Dialing in my Alexia V Loudspeakers... | W/ Peter McGrath
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2024
- Lee Scoggins had the pleasure of hosting Wilson Audio's Peter McGrath to set up and dial in his new Alexia V Loudspeakers!
00:00-01:44 Receiving & Set-Up
01:44-05:17 Nomograph and Time Alignment Domain
05:17-11:26 Using Familiar, Acoustic Tracks & Adjusting
11:26-16:02 Leveling and Dialing In w/ Acoustic Diodes
16:02- A Special Story
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I have such a deep respect for Wilson Audio and also Peter McGrath. He is really a class act and a kind person.
Nice speakers !
I can't wait to hear the upcoming Monitor Audio Concept-50 Time-Aligned Loudspeakers that everyone were raving about at Munich 2022 Show !
I will add to what a great setup and system is or can be. It's not just surreal. It just is. It's natural. It's soothing. The music just is so natural and clear. It's not overly dynamic or analytical. And when you do sit down you can unfortunately just sit listening and enjoying for hours while your cardiologist is saying to get up and move, but it's so relaxing, it's almost frightening because you are locked and soothed but entertained. It's like your brain and mind are in a good embrace. I have two systems, one with Sopra No 3s and Luxman electronics in their listening room and I'm locked. My second system is in our family room which has Kanta No 2 and Hegel. It's nice but nothing like my Sopras property setup and in their own room. The Kantas are fun and entertaining when we just want to listen and enjoy our family space, but man, a great speaker is almost like yes you invested, but your return is perfection but not overly done. You can still hear everything, but it's in its place. From the hit and rich ding of a symbol and tone of a drum, to the strings being played on a guitar with clarity and naturalism, a bass line you can hear and meld with, all with no smearing or loss of seperation from each instrument and the performer. Everything again just is and is not lost.
This was very helpful. His reference track by Christy Moore helped reinforce that I have setup my Sopra No3's properly. Although I initially used Paul McGowan's:The Audiophile's Guide. I'm again glad to have learned moore.
Magnifico.
Superb set up advice, much of which can be applied to any speaker. Thank you.
Thank you Chris for watching.
I have a pair of Alexia V on order to replace my DAWs. Wasn’t sure my ARC 160S would be sufficient, but based on your system I believe the 160S will be a good match. Thanks!
I like the finish.
Peter is a great storyteller!
So beautiful, passionate and relaxed, thank you!
Boy, you guys could sell air as something more special than what it is.. good job 👍
An informative video! Lee, would you mind sharing the rest of your system with us, ideally in a video? I know Peter mentioned some Audio Research gear, but which models?
Sure. dCS Rossini Apex stack, Revox A77 reel to reel, VPI Scoutmaster with 3D arm and HRX pulley system and Lyra Etna Lambda, Audio Research Ref 6SE preamp, Ref Phono 3SE phono stage, and Ref 160 Stereo. Shunyata Altaira grounding system. Various noise reduction devices.
So Lee - what are asking for the former Wilson speakers ?
Thanks for sharing and enjoy the V’s !
Sorry, I have already traded them in. Look for their CPO program at dealers.
What exactly are you time aligning ? It's a non-minimum phase crossover so has a hideous impulse and step response to start with.
It aligns the drivers so the frequencies arrive precisely aligned at the ear.
Bingo!
I found that the Alexia had a very small sweet spot where literally there was a single seat that sounded great - but if you moved a foot either way the sound stage dramatical shrank - it was a great speaker for a very small listening area
Given the precise time alignment, there is no better place to be than the center chair.
@@realleescoggins So it's only a speaker designed for seated center listening for one person? Why not get headphones no wonder so many audiophiles are lonely.
I understand that ... and if it was a less ambitious speaker I would not be as critical - but it is a large , heavy and expensive speaker which I believe would most likely end up in very large living room of a well to do person. That situation would most likely call for an optimal listening area which is much larger than a single seat. There were aspects of the bass region which were amazing with huge clean dynamics - at times they were startling . The mids were very close to my Magnepan LRS in quality which is impressive for a box speaker ..... but that dome tweeter is directional IMHO. - it has a very small sweet spot - lets say there were 6 audiophiles in the room - everyone would fight for the perfect seat.
@@kloss213 It sounds very good across the listening positions but it sounds best in the center. Most speakers are like this.
@@mrgiggles7840 I have not found the new tweeter to have that issue. It sounds great in both the left and right seats.
Good information, but if I could give some feedback- I think it would be more interesting in these videos to pan across the systems and rooms rather than see someone describing it (it is a visual medium after all). But it was interesting.
Agreed. We will do more of that in the future. It's a learning process.
Not sure if this was already asked, what's the room dimensions ?
So when you buy these you get a well spoken gentleman with a narrator’s voice come set em up? That is very cool
At the very least, you get a well trained dealer to set them up.
At 16:02 his pants magically change colour.
Peter has magic pants which change color when optimal setup has been achieved. One of many reasons he is a sought after setup guy.
Great video Lee. Many thanks for sharing. Would be wonderful if you could post some high quality videos of your wonderful system playing some of your challenging test tracks, especially jazz, rock and those that highlight bass definition and weight. If I may request 2 personal fav tracks; Bill Frisell - Shenandoah (version from Good Dog Happy Many) and Joni Mitchell - Cherokee Louise ( version from Night Ride Home). No worries if not possible. Happy listening. Many thanks
Thank you Ash. We will likely shoot something on the system soon. It's always a challenge to use the compressed sound over UA-cam however.
@@realleescoggins I totally understand. Perhaps you could make the WAV files available as a download. No worries if not possible. It's all enjoyable. Enjoy your new speakers.
@@ashvarma2486 That may be a possibility. We have been looking into that.
Does this guy do it all ears or does he reference and backup his hearing with a measurement mic or RTA? I have no doubt his experience can probably make up for it, but I have doubts about his hearing accuracy at his age. That said, again, probably his experience and doing this daily forever, negates that as his mind is constantly recalibrated. I have messed around with acoustics and speaker placement. At first I thought, what's the big challenge, this is easy. Boy was I wrong. The next 5 years playing with the same system in the same room rendered more goodness than I ever though possible starting out, and I am certain I still have many things wrong. I imagine this guy, with so much experience in so many rooms and with uber quality speakers, has a plethora of experience you cannot download to someone else.
"they are only as good as the guy that set them up" you really are correct there. Id love to talk learn from this guy and do this job.
Hi Lee,
What's the name of the chair with the wood frame?
Good eye. It is a chair by Jens Risom. All handcrafted. I am a fan of classic mid-century design.
I believe the model number is C130 on this "floating chair". It uses a solid walnut frame.
Awesome, thank you.
Wow
I love great audio , but i like a more forgiven on and off axis vertically and horizontal positions so sound is not keyed into one particular pinpoint position
It’s not that bad. The speakers sound great in the chairs to the right and left of the center seat.
I think he needs to change the carpet it’s definitely affecting the sound
I am 77. No need for fame and fortune. I have been an advocate of the magazine since time immemorial!
What Wilson puts in the operation manual is for people who has no idea on time alignment. I went to an audio critic who owns a pair of Alexia and help him to.set it up about one year ago!
Disconnect the high. So only the low and mid are working. Play a female vocal cd. C adjust the mid until the sss sound of the singer is normal. Normally if the sss is too long the mid arrives your action slow.
Then play a piano piece. If the hammer of the high notes is not heard, then the low is too slow, adjust the mid backwards!
Then connect the tweeter. Same thing. Listen to the female vocal!
I have involved in time alignment than twenty years, using an XTA. Wilson speakers are not accurate enough!
Everytime I see Peter, I don't hear music.
Quite a bit of Zeppelin in view.
Yes, indeed. My eyes were immediately drawn to those spines too!
I am a serious record collector and love Zeppelin. I have mixed feelings about these editions however. Get the original pressings if you can find them.
Would have been much more interesting when the actual process would have been shown.
No doubt they are very good speakers; I haven't heard them yet. However, what a shame to have them in a room with the rear wall so close to the sweet spot and untreated.
I can keep my pretty good speakers and buy a Nice TOYOTA Truck for that kind of money
Yes, but the Toyota truck won't sound nearly as good!
@@realleescoggins I like the sound of a good running engine. Alexia Speaker are priced out of the range for the general population. Even when I become wealthy in the next few months, there are other options in this field that cost much less and I would not spend that much money for a pair of speakers. I don't even think they're good looking.
Can these be bi-wired?