Wilson-Benesch ACT one

Hi,

I'm running ACT 2s off of a CDS2/01/52/250 combination and I must say that the jump from Royd Albions to ACT 2s was about the same as a CDX/102/180 (no hicap) to a CDS2/52/250 (while I was using Albions). I tried ACT 1s and they were clearly superior to Royd Albions, but the ACT 2 is THAT much better. Since then they have offered an ACT 1 upgrade to two tactic drivers, but the tweeter on the ACT 2 is still better, but then again it is probably better than almost any tweeter on any speaker in existence. You should certainly try them as I have heard of someone in a store demo being very impressed with a 500/ACT 1 combo. You should also ask which drivers they are and what the diaphragm is made of. The first ACT 1s have a scanspeak mid and bass, the newer ones have the same mid and bass modified by the diaphragm from the Tactic driver. For a small amount of $$ you can get the bass and mid fully upgraded to the Tactic. I know of someone who traded in SBLs for the WB ACTor (one model below the ACT 1) and they say they are very happy with their choice. WB speakers are a kind of "all earth" speaker in that they are marvelously fast and cohesive and manage to get all the musical phrasing just right while also giving you electrifying soundstaging/imaging/tonal textures. Everyone I know who uses WB with naim is very pleased with the results.

I hope this helps,

dave

OK so the ACT one on offer has the latest bass unit whatever that means. Vuk - you clearly seem negative about these WB products. What else should I be considering (apart from Mana)? I have a faithful LP12 playing into my 52/500 running into Nautilus 804. I think that the speakers are running at their best now and definitely the limiting factor. The ACT one's are going for £4.5k and I'm wondering whether I should hold on until I can stretch to the NBL or equivalent?

People define themselves by their comments.

The ACT2s at the end of a good Naim string of electronics gives a rather fine exiting experience.

Based on comments I have heard from the Vuk about topics I have some experience of, I now have calibrated his contributions.

Derek

Nigel,

Personally, I think Naim and WB work very well together. The WB have an uncoloured sound and the ACT1s have wonderful transparency. Everyone who has heard them seems to think the ACT2s are in a different league, so well worth saving for if you can afford them. They are probably not the speaker for you if you spend most of your time listening to dance or grunge music, but I think they are a good if you listen to a wide range of music.

Vuk - good to hear your comments on something that you obviously know so little.

David

[This message was edited by David Hobbs-Mallyon on FRIDAY 14 December 2001 at 10:18.]

I do not claim to know all and comment all - I observe and measure - the last append you made was the first one to contain real content from you for a long time.

Even then you could not resist the last jibe - a pity since it brought down your score.

DErek

Hi,

I got the feeling from my ACT 1 demo that they were very transparent and effortless speakers, but didn't quite have the scale for grunge and dance. The ACT 2 is vastly superior in this regard. In fact i can't stop listening to stuff like Tool, Sonic Youth, and Black Sabbath. The music gains a new sense of "fear" and paranoia that is the heart of this genre while the bass is deep, tight, and what appears to be completely undistorted, fast and musical. I don't have the 500 like Derek, so I'm sure he is a better person to talk to on this one.

I would say if you have a 500 you should wait and buy the ACT 2 as you can clearly afford the difference - which is worth it!

Vuk: I thought you were exiled from the snorum. What type of plea bargaining got you back? ∫

Nigel,

Bass drivers - it's possible to improve the ACT1 significantly by upgrading the standard bass and midrange units to the TACTIC ones. This could be what the seller means. Of course, it could mean that the ACT1s are ancient and therefore older bass units got changed for current standard units, but I was not aware of this ever being the case, you'd need to check with Wb - great guys.

The obvious option at around this money is the NBL.

The less obvious option with which I have had excellent results in 500-based systems is the Dynaudio Confidence 5 (£6k). Tall sealed floorstander, isobarikally loaded. Great speaker but sucks juice so the 500 is the minimum you'll get away with (aren't you lucky?:).

Another option would be JMLabs Mezzo Utopia which is certainly capable of some good sounds in a ported way.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

I have two experiences to relate re the current system, I have have had two visitors listen to the system, one a youngster (early 30s) so concert aware

I played him the "Run Like Hell" track from the Pink Floyd Pulse album - the volume was set at about 9 30 to 10
- wow what a reaction from him - just like being at the leve event etc. He was most impressed.

Any one know how they achieved the incredible low frequency explosion at the end of the track?

The second occasion was with a person even older than me (but not deaf) and was with a recording of the Rachmaninov Piano 3. Her son had played this piece at a concert at the Barbican in 1992. She sat there transfixed - just like being there she said.

OK what do these amateur listeners know about music - thay cannot tell a prat from a vuk (neither can I ) however the music was live to them, all enveloping and entrancing.
The system for me has moved on to a new level of enjoyment, another step upwards. The last few weeks have brought back the initial rush of audio pleasure that I first experienced at the BBC Paris studios in London in the early 60s when I first heard excellently reproduced music.

So what do I mean - it's bl**dy excellent.

However YMMV - after all this is only a personal opinion and is not applicable to any one else

Derek

Since when is a CDSII not considered a proper source? Please.