenestria back to back yesterday and today. Alexia 2s at a dealer, driven by Naim Statement monos, and Fenestria at the Festival of Sound show in London, driven by AVM 1.2KW monos. There was absolutely no comparison, the Fenestria blew the Alexia 2s, and everything else at the show out of the water. It could be the room or setup, but the Alexia was in a somewhat treated dedicated listening room, while the PMCs were in an untreated hotel conference room.

Alexias sounded like really nice hi-fi speakers, sounded great on certain instruments and voice. I do think the setup wasn't done 100% properly.  The Fenestria, they were simply stunning, my jaw was open for the first 3 songs. It's just a whole wall of music with precise image that wasn't picky about sweet spot, uniform and yet layered presentation, incredibly detailed and balanced with refined yet impactful bass.

If you are looking to spend Wilson Alexia money, please do yourself a favor and audition the Fenestrias. 

I've heard the PMC MB2 SE's sound tremendously impressive at shows.A real combination of bowl-you-over dynamics, a big sound, with timbral realism.   Especially from outside the room, it often sounded like a live jazz band, and sometimes even something like a real orchestra, was pounding away from within the room.   Then again..those PMCs do seem to be demonstrated at "turned to 11" volume levels at shows, to show what they can do.
I wasn't nearly as impressed by the smaller, narrower floor standing models I've heard from PMC.  I found them competent, but unexceptional.  (Then again, I haven't had time with them in really optimal conditions).

@prof Your description os the MB2 SE is exactly my experience with the Fenestrias, it just felt like those speakers had no limits in all aspects of sound. The PMC rep there said that they were trying to bring the same level (or better) performance of the SE series to more home friendly speakers.

That was my first time hearing any PMCs and I came away so impressed thinking I must check out the rest of the PMC line like the Fact. It's kind of disappointing to hear that they are not all that special in comparison. I guess I will just wait for them to launch the lower level products under the Fenestria.

If your room is 12 by 16 you can not use any speaker with extremely deep bass.

That means much less lofty speakers.

A speaker with in room bass response to 35 -30hz and no lower.

Unless your room is open to another room you will get way too much bass and it will be boomy.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

not true from my experience @audiotroy