Impressions of the Wilson Benesch Arc
Posted by: Martin R on 22 June 2002
Hi, Forum members,
I'm new on the forum and this is my very first post.
First I would like to apologize for my English, but it's not my native language .....; at least I hope that I can make myself understood ....
The reason why I've chosen this topic is that - on one hand - in the past few of you have asked questions concerning the Arc but did not get many answers (well, the Arc is quite new on the market and WB dealers are not found at every streetcorner - at least not on the continent) and on the other hand I personally had the opportunity to audition them twice in the last two months (with different systems) and therefore feel entitled to give a - of course subjective -comment.
As far as I remember the last one who has brought up the "WB Arc" question was Barryr on Wednesday 19th, so I'would like to refer to him first:
I don't know whether the HiFiChoice magazine meanwhile has reviewed the Arc; you will find a good review in the WhatHifi approx. three months ago (I have the issue at home, just do not remember in which month I bought it, I think it was in March). In a summary they said that considering the dimensions of the Arc they haven't found any weaknesses; verdict was 5 stars for build quality, sound and value for money - and of course the overall verdict was 5 stars too.
There was another test in the German "Stereo" or "Stereoplay" magazine which was very positive too. The Arc got a 97 % rating. For example the JM Lab MiniUtopia got 100 % and the MicroUtopia got 95 %. Interesting is that the value-for-money verdict was 4 stars ("excellent") which means an over-average vfm. The usual verdict is 3 stars which means a "very good" vfm.
There was another review in late 2001 in a German magazine called "Fono Forum" (issue 11-2001). It was very positive too and can be found and downloaded (in German of course, but with a beautiful image of the speakers) on the homepage of the German manufactorer Audionet (just look at the Wilson-Benesch-homepage, you'll find a hotlink there because since last year WB ist the official UK-distributor for Audionet-electronics)
Well, that was the theory, and my personal impressions are as follows:
I first got into direct contact with the Arc at the HighEnd at Gravenbruch in early May. The first things that impressed me were the gorgeous looks of these little but well proportioned speakers on their stands. The stands were black and I think with the silver stands which are available too they would even look better (but that is a matter of taste - however, the Arc looks just mmmmmhhhh). Unneccesary to mention that the build quality - as far as I can judge it - is as good as the looks.
The German WB-distributor alto presented them coupled with Audionet-equipment (the SAM V2.0 integrated with 2x100W and the ART V2 CDP, each costing around EURO 3.000,-- in Germany). Well, I do not have enough experience with different systems to tell you which were the single strenghtes and weaknesses of this system; it just was the overall presentation of music it delivered that attracted me so much. However, from the first moment of listening I had the impression that it weren't the electronics that made listing such a pleasure but the speakers ..... because these little speakers have the rarely found ability to entirely disappear and just leave the music back. You never have the impression that the music comes out of two loudspeakers - close your eyes and you will think you are "in the concert" and the singer, the band or the orchestra itself is right in front of you ......and that is what I personally demand from a convincing speaker system.
Besides, they had a second WB/Audionet system in the Audionet listing room. It was a home theater system with a pair of WB Discoverys as front speakers, Arcs as rear speakers, the centre from the WB Odyssey range as well and a bass driver from a brand I do not remember. When I've been there they played a nature film with music one could describe as sphere-music which was not very impressive. A bit disappointing for such an interesting and as well (very) expensive system, they should have taken a look into the Linn-room where they were playing a pop-concert ....
But coming back to the topic, of course I asked myself how these speakers would work in an all-Naim-system. Good luck that my nearest Naim-dealer (Klangstudio Pohl, located in Bodenheim near Mainz) is a Wilson-Benesch dealer as well. Although actually he did not have the Arc in demo it obviously was no problem to get a pair from the distributor for a "test-drive".
When I came into the studio the Arcs were already playing to be "warmed-up" for the customer presentation. The rest of the system was CD5/NAC 112/NAP150/FlatCap2, all on Fraim and a rack built by Hutter. Loudspeaker cable was NACA5 of course.
We first played a little classic piece from Franz Schubert and afterwards some contemporary pieces with excellent female voices. And what should I tell you - it was exactely the same experience again. Closing the eyes makes you feel you are in the concert - not in the middle of two loudspeakers standing in front of you and approx. 3 metres apart from each other. The rest of the presentation was very musical with no real weaknesses to be found (well, I suppose no-one demands the deepest bass from such little speakers - at least I don't) and therefore more satisfying than the presentation with Audionet electronics (as to my impression they are much more analytical - not bad in any way, just different and a matter of taste). There simply was nothing to complain.
I'm so sorry, little Allaes, I like you so much for your looks and your beautiful curves ... but the incredible presentation of the Arcs made your little weakness evident - you do not sound bad, but simply ... boxy. I auditioned the Allaes two weeks before under exactely the same circumstances (same electronics, same placement) and although I have to take into consideration that the Allaes were brand new and not run-in (it wasn't the dealers mistake, his old and run-in Allaes were just sold and I didn't call him in advance, just dropped in ...), the Arcs blow them away.
I think it is not wrong to state that there was a real synergy between the 5-series and the Arcs - and for me it was a real experience. As the Arcs sensitivity is not bad (88 dB) I'm sure that the 5-series pre/power combo will drive them properly (if you compare 1 W from a Japanese (except maybe Accuphase) or US-amp with 1 W from a Naim amp, I think the Naim-Watt is a different kind of beast ...). However, as the Arc is a very capable speaker that is constructed for higher power (WB says max. 200 W) you will not have to look for new speakers for a long time even if you upgrade your Naim-system by and by.
Well, as I said at the beginning this is a subjective comment and reflects my very personal taste of musical presentation. However I would recommend everyone to give the Arcs a listen. For myself, I'm quite sure that my search for a decent speaker for the 5-series has come to an end. Even more, as the price-difference between the Arc and e.g. the Allaes or Linn's new Espek is not too large. German retail prices are: WB Arc EURO 4.030,-- in standard finish (but incl. the stands!), Allae EURO 3.498,--, Espek EURO 3.600,--.
Poooh, it became a bit longer than expected, but I would be happy if some of you will take a little profit from my above comments.
Have a nice weekend and enjoy your music ...
Martin
I'm new on the forum and this is my very first post.
First I would like to apologize for my English, but it's not my native language .....; at least I hope that I can make myself understood ....
The reason why I've chosen this topic is that - on one hand - in the past few of you have asked questions concerning the Arc but did not get many answers (well, the Arc is quite new on the market and WB dealers are not found at every streetcorner - at least not on the continent) and on the other hand I personally had the opportunity to audition them twice in the last two months (with different systems) and therefore feel entitled to give a - of course subjective -comment.
As far as I remember the last one who has brought up the "WB Arc" question was Barryr on Wednesday 19th, so I'would like to refer to him first:
I don't know whether the HiFiChoice magazine meanwhile has reviewed the Arc; you will find a good review in the WhatHifi approx. three months ago (I have the issue at home, just do not remember in which month I bought it, I think it was in March). In a summary they said that considering the dimensions of the Arc they haven't found any weaknesses; verdict was 5 stars for build quality, sound and value for money - and of course the overall verdict was 5 stars too.
There was another test in the German "Stereo" or "Stereoplay" magazine which was very positive too. The Arc got a 97 % rating. For example the JM Lab MiniUtopia got 100 % and the MicroUtopia got 95 %. Interesting is that the value-for-money verdict was 4 stars ("excellent") which means an over-average vfm. The usual verdict is 3 stars which means a "very good" vfm.
There was another review in late 2001 in a German magazine called "Fono Forum" (issue 11-2001). It was very positive too and can be found and downloaded (in German of course, but with a beautiful image of the speakers) on the homepage of the German manufactorer Audionet (just look at the Wilson-Benesch-homepage, you'll find a hotlink there because since last year WB ist the official UK-distributor for Audionet-electronics)
Well, that was the theory, and my personal impressions are as follows:
I first got into direct contact with the Arc at the HighEnd at Gravenbruch in early May. The first things that impressed me were the gorgeous looks of these little but well proportioned speakers on their stands. The stands were black and I think with the silver stands which are available too they would even look better (but that is a matter of taste - however, the Arc looks just mmmmmhhhh). Unneccesary to mention that the build quality - as far as I can judge it - is as good as the looks.
The German WB-distributor alto presented them coupled with Audionet-equipment (the SAM V2.0 integrated with 2x100W and the ART V2 CDP, each costing around EURO 3.000,-- in Germany). Well, I do not have enough experience with different systems to tell you which were the single strenghtes and weaknesses of this system; it just was the overall presentation of music it delivered that attracted me so much. However, from the first moment of listening I had the impression that it weren't the electronics that made listing such a pleasure but the speakers ..... because these little speakers have the rarely found ability to entirely disappear and just leave the music back. You never have the impression that the music comes out of two loudspeakers - close your eyes and you will think you are "in the concert" and the singer, the band or the orchestra itself is right in front of you ......and that is what I personally demand from a convincing speaker system.
Besides, they had a second WB/Audionet system in the Audionet listing room. It was a home theater system with a pair of WB Discoverys as front speakers, Arcs as rear speakers, the centre from the WB Odyssey range as well and a bass driver from a brand I do not remember. When I've been there they played a nature film with music one could describe as sphere-music which was not very impressive. A bit disappointing for such an interesting and as well (very) expensive system, they should have taken a look into the Linn-room where they were playing a pop-concert ....
But coming back to the topic, of course I asked myself how these speakers would work in an all-Naim-system. Good luck that my nearest Naim-dealer (Klangstudio Pohl, located in Bodenheim near Mainz) is a Wilson-Benesch dealer as well. Although actually he did not have the Arc in demo it obviously was no problem to get a pair from the distributor for a "test-drive".
When I came into the studio the Arcs were already playing to be "warmed-up" for the customer presentation. The rest of the system was CD5/NAC 112/NAP150/FlatCap2, all on Fraim and a rack built by Hutter. Loudspeaker cable was NACA5 of course.
We first played a little classic piece from Franz Schubert and afterwards some contemporary pieces with excellent female voices. And what should I tell you - it was exactely the same experience again. Closing the eyes makes you feel you are in the concert - not in the middle of two loudspeakers standing in front of you and approx. 3 metres apart from each other. The rest of the presentation was very musical with no real weaknesses to be found (well, I suppose no-one demands the deepest bass from such little speakers - at least I don't) and therefore more satisfying than the presentation with Audionet electronics (as to my impression they are much more analytical - not bad in any way, just different and a matter of taste). There simply was nothing to complain.
I'm so sorry, little Allaes, I like you so much for your looks and your beautiful curves ... but the incredible presentation of the Arcs made your little weakness evident - you do not sound bad, but simply ... boxy. I auditioned the Allaes two weeks before under exactely the same circumstances (same electronics, same placement) and although I have to take into consideration that the Allaes were brand new and not run-in (it wasn't the dealers mistake, his old and run-in Allaes were just sold and I didn't call him in advance, just dropped in ...), the Arcs blow them away.
I think it is not wrong to state that there was a real synergy between the 5-series and the Arcs - and for me it was a real experience. As the Arcs sensitivity is not bad (88 dB) I'm sure that the 5-series pre/power combo will drive them properly (if you compare 1 W from a Japanese (except maybe Accuphase) or US-amp with 1 W from a Naim amp, I think the Naim-Watt is a different kind of beast ...). However, as the Arc is a very capable speaker that is constructed for higher power (WB says max. 200 W) you will not have to look for new speakers for a long time even if you upgrade your Naim-system by and by.
Well, as I said at the beginning this is a subjective comment and reflects my very personal taste of musical presentation. However I would recommend everyone to give the Arcs a listen. For myself, I'm quite sure that my search for a decent speaker for the 5-series has come to an end. Even more, as the price-difference between the Arc and e.g. the Allaes or Linn's new Espek is not too large. German retail prices are: WB Arc EURO 4.030,-- in standard finish (but incl. the stands!), Allae EURO 3.498,--, Espek EURO 3.600,--.
Poooh, it became a bit longer than expected, but I would be happy if some of you will take a little profit from my above comments.
Have a nice weekend and enjoy your music ...
Martin