I never imagined I’d own a pair of Wilson’s but was fortunate enough last year to be able to purchase a pair. I was so impressed by what we heard in the store and understood then what high end audio was about. It’s a speaker I can see myself living with for the rest of my life.
We have 3 sets of Wilsons in our home. The main system is the Alexandria XLFs with a pair of Thors Hammers, and our "TV" listening set is a pair of Sashas. I will NEVER own ANYTHING but Wilsons. There is not one thing I could say against any of these. SUPERB.
I only know two people who are familiar with the Wilsons and both are amazed by the performance. Wilson is definitely a name I'd love in my house. Great video - thanks.
Thanks for the video. I have Sabrina Xs and I also have several power amps; 500 watts, 50 watts, 30 watts and 2.3 watts and they all produce wonderful sound with distinctive personalities thru the Wilsons. That easy-to-drive characteristic of the Sabrina Xs make them even more fun to own. Big Wilson fanboy here.
Yes, but I am 9 feet from my speakers and my room is 18 by 28 with 8 bft ceilings. And with the little amp I never listen more than mid 70 dB. And of course, with more power they sound more dynamic. And I wish you were still racing.@@kimiraikkonen5677
Thanks for the very insightful review of Wilson Audio. One more good point I would like to add is that Wilson Audio speakers are very dependable and long-lasting, if they are well taken care of. Case in point is my Wilson Audio speakers bought in 1998, including Wilson Audio Grand Slamm II speakers and 9 WATT/Puppy speakers in my home theatre, still rewarding me with great satisfying sound to this day. My thanks to Adrian and Wilson Audio.
If I wasn't so into line source (maggies) and wanted point source, I'd own Wilson - the last pair I auditioned, don't recall the model but the price was upper 20K region, so basically one of their lower end offerings - well, they did everything better (than 3.7i's), much better - they should, 4X the price - especially and of course the high and lows, and they were surprisingly coherent too, actually the bass was outstanding in that all of the notes were easily discerned and even though I don't personally think that overly visceral is truly reference, everyone loves it and certainly that was there too - but if I got them for free I wouldn't keep them or maybe I'd use them in a 2nd system if I had the space to spare in my home because everyone knows what they don't do and at that demo it was a stunning contrast - - yep, perfect imagining, but instantly obvious was that type of perfect horizontal sound stage, not very high, not very low, just that point source typical straight line across the room sound stage - and I know, many argue that type of presentation is correct or better - not for me - real music has height, right from the floor on up along with width & depth - and that's something I can't live without - the magnepan soundstage is extremely realistic and personally, I find the maggie imagining to very natural too - if ya want the cookie cutter thing, which strikes me as "hi-fi", buy the wonderful Wilsons, and wonderful they are - I'll never live long enough (evidently) to get the best of both worlds in one speaker although careful tuning of a decent set of subs gets one a bit closer with magnepans - - personally, the Martin Logans don't sound natural enough for me, although those guys are trying to give us the best of both those worlds and I've never had a chance to listen to Danny's open baffle line source flagship offering from GR Research which could well be a really decent compromise between the two.
Great video, Adrian!! Another few bad's of Wilson - 1) When you start with a certain model, you will probably want to continue to upgrade within Wilson's line. 2) You will probably become a Wilson fan boy after owning a pair. 🤣
A few points to add / comment on: 1. The deteriorating foam is a mess. And it has to be changed every few years. If only there was a replacement felt or equivalent, that would be a much better solution. 2. Would be nice if someone posts how many resistors to switch for each of the older speakers and how to access the resistors. And how many years they last for. 3. Big one - some of the older Wilson’s like the MAXX 2 and 3 or the Watt Puppy 8 develop cracks on the paintwork. This is not from accidents, they occur by themselves, probably due to Wilson using different X or M materials for panels and their differing expansion characteristics over time. This looks horrible, affects their resale value a lot and might affect the sound as the shape of the speaker enclosures aren’t the original shape any more. Some resellers repaint the enclosures - one thing to look out for when making a purchase. The repaint usually has an “orange peel” look, not smooth like the original paint.
I was waiting for this one, Adrian. I've had Watt Puppy 7s in red, then Sasha's series 1 in macadamia, and my current Alexia series 1 in seafoam green. I'm enjoying this series. Keep them going, please, Adrian.🎧🙏👍
You failed to mention the worst thing about Wilson speakers - with time alignment, the listening sweet spot is only about 12 inches wide - and it is beautiful. I have had several Wilson speakers, including my latest - the Sasha DAW. I just swapped them out for a pair of used Sonus Farber Amati - now I can move around and still hear the "sweet spot."
I'm with you . . . I can't stand that "head in vice" with such a small sweet spot . . . my Dynaudio Heritage Specials suffer no such aliment :-) Happy listening !
@@Fluterra I have had 4 different Sasha Watt Puppies and the Sasha DAW. They were set up using WASP by my local Wilson dealer, one of the largest in the U.S. Even the Wilson speaker manual explicitly says the listener should not expect more than 12 inches if set up correctly.
The Sabrina X is on my wantlist! in your opinion, which amp sounds better with the Sabrina’s, the Hegel H190 or the Parasound you mentioned? Kind regards, Yorick
If you are into audio at this level (I am not) then none of these things is really "bad". Probably some of the finest products of any kind available anywhere.
I herd the Sabrina hooked up to Boulder Intergrated in a professionally set up in in a sound room at my dealer and noticed box coloration from the sound... at this price point it was shocking...
I sold Wilson for many years at 2 dealers I worked at in San Francisco and became very familiar and serviced and rebuilt many earlier models so I have a few insights. The set up procedure is really more tedious than difficult but can be time consuming. For first timers it's very helpful to have a companion who can move the speakers while you listen. Going solo it took me around 2 hours for the first set I did, but got considerably easier as I had more experience, to the point where I became both dealers go-to for setups. In terms of replacing the diffraction blankets on earlier models, the foam formulation used was very prone to deteriorate if the speaker was exposed to direct sunlight. The newer replacements are a different formulation where that's less likely to occur. Again, replacing the blankets is more tedious than difficult. It greatly helps if you remove and desolder all the drivers. I used LOTS of GooGone, nearly a full bottle for each set I worked on. You need to use very generous amounts, really soak the blankets, then walk away for 15 minutes or so. I used single edged razor blades and the old foam would slough off fairly easily. Don't worry about scratching the finish on the front of the speaker, the new foam is going to cover it anyway. The place where you have to be really careful is the little bit of foam that's on the tweeter baffle. I used Qtips, you must be very careful not to get any solvent on the tweeter surround and be equally careful scraping near the tweeter surround. I usually did rebuilds at the back room of the dealer so getting gooey gunk on the floor wasn't an issue, bur anyone doing this in their home you will want to mark where the spikes go with little V shaped pieces of painters tape and remove them to the garage or other space where it won't be an issue. Provided you've marked the exact position of the spikes it should be relatively easy to get the speakers back into position without having to go through the setup procedure. I found that even Wilson's big speakers can be driven by more modest electronics than you might think. I've demonstrated the MAXX with Rotel and Parasound with excellent results. Of course, the better you go in electronics the more refined will be the sound. After the speakers are finished and placed, a wax job with cannula based wax will shine them up very nicely and they're ready to be enjoyed once again!
Many thanks for your comment; I'm contemplating doing a diffraction pad replace myself on my Sophia 1's against my local dealer's advice and this input regarding what's required is extremely helpful, especially where you confirmed my suspicions regarding the delicacy of the tweeter surround. Which raises the question: What are one's options for dealing with that foam, which is in my case just as sticky as the diffraction pads? Can it be replaced or are we talking a whole new tweeter assembly? Have a wonderful day.
In my opinion, Wilson speakers are spectacular. Literally. They produce a spectacle, one that is amazing in the same way that movie theater sound is amazing. The only problem with this, is that it doesn’t sound like music. It comes AT the listener rather than gently toward the listener.
I love my Sophia 2s and have had them for almost a decade and pair with Naim, now 500 series pre/power and they sound wonderful. I often think about upgrading to higher up the Wilson ladder, but haven’t yet.
Good review - the balance of the older Wilson speakers is not simply down to the tweeter. The Focal unit sounds radically different in the Maxx (II) than it does in the Watt/Puppy. The Maxx's are quite forgiving whereas the W/Ps are not. Funnily enought, the Grand Slamm's are more like the W/P in balance (above 200Hz)
I own a pair of Sophias series 1 and I just love them. I have listened to a lot of other speakers, many of them also great, from Tidal, Focal, etc and I don’t feel any desire to replace them. Wonderful speakers.
Thank you for the honest review Adrian. Looks like the bad and ugly are mostly avoidable except for price (but you get what you pay for). We appreciate the insights.
I am fortunate to have owned the Wilson Audio Alexia2 and now the mighty Alexx V. No doubt, the Alexx V is surely one of the best hi-end audio speakers money can buy !
Hello! Thanks for the video. Is it worth spending 10K as of now for Watt/Puppy 7s? or has the development been signficant to better consider another option at this price bracket?
Industrial robot and HOW LOL IF you read the results of my VERY informal survey (in my post above) among a fair number of the fairer sex, almost each one of them thought of the XVX as a Darth Vader look alike :-) really awful industrial design if you ask me - honestly, I think there are OTHER ways of achieving similar sonic results with MUCH more attractive "packaging" Cheers !
LOVE the "BAD" Adrian :-) Just for FUN I did a VERY informal survey while showing pictures of the Wilson XVX speaker to 11 women (none teenagers BTW :-) . . . 11 out of 11 said that only IF the sound quality matched the SIZE of the XVX's, would they allow them to get anywhere NEAR their living rooms and even then, they would make sure the Darth Vader look-alikes (7 women came up with THAT analogy LOL) they would definitely get HIDDEN behind a sound transparent curtain and ONLY in a dedicated Audio/Video room :-) Women DO have a better sense of the aesthetic - trust them ! LOL Love your "pull no punches" videos, Adrian!
Looking at the resistors in the video, they have heat sinks on them and almost look like transistors (which have 3 leads instead of 2). This suggests to me that regular radial type resistors should last a lot longer than the ones shown in the video because those particular Wilson resistors are apparently providing speaker protection, and not really part of the crossover network. Radial type resistors typically last a very long time; however, if you can easily get to them you can easily check them with an ohm meter. Capacitors in the crossover network (or anywhere) do tend to wear out or dry out (depending on type of capacitor) a lot faster than resistors as a general rule.
Great and honest, as always. "Controversial aesthetics:" The Sasha is as far as I would go for a homey Wilson speaker; their bigger speakers look to me like Darth Vader-General Grievous crossbreeds.
I couldn't agree with you more ! LOL For example the XVX is absolutely horrendous looking and IF someone ever GAVE me a pair I'd put them in a Video room and HIDE them behind a curtain :-) I've used the Darth Vader analogy for YEARS too LOL
I have never liked the voicing of Wilson Audio speakers including the newer models and have listened to them at several dealer demos with excellent electronics. Just my preference. I do like their set up procedure and have used that in my system.
Thanks for your review of the company. The sonic performance, as you noted, is subjective, so whether or not I like them, is irrelevant to the reason for my comment. A particular criticism I have that is aligned with one of your "bads" is the "benefit" of replacing the resistors every few years--however this to be consider bad engineering. The only reason to replace the resistors is because they do not meet a power (wattage) spec. The Caddock resistors, like the original Vishay and Alpha bulk foil resistors are aerospace grade parts that are designed--when spec'd correctly--to last for many decades. . . on earth and beyond. There are many excellent parts to choose from when making loudspeakers, amplifiers, automobiles, etc, and there are many well-designed products that use these excellent parts. Wilson, along with many other companies makes good products. I think it may be worth remembering that there are some aspects to expensive audio products that do not effect the performance--e.g., the amount of money spent on cosmetics can far exceed what makes up the fundamentals of a competent product. I'm not saying not to buy something because of this. I'm only repeating what is not uncommonly forgotten: that the consumer pays for these aspects of a product that have nothing to do with the primary sense served: our ears--and that failing to select a resistor or group of resistors that (should) last longer than the rest of the speaker is "bad" engineering (and in my opinion a questionable decision about money spent on the design).
Thank you for the great videos. I have a McIntosh MA12000 and am thinking of adding the Sabrinas or Serafinos to add with it. Haven't heard them yet. Which would be to your taste with that amp?
I recently had the chance to listen to a pair of Sabrina X with a Luxman integrated and a Luxman CD player. While they sounded good, and I'm probably gonna get a lot of hate for this, but I was underwhelmed.The tweeter is indeed defined but quite forward but not as harsh as Focal, the sound stage is not that deep and there was congestion in the mid-bass, lower midrange. Finally, the bass was a bit "boomy". Was it the match Luxman - Wilson, the store's acoustically treated room? cables? Not sure but I did not find them interesting at all even at the discounted MSRP (converted to Canadian$ :-( ) that the store could sell them to me. Sorry, not a fan...
I had Sonus Fabers (which are often considered to be the best looking speakers) and then replaced them with Wilsons and to my surprise, while I love the look, everyone that has seen then has loved the look. As for price, I get into that with people all the time, but I tell them, you have a family of 4, you're driving a BMW, why are you not driving a Camry? If you see value, it's worth it.
The thing is, with nowadays active & dsp technology there is no reason anymore to produce passive Speakers 70k upwards. People could have a way better experience for way less money when they start to think how sound works and that with DSP, Subwoofers (Arrays), Time Alignment, EQ & of course Room Treatment you get the same or better result for fraction of the Wilson OVP. You can spend thousands of dollars in a passive crossover, or save the money and go straight to aDSP based high end active setup incl DBA (Double / Single Bass Array) wich outperform every passive one for way less money. There is a reaon why for example ATC, Genelec, Neumann, PMC, Trinnov etc are Studio standard and active / dsp based mostly - Resolution, perfect Time Alignment, Benefits of Active, Quality.
I would not use Goo Gone Pro-Power (as shown in the video). Just use regular (original) Goo Gone. The professional version contains paint remover and may not be safe for surfaces.
They are likely fusible resistors, which tend to drift high with age. They were used a lot in older hifi gear to save the OPT's in case of an accident, like speaker cables getting shorted.
Thank you a lot Adrian for your video. A lot of ideas which are very useful at the time of deciding whether to buy a pair of WA speakers. I am also of the idea that being in the universe of sense (hearing) everything is ultimately subjective: what sounds superb for me it can be crap for others. Nevertheless, there are some facts like measurements that place us in the objective zone: a speaker capable of reaching 20 HZ will undoubtedly reproduce the low frequencies better than one that only reaches 40 HZ right? So what to do: is a pair of WA worth more than 10k? In order to try an answer I would dare say that when in doubt apply the cost /benefit equation to your own standards. Just like cars, if the reward/pleasure of driving a Ferrari or a Rolls Royce justify their cost for you then go for it! After all is your money, your pleasures, and your life. Carpe Diem!!
So the speakers can tell from the electrons that it's hooked up to a Macintosh instead of an equally good amp at a much lower price, and they reward you for that?
I heard Wilson and they are fantastic. But what I don't understand, how is it that some speakers cost as much as or more than the components? There are an aray of electronics, displays, knobs, switches in components, let's be honest. Engineering? Great speakers are engineered but so are great components. I'm not suggesting that good speakers aren't an integral part of the overall system, I'm just questioning how manufacturers arrive at the price.
Thanks for another video Clint! Wilson’s sound great and are well made but I don’t like the look and the prices are way out of my price range. Until your next video angel eyes 😊
I don't like the new soft dome tweezers, as they are shrilly to my ears as compared to the magnesium (Focals) which are smooth and blend nicely. In as much as "ugly qualities" the auto style paint - though shiny is extremely unforgiving prone to cracking & chipping should something make contact. Like tempered glass I hope Wilson adjusted the mix formula to better withstand lifes little accidents...
I have wp6s and have listened to many models going up the line. The house sound is there all the way up and the improvements are slight. I recently listened to Sasha Daws and was glad to hear my wp6s were VERY close in SQ. Positioning is everything!!! Anyone who hates on Wilson just didn't have them in the right spot in the room. Millimeters matters. NEway, go for it.
Another downside if you compare it to the speakers price is that the driver units are actually made Scan Speak. Those are really great drivers but also rather inexpensive. So if you care about this then you might want to look at other speaker brands like Focal, B&W or Borresen who develop drivers in house
@@claudioe1 No that is not true. The tweeter for example mostly used by Wilson Audio is a Scan Speak D2604/833000 with another front baffle screwed on. Also look at the mid range cone material on a Sasha V and compare it to Scan Speak like the 18W/4531G00. It's exactly the same
I own Sophia Serie 1 and still love them. My local dealer changed the foam and the grills indeed. But I never heard about this issue with resistors and therefore the are from 2001. Is the Sophia affected by this resistor issue ? Last but not least I paired them with Bryston monoblocs, 7b SST from 2006 (which are too powerful but it doesn’t hurt and that what I found when I needed to replace my Sonic Frontier 160 monoblocs. Is that a good pairing ?
@@adrianlow2114 thank you - very happy with the pairing, less need to crank up the volume to hear details and deep bass if compared with the tube monoblocs - I did wonder if this was due to components fatigue in the Sonic Frontiers or something else but it is surely counter intuitive that super powerful AB transistors amplifiers bring a lot more details and clarity and very low level than tubes…and that at high SPL levels* the difference are much smaller ! (the Sonic Frontier had 160 continuous 8 ohms power while the Bryston are rated at 600 (and even 900 at 4 ohms which is the speakers impedance - this means the Sonic Frontiers were quite powerful for tube amps))
Not necessarily. It depends on the size of the room and listening volume (and the specific Wilson speaker you are talking about). Check the efficiency rating of the speaker and compare it to others. Wilson speakers typically have average to above average efficiency.
Does this person seriously have flat tiles on the wall in a listening room? The sound from the on the voice in this recording tells you what you need to know about how seriously opinions from this channel should be taken.
Auditioned Wilsons. Super well built, looks and sound? Meh. To each their own. I contend that above $10,000, the difference in measurable, audible differences in loudspeakers is akin to the obsession of expensive cables.
There are some things I don't like about speakers in general. You get so little speaker quality for all the money you spend on a speaker. If you spend 5,000 USD to buy the best parts and speaker box you can find for the money, you will get incredibly good speaker components. If you are good at making speaker crossovers, you can get yourself an extremely good speaker. What can you buy for 5,000 USD? Not much! Often when you pick up a relatively expensive speaker to see inside, you are often disappointed by what you see. Speaker factories are often cheaters!!
Rotting foam grills. Not uncommon... I know your not a JBL fan, but I purchased a pair of L-100a back in 1978. About 6 months later I receive a letter from JBL stating that the foam grills were "rotting" and you could take your grills to an authorized JBL repair shop and have the foam grills replaced with cloth free of charge. Blue, brown and orange available just like the foam. Many years later after boxing them-up and moving on to another speaker I opened the boxes just to check on them. JBL used a foam surround around the tweeter. You guessed it.. that foam also rotted. Found replacements and cleaned the surface (you are correct when it came to clean-up.) a mess. ...and that's my ongoing JBL rotting foam story...
Outside their upper echelon, price of a house speakers the rest is really just audio jewellery isnt it. Sound is subjective up until a certain point and lets face it you can buy the same or similar sound for much less but thats not the ;point for the people than want to own this brand.
I started with Sabrinas, went to DAWs, and now own Alexia Vs. Bad about Wilson? It's a drug! Once addicted you can't take anything else. Hence the price. They got ya - haven't they Adrian :)
I think that is the general nature of that type of foam, at least that was available at the time. I don't know if newer types are any better, but if they could find foam that did not deteriorate and had the same acoustical properties, I am sure they would use it. Wilson doesn't need to skimp on the quality of the materials given the prices they charge. But I think "a few years" is not normal, and more like 10-15 years, unless one lives in an unusual environment that causes the foam to deteriorate more quickly.
Crap product, should be active crossovers for low frequencies and the sound compared to those such as Sound Lab is like those of Bose. I had the first with the Focal drivers and are idiotically priced. Audiophiles listen with their eyes too often. Poor detail and DIY was all available and can be made far better.
where is the honesty ? American made they say ? Simply imported drivers from scan-speak or danish ones, assembled in a box, and sold at blown up prices. Tell the truth, if you are a canadian citizen ! Are you tsinese or a native ?
Wilson Audio speakers have always been very UGLY looking, and that has always been their unfortunate weakness and downfall, especially with David Wilson at the helm. I personally wouldn't put them in my living room home, even if they were given to me for free, I would probably put them in my basement or something.
They are accurate, although toned down somewhat in the high frequencies compared to the Wilson speakers of a couple decades ago (as mentioned in the video, they no longer use metal dome tweeters). If you want the truth, and if you can handle the truth, Wilson is it. If want want syrup, get Sonus faber.
Same markup for just about all stuff sold at retail. A retail store has to spend money up front to buy the product to display, and to have some product in inventory, and pay for a listening room.
@@KillianMcBride What products have I posted so many different negative comments about in one video? If he doesn't like Wilson speakers that's fine, he can express his opinion. But I just don't understand why so many different comments in the same video about Wilson. I doesn't matter to me if he hates them, because Wilson speakers are out of my price range, and even if I were rich I would purchase something else, but I find the comments to be suspicious. Based on his user-name, I guess he likes Tascam equipment, but I don't think they make speakers (but they do have headphones). Back in 1972 I sold a Tascam mixing board to a customer.
It you don't like my comments, don't read them. I don't hate Wilson, but they are insanely overpriced and ugly. My Martin Logan STATS are a much better match foy my tastes and top of the line McIntosh system. It is not my job to kiss the ass of anyone including you@@Mark-rw3kw
I never imagined I’d own a pair of Wilson’s but was fortunate enough last year to be able to purchase a pair. I was so impressed by what we heard in the store and understood then what high end audio was about. It’s a speaker I can see myself living with for the rest of my life.
Congrats!!
Wait until you get sick of that mid bass hump. All Wilson makes are cabinets. Everything else is off the shelf. Insanely overpriced
yeah I use to think the same until I compared them with other high end speakers@@TascamTascam
Thanks!@@adrianlow2114
Please don’t be jealous with others who can afford buying a Wilson audio speaker
We have 3 sets of Wilsons in our home. The main system is the Alexandria XLFs with a pair of Thors Hammers, and our "TV" listening set is a pair of Sashas. I will NEVER own ANYTHING but Wilsons. There is not one thing I could say against any of these. SUPERB.
I only know two people who are familiar with the Wilsons and both are amazed by the performance. Wilson is definitely a name I'd love in my house. Great video - thanks.
Thanks for the video. I have Sabrina Xs and I also have several power amps; 500 watts, 50 watts, 30 watts and 2.3 watts and they all produce wonderful sound with distinctive personalities thru the Wilsons. That easy-to-drive characteristic of the Sabrina Xs make them even more fun to own. Big Wilson fanboy here.
Congrats!!
can you drive the Sabrinas with 2.3 watts amp? I think they need more power. What is your listening distance?
Yes, but I am 9 feet from my speakers and my room is 18 by 28 with 8 bft ceilings. And with the little amp I never listen more than mid 70 dB. And of course, with more power they sound more dynamic. And I wish you were still racing.@@kimiraikkonen5677
Of course you can, doesnt mean that they will gwt loud @kimiraikkonen5677
Thanks for the very insightful review of Wilson Audio. One more good point I would like to add is that Wilson Audio speakers are very dependable and long-lasting, if they are well taken care of. Case in point is my Wilson Audio speakers bought in 1998, including Wilson Audio Grand Slamm II speakers and 9 WATT/Puppy speakers in my home theatre, still rewarding me with great satisfying sound to this day. My thanks to Adrian and Wilson Audio.
Hi Dr Lee, thanks
If I wasn't so into line source (maggies) and wanted point source, I'd own Wilson - the last pair I auditioned, don't recall the model but the price was upper 20K region, so basically one of their lower end offerings - well, they did everything better (than 3.7i's), much better - they should, 4X the price - especially and of course the high and lows, and they were surprisingly coherent too, actually the bass was outstanding in that all of the notes were easily discerned and even though I don't personally think that overly visceral is truly reference, everyone loves it and certainly that was there too - but if I got them for free I wouldn't keep them or maybe I'd use them in a 2nd system if I had the space to spare in my home because everyone knows what they don't do and at that demo it was a stunning contrast - - yep, perfect imagining, but instantly obvious was that type of perfect horizontal sound stage, not very high, not very low, just that point source typical straight line across the room sound stage - and I know, many argue that type of presentation is correct or better - not for me - real music has height, right from the floor on up along with width & depth - and that's something I can't live without - the magnepan soundstage is extremely realistic and personally, I find the maggie imagining to very natural too - if ya want the cookie cutter thing, which strikes me as "hi-fi", buy the wonderful Wilsons, and wonderful they are - I'll never live long enough (evidently) to get the best of both worlds in one speaker although careful tuning of a decent set of subs gets one a bit closer with magnepans - - personally, the Martin Logans don't sound natural enough for me, although those guys are trying to give us the best of both those worlds and I've never had a chance to listen to Danny's open baffle line source flagship offering from GR Research which could well be a really decent compromise between the two.
Great video, Adrian!! Another few bad's of Wilson - 1) When you start with a certain model, you will probably want to continue to upgrade within Wilson's line. 2) You will probably become a Wilson fan boy after owning a pair. 🤣
lol yes Paul!
I love your new GB&U reviews. I have read Absolute Sound and Stereophile since the 70s and your take is refreshing and honest. Thank you
A few points to add / comment on:
1. The deteriorating foam is a mess. And it has to be changed every few years. If only there was a replacement felt or equivalent, that would be a much better solution.
2. Would be nice if someone posts how many resistors to switch for each of the older speakers and how to access the resistors. And how many years they last for.
3. Big one - some of the older Wilson’s like the MAXX 2 and 3 or the Watt Puppy 8 develop cracks on the paintwork. This is not from accidents, they occur by themselves, probably due to Wilson using different X or M materials for panels and their differing expansion characteristics over time. This looks horrible, affects their resale value a lot and might affect the sound as the shape of the speaker enclosures aren’t the original shape any more. Some resellers repaint the enclosures - one thing to look out for when making a purchase. The repaint usually has an “orange peel” look, not smooth like the original paint.
Wilson Audio speaker have always been above my price range ... but one can always dream right, I'd love to have a pair.
I was waiting for this one, Adrian. I've had Watt Puppy 7s in red, then Sasha's series 1 in macadamia, and my current Alexia series 1 in seafoam green. I'm enjoying this series. Keep them going, please, Adrian.🎧🙏👍
Thanks glad you are enjoying them Shane
These videos are so good, feels like really honest conversations. Thank you!
My pleasure, thanks
You failed to mention the worst thing about Wilson speakers - with time alignment, the listening sweet spot is only about 12 inches wide - and it is beautiful. I have had several Wilson speakers, including my latest - the Sasha DAW. I just swapped them out for a pair of used Sonus Farber Amati - now I can move around and still hear the "sweet spot."
Yes, thanks
I'm with you . . . I can't stand that "head in vice" with such a small sweet spot . . . my Dynaudio Heritage Specials suffer no such aliment :-) Happy listening !
BINGO, too tunneled for my liking.
You haven’t set them up correctly. You can certainly get a wider sweet spot than 12”. Nothing to do with Wilson.
@@Fluterra I have had 4 different Sasha Watt Puppies and the Sasha DAW. They were set up using WASP by my local Wilson dealer, one of the largest in the U.S. Even the Wilson speaker manual explicitly says the listener should not expect more than 12 inches if set up correctly.
The Sabrina X is on my wantlist! in your opinion, which amp sounds better with the Sabrina’s, the Hegel H190 or the Parasound you mentioned? Kind regards, Yorick
I am very happy with my dynaudio speakers with real rosewood finish for a fraction of the price...
Great video
If you are into audio at this level (I am not) then none of these things is really "bad". Probably some of the finest products of any kind available anywhere.
I herd the Sabrina hooked up to Boulder Intergrated in a professionally set up in in a sound room at my dealer and noticed box coloration from the sound... at this price point it was shocking...
I’m a Wilson Sasha 2 owner and speaker cables are very important too!!
I sold Wilson for many years at 2 dealers I worked at in San Francisco and became very familiar and serviced and rebuilt many earlier models so I have a few insights. The set up procedure is really more tedious than difficult but can be time consuming. For first timers it's very helpful to have a companion who can move the speakers while you listen. Going solo it took me around 2 hours for the first set I did, but got considerably easier as I had more experience, to the point where I became both dealers go-to for setups. In terms of replacing the diffraction blankets on earlier models, the foam formulation used was very prone to deteriorate if the speaker was exposed to direct sunlight. The newer replacements are a different formulation where that's less likely to occur. Again, replacing the blankets is more tedious than difficult. It greatly helps if you remove and desolder all the drivers. I used LOTS of GooGone, nearly a full bottle for each set I worked on. You need to use very generous amounts, really soak the blankets, then walk away for 15 minutes or so. I used single edged razor blades and the old foam would slough off fairly easily. Don't worry about scratching the finish on the front of the speaker, the new foam is going to cover it anyway. The place where you have to be really careful is the little bit of foam that's on the tweeter baffle. I used Qtips, you must be very careful not to get any solvent on the tweeter surround and be equally careful scraping near the tweeter surround. I usually did rebuilds at the back room of the dealer so getting gooey gunk on the floor wasn't an issue, bur anyone doing this in their home you will want to mark where the spikes go with little V shaped pieces of painters tape and remove them to the garage or other space where it won't be an issue. Provided you've marked the exact position of the spikes it should be relatively easy to get the speakers back into position without having to go through the setup procedure. I found that even Wilson's big speakers can be driven by more modest electronics than you might think. I've demonstrated the MAXX with Rotel and Parasound with excellent results. Of course, the better you go in electronics the more refined will be the sound. After the speakers are finished and placed, a wax job with cannula based wax will shine them up very nicely and they're ready to be enjoyed once again!
Many thanks for your comment; I'm contemplating doing a diffraction pad replace myself on my Sophia 1's against my local dealer's advice and this input regarding what's required is extremely helpful, especially where you confirmed my suspicions regarding the delicacy of the tweeter surround. Which raises the question: What are one's options for dealing with that foam, which is in my case just as sticky as the diffraction pads? Can it be replaced or are we talking a whole new tweeter assembly? Have a wonderful day.
In my opinion, Wilson speakers are spectacular. Literally. They produce a spectacle, one that is amazing in the same way that movie theater sound is amazing. The only problem with this, is that it doesn’t sound like music. It comes AT the listener rather than gently toward the listener.
I love my Sophia 2s and have had them for almost a decade and pair with Naim, now 500 series pre/power and they sound wonderful. I often think about upgrading to higher up the Wilson ladder, but haven’t yet.
Good review - the balance of the older Wilson speakers is not simply down to the tweeter. The Focal unit sounds radically different in the Maxx (II) than it does in the Watt/Puppy. The Maxx's are quite forgiving whereas the W/Ps are not. Funnily enought, the Grand Slamm's are more like the W/P in balance (above 200Hz)
I own a pair of Sophias series 1 and I just love them. I have listened to a lot of other speakers, many of them also great, from Tidal, Focal, etc and I don’t feel any desire to replace them. Wonderful speakers.
Congrats!
Thank you for the honest review Adrian. Looks like the bad and ugly are mostly avoidable except for price (but you get what you pay for). We appreciate the insights.
Thanks
I am fortunate to have owned the Wilson Audio Alexia2 and now the mighty Alexx V. No doubt, the Alexx V is surely one of the best hi-end audio speakers money can buy !
Hello! Thanks for the video. Is it worth spending 10K as of now for Watt/Puppy 7s? or has the development been signficant to better consider another option at this price bracket?
I agree that the higher end models have the charm of an industrial robot. Fits fine in a Man Cave but I won’t put them into a classy living room..
Industrial robot and HOW LOL IF you read the results of my VERY informal survey (in my post above) among a fair number of the fairer sex, almost each one of them thought of the XVX as a Darth Vader look alike :-) really awful industrial design if you ask me - honestly, I think there are OTHER ways of achieving similar sonic results with MUCH more attractive "packaging" Cheers !
Probably Sonus Faber. They also make for a nice piece of furniture that you will look everyday at.
LOVE the "BAD" Adrian :-) Just for FUN I did a VERY informal survey while showing pictures of the Wilson XVX speaker to 11 women (none teenagers BTW :-) . . . 11 out of 11 said that only IF the sound quality matched the SIZE of the XVX's, would they allow them to get anywhere NEAR their living rooms and even then, they would make sure the Darth Vader look-alikes (7 women came up with THAT analogy LOL) they would definitely get HIDDEN behind a sound transparent curtain and ONLY in a dedicated Audio/Video room :-) Women DO have a better sense of the aesthetic - trust them ! LOL Love your "pull no punches" videos, Adrian!
thanks
I absolutely love these videos, please keep them coming!
You made me curious about replacing resistors. Is it something that should be done on many brands or specific to Wilson.
Looking at the resistors in the video, they have heat sinks on them and almost look like transistors (which have 3 leads instead of 2). This suggests to me that regular radial type resistors should last a lot longer than the ones shown in the video because those particular Wilson resistors are apparently providing speaker protection, and not really part of the crossover network. Radial type resistors typically last a very long time; however, if you can easily get to them you can easily check them with an ohm meter. Capacitors in the crossover network (or anywhere) do tend to wear out or dry out (depending on type of capacitor) a lot faster than resistors as a general rule.
Great and honest, as always. "Controversial aesthetics:" The Sasha is as far as I would go for a homey Wilson speaker; their bigger speakers look to me like Darth Vader-General Grievous crossbreeds.
I couldn't agree with you more ! LOL For example the XVX is absolutely horrendous looking and IF someone ever GAVE me a pair I'd put them in a Video room and HIDE them behind a curtain :-) I've used the Darth Vader analogy for YEARS too LOL
@@davidbee8178Hahaha!
I have never liked the voicing of Wilson Audio speakers including the newer models and have listened to them at several dealer demos with excellent electronics. Just my preference. I do like their set up procedure and have used that in my system.
Thanks for your review of the company.
The sonic performance, as you noted, is subjective, so whether or not I like them, is irrelevant to the reason for my comment.
A particular criticism I have that is aligned with one of your "bads" is the "benefit" of replacing the resistors every few years--however this to be consider bad engineering.
The only reason to replace the resistors is because they do not meet a power (wattage) spec.
The Caddock resistors, like the original Vishay and Alpha bulk foil resistors are aerospace grade parts that are designed--when spec'd correctly--to last for many decades. . . on earth and beyond.
There are many excellent parts to choose from when making loudspeakers, amplifiers, automobiles, etc, and there are many well-designed products that use these excellent parts.
Wilson, along with many other companies makes good products.
I think it may be worth remembering that there are some aspects to expensive audio products that do not effect the performance--e.g., the amount of money spent on cosmetics can far exceed what makes up the fundamentals of a competent product.
I'm not saying not to buy something because of this. I'm only repeating what is not uncommonly forgotten: that the consumer pays for these aspects of a product that have nothing to do with the primary sense served: our ears--and that failing to select a resistor or group of resistors that (should) last longer than the rest of the speaker is "bad" engineering (and in my opinion a questionable decision about money spent on the design).
D'AG Progression Integrated with Sasha V a good choice?
Thank you.
Joe
Yes. Very much so.
Excellent production value thank you
Thank you for the great videos. I have a McIntosh MA12000 and am thinking of adding the Sabrinas or Serafinos to add with it. Haven't heard them yet. Which would be to your taste with that amp?
You have to listen and see for yourself, as I will likely have different tastes than you
Could you please tell me if you think the Luxman 507z would pair well with the TuneTots?
I have chance to buy Wilson x1 grand slam are they still a wise buy even know they are very old
VTL IS A VERY GOOD MATCH FOR THE WILSONS , TOGETHER THEY WON A LOT OF PRICES IN THE HIGH END ARENA .
What are the best bookshelf speakers you've ever heard?
I recently had the chance to listen to a pair of Sabrina X with a Luxman integrated and a Luxman CD player. While they sounded good, and I'm probably gonna get a lot of hate for this, but I was underwhelmed.The tweeter is indeed defined but quite forward but not as harsh as Focal, the sound stage is not that deep and there was congestion in the mid-bass, lower midrange. Finally, the bass was a bit "boomy". Was it the match Luxman - Wilson, the store's acoustically treated room? cables? Not sure but I did not find them interesting at all even at the discounted MSRP (converted to Canadian$ :-( ) that the store could sell them to me. Sorry, not a fan...
Sounds like Wilsons I remember :-)
I love this, thank you for doing this series.
I had Sonus Fabers (which are often considered to be the best looking speakers) and then replaced them with Wilsons and to my surprise, while I love the look, everyone that has seen then has loved the look. As for price, I get into that with people all the time, but I tell them, you have a family of 4, you're driving a BMW, why are you not driving a Camry? If you see value, it's worth it.
Actually a camry is more reliable than a bmw
@@summerforever6736 Yes it is. Value doesn't mean the same thing for everyone.
@@summerforever6736traveling economy is more efficient too
Nice and trued video. Wilson audio speakers paired to audio research reference also provide an amazing sound.
yes they work very well together
The thing is, with nowadays active & dsp technology there is no reason anymore to produce passive Speakers 70k upwards. People could have a way better experience for way less money when they start to think how sound works and that with DSP, Subwoofers (Arrays), Time Alignment, EQ & of course Room Treatment you get the same or better result for fraction of the Wilson OVP. You can spend thousands of dollars in a passive crossover, or save the money and go straight to aDSP based high end active setup incl DBA (Double / Single Bass Array) wich outperform every passive one for way less money. There is a reaon why for example ATC, Genelec, Neumann, PMC, Trinnov etc are Studio standard and active / dsp based mostly - Resolution, perfect Time Alignment, Benefits of Active, Quality.
Do you think a Devialet 200 would be a good match for Sabrina or Yvette?
Great Videos! Just discovered you!! ❤
Are Simaudio moon amplifiers suitable? Something like a W5.3 SE
I would not use Goo Gone Pro-Power (as shown in the video). Just use regular (original) Goo Gone. The professional version contains paint remover and may not be safe for surfaces.
Interesting to hear about the resistors needing to be changed, normally it’s a part that holds steady, caps I can understand
Enjoying the series btw Adrian
They are likely fusible resistors, which tend to drift high with age. They were used a lot in older hifi gear to save the OPT's in case of an accident, like speaker cables getting shorted.
What's the difference between bad and ugly?
Thank you a lot Adrian for your video. A lot of ideas which are very useful at the time of deciding whether to buy a pair of WA speakers. I am also of the idea that being in the universe of sense (hearing) everything is ultimately subjective: what sounds superb for me it can be crap for others. Nevertheless, there are some facts like measurements that place us in the objective zone: a speaker capable of reaching 20 HZ will undoubtedly reproduce the low frequencies better than one that only reaches 40 HZ right? So what to do: is a pair of WA worth more than 10k? In order to try an answer I would dare say that when in doubt apply the cost /benefit equation to your own standards. Just like cars, if the reward/pleasure of driving a Ferrari or a Rolls Royce justify their cost for you then go for it! After all is your money, your pleasures, and your life. Carpe Diem!!
So the speakers can tell from the electrons that it's hooked up to a Macintosh instead of an equally good amp at a much lower price, and they reward you for that?
Good review cos I've like my Wilson Audio TuneTot speakers. How do they sound with Wilson loko sub?
superb!
price of accessories are too high. Covers, polish kit, spike upgrades. Should come with the first two for the price.
Are most of the Wilson speakers using Focal drivers or a different manufacture?
different suppliers of drivers
a directional speaker that you have to adjust at a specific angle and you always have to sit in the middle is less good speakers for me
Interesting about the resistors
Felt would have been better to use than foam. John Dunlavy did this to great effect.
I heard Wilson and they are fantastic. But what I don't understand, how is it that some speakers cost as much as or more than the components? There are an aray of electronics, displays, knobs, switches in components, let's be honest. Engineering? Great speakers are engineered but so are great components. I'm not suggesting that good speakers aren't an integral part of the overall system, I'm just questioning how manufacturers arrive at the price.
Overpriced
Who knows what speaker Adrian is next to ?
Thanks for another video Clint! Wilson’s sound great and are well made but I don’t like the look and the prices are way out of my price range. Until your next video angel eyes 😊
lol thanks
I don't like the new soft dome tweezers, as they are shrilly to my ears as compared to the magnesium (Focals) which are smooth and blend nicely. In as much as "ugly qualities" the auto style paint - though shiny is extremely unforgiving prone to cracking & chipping should something make contact. Like tempered glass I hope Wilson adjusted the mix formula to better withstand lifes little accidents...
Love these videos!
thanks
Anybody have thoughts on a used Wilson watt puppy 8? It’s in good shape but not sure if it’s competitive with other current models
I have wp6s and have listened to many models going up the line. The house sound is there all the way up and the improvements are slight. I recently listened to Sasha Daws and was glad to hear my wp6s were VERY close in SQ. Positioning is everything!!! Anyone who hates on Wilson just didn't have them in the right spot in the room. Millimeters matters. NEway, go for it.
Another downside if you compare it to the speakers price is that the driver units are actually made Scan Speak. Those are really great drivers but also rather inexpensive. So if you care about this then you might want to look at other speaker brands like Focal, B&W or Borresen who develop drivers in house
Wilson has made their own drivers for quite a while now.
@@claudioe1 No that is not true. The tweeter for example mostly used by Wilson Audio is a Scan Speak D2604/833000 with another front baffle screwed on. Also look at the mid range cone material on a Sasha V and compare it to Scan Speak like the 18W/4531G00. It's exactly the same
@jwester7009 : correct. Same kind of shenanigans used by many "high-end" to claim "custom design", in one case it being a dot of red paint...
Does anybody have experience with CUB 1?
I own Sophia Serie 1 and still love them. My local dealer changed the foam and the grills indeed. But I never heard about this issue with resistors and therefore the are from 2001. Is the Sophia affected by this resistor issue ? Last but not least I paired them with Bryston monoblocs, 7b SST from 2006 (which are too powerful but it doesn’t hurt and that what I found when I needed to replace my Sonic Frontier 160 monoblocs. Is that a good pairing ?
Generally yes replacing the resistors will improve the sound. Re the amps, only you can tell if you like the pairing
@@adrianlow2114 thank you - very happy with the pairing, less need to crank up the volume to hear details and deep bass if compared with the tube monoblocs - I did wonder if this was due to components fatigue in the Sonic Frontiers or something else but it is surely counter intuitive that super powerful AB transistors amplifiers bring a lot more details and clarity and very low level than tubes…and that at high SPL levels* the difference are much smaller ! (the Sonic Frontier had 160 continuous 8 ohms power while the Bryston are rated at 600 (and even 900 at 4 ohms which is the speakers impedance - this means the Sonic Frontiers were quite powerful for tube amps))
They don’t sound like they could be very efficient so probably a no go with my modest 30watt class A.
Not necessarily. It depends on the size of the room and listening volume (and the specific Wilson speaker you are talking about). Check the efficiency rating of the speaker and compare it to others. Wilson speakers typically have average to above average efficiency.
Does this person seriously have flat tiles on the wall in a listening room? The sound from the on the voice in this recording tells you what you need to know about how seriously opinions from this channel should be taken.
No pokey, pokey! Tweeter lives matter as do dust caps. 😁
Auditioned Wilsons. Super well built, looks and sound? Meh.
To each their own.
I contend that above $10,000, the difference in measurable, audible differences in loudspeakers is akin to the obsession of expensive cables.
Wilson Audio : for those sold on hype. Then there are those who’ve heard the likes of Stenheim and Wilson Benesch : real speakers.
And then there are dudes that listen to random ass guys named Terry
Thanks for listening
Beyond my Pay Grade but good Info nonetheless.
Buying Wilson gear should be punishable by life in prison
I just skip good part and go direct to the bad and ugly.
There are some things I don't like about speakers in general.
You get so little speaker quality for all the money you spend on a speaker.
If you spend 5,000 USD to buy the best parts and speaker box you can find for the money, you will get incredibly good speaker components.
If you are good at making speaker crossovers, you can get yourself an extremely good speaker.
What can you buy for 5,000 USD? Not much! Often when you pick up a relatively expensive speaker to see inside, you are often disappointed by what you see.
Speaker factories are often cheaters!!
Rotting foam grills. Not uncommon...
I know your not a JBL fan, but I purchased a pair of L-100a back in 1978. About 6 months later I receive a letter from JBL stating that the foam grills were "rotting" and you could take your grills to an authorized JBL repair shop and have the foam grills replaced with cloth free of charge. Blue, brown and orange available just like the foam. Many years later after boxing them-up and moving on to another speaker I opened the boxes just to check on them. JBL used a foam surround around the tweeter. You guessed it.. that foam also rotted. Found replacements and cleaned the surface (you are correct when it came to clean-up.) a mess.
...and that's my ongoing JBL rotting foam story...
I like JBL fine, just fun to poke at Vilip and Jay
@@adrianlow2114
I get it...
Enjoying your Good, bad and ugly series of vids.
Outside their upper echelon, price of a house speakers the rest is really just audio jewellery isnt it. Sound is subjective up until a certain point and lets face it you can buy the same or similar sound for much less but thats not the ;point for the people than want to own this brand.
It's for the very rich people beyond us.
Love this format but it would be a good idea to get a lav mic. Too much room in the audio.
I started with Sabrinas, went to DAWs, and now own Alexia Vs. Bad about Wilson? It's a drug! Once addicted you can't take anything else. Hence the price. They got ya - haven't they Adrian :)
yes they do
Gain for your microphone is too high.
Quality? They use the worst foam around the speakers in the front panel, and it will turn into gooey sticky nasty stuffs in a few years…
I had Alexia 2s for five years and the baffle material never degraded.
I think that is the general nature of that type of foam, at least that was available at the time. I don't know if newer types are any better, but if they could find foam that did not deteriorate and had the same acoustical properties, I am sure they would use it. Wilson doesn't need to skimp on the quality of the materials given the prices they charge. But I think "a few years" is not normal, and more like 10-15 years, unless one lives in an unusual environment that causes the foam to deteriorate more quickly.
Crap product, should be active crossovers for low frequencies and the sound compared to those such as Sound Lab is like those of Bose. I had the first with the Focal drivers and are idiotically priced. Audiophiles listen with their eyes too often. Poor detail and DIY was all available and can be made far better.
where is the honesty ? American made they say ? Simply imported drivers from scan-speak or danish ones, assembled in a box, and sold at blown up prices. Tell the truth, if you are a canadian citizen ! Are you tsinese or a native ?
The bad, is I'll never be able to afford their loveliness.
not true. used market :) audiomart. Used pairs pop all the time. They all sound very close, even the old models
Wilson Audio speakers have always been very UGLY looking, and that has always been their unfortunate weakness and downfall, especially with David Wilson at the helm.
I personally wouldn't put them in my living room home, even if they were given to me for free, I would probably put them in my basement or something.
How about you re-title the video to the great, the good, the less good and the annoying but I had to say something negative.
Some say Wilsons sound dry and clinical.
They are accurate, although toned down somewhat in the high frequencies compared to the Wilson speakers of a couple decades ago (as mentioned in the video, they no longer use metal dome tweeters). If you want the truth, and if you can handle the truth, Wilson is it. If want want syrup, get Sonus faber.
40 percent markup at list price. I can get a pair of Sasha V at 25% off and they are still not worth it
Same markup for just about all stuff sold at retail. A retail store has to spend money up front to buy the product to display, and to have some product in inventory, and pay for a listening room.
You sound bitter.
The Velcro on my Sophia’s started pealing almost immediately. What a stupid design
Overbloated bass on all of thei speakers. Listener fatigue.
Not worth it.
get a used pair, totally worth it.
I owned Sophia’s. Garbage sound. Good workmanship. Insanely overpriced. Ugly looking. Off the shelf drivers. Highly overrated
You have posted about 5 separate comments bashing Wilson speakers, plus comments in other videos. Makes me wonder what your motives are.
@@KillianMcBride What products have I posted so many different negative comments about in one video? If he doesn't like Wilson speakers that's fine, he can express his opinion. But I just don't understand why so many different comments in the same video about Wilson. I doesn't matter to me if he hates them, because Wilson speakers are out of my price range, and even if I were rich I would purchase something else, but I find the comments to be suspicious. Based on his user-name, I guess he likes Tascam equipment, but I don't think they make speakers (but they do have headphones). Back in 1972 I sold a Tascam mixing board to a customer.
It you don't like my comments, don't read them. I don't hate Wilson, but they are insanely overpriced and ugly. My Martin Logan STATS are a much better match foy my tastes and top of the line McIntosh system. It is not my job to kiss the ass of anyone including you@@Mark-rw3kw
Sound like headaches to me