Wilson Audio Specialties Speakers

I home demoed the Sophias for a week last year on my 102/scap/180. Truly amazing, very easy to drive, detailed, spacious, and fast, fast, fast across the range. Worth the $$? Debatable. Also, they're pretty big. At any rate, a modern 250 will have no problem driving the Sophias.

Wilson Speakers

I have the Watt/Puppy SystemV speakers.

Driven by 52/supercap/135s they sound superb.

Cheers

Don

Don,
I heard the Puppies at a local HiFi show last year. Driven by a pair of monoblock American dumpsters, probably Krells. I have never been hit in the chest with such force. Not even by the school bully! They were maintaining a lightening fast, hammered electric bass line. At a steady 125+ dB on my (concealed) Tandy sound level meter, with obvious ease.
"Physical" is probably the best description. My chest was being violently massaged with rapid, hammer blows. Making it difficult to breathe. They made the 2000W multi-amplified, in-car subwoofers outside sound weak and monotonic. I've never been so impressed by raw acoustic power. It was a shame they were limited to a couple of minutes per hour. So as not to disrupt the rest of the show in the huge hotel.
I wasn't sure whether the 'firemen's hose' speaker cables were for driving the Wilsons. Or used by Conan to drag the Krells into place for the demo. I just hope you have adequate structural insurance. Enjoy?

Nime

Everyone has the right to be wrong.

quote:

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Originally posted by skraft:
I home demoed the Sophias for a week last year on my 102/scap/180. Truly amazing, very easy to drive, detailed, spacious, and fast, fast, fast across the range. Worth the $$? Debatable. Also, they're pretty big. At any rate, a modern 250 will have no problem driving the Sophias.

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Thanks guys. I will start saving quick (half way there already).

Nime,

I just hope you have adequate structural insurance.

I studied civil engineering at university.....knew it would come in handy one day....

cheers

Don

Nime

They also sound nice at normal volumes...

My friend and neighboor acquired a massive Krell/Wilson system a few years ago. Several hundred watt Krell amps, and a $25,000 Krell cdp/preamp fronting WATT/Puppies. BTW, we used the Krell to front my sistem and it sounded great, but that's another story.

Anyway, as noted above, the thing definately kicks when cranked. But. more importantly, it also sounds truly wonderful at ambient volumes. Spacious, fast, and truly full range (although his dealer is trying to talk him into a sub for those hard to get sounds under 25 hz!). Just a pleasure to listen to. I think these speakers would sound great with some quality Naim electronics.

However, he recently came over and listened to my sistem for an evening (cd5/flatcap/112/Hicap/150/Vienna Bachs). His initial comment, wow, that sounds as good as my system! Now, he's a polite fellow, and this really wasn't true, but certainly we found lots to enjoy anyway.

So, I think that the Wilson's are really fine sounding loudspeakers.

Bruce

Tuan--

Notice how every comment on the Wilson's mentions the sound--there is NO mention of music. I'd insist on trying them at home for an extended period. I've not heard the Sofia's, but every other Wilson, including the WAMM series 7(?) has been fantastic sonically and quite dull musically.

So be wary.

Best,

Bob

Have to agree. Over a few years I found that I was listening to my Wilson Watt/Puppies less and less. My wife, who has good ears but knows nothing about hi-fi or its jargon, said they were "tiring". I have changed back to active SBLs. I sometimes miss the bass, but listen to music much more of the time.
To be fair, the room has a lot to do with it and the Wilsons sound pretty good in the very large, non-reflective room of their new owner.

malcolm

Thank you guys. I will arrange a week test at home when I have enough cash. I have the B&W 805 at home at the moment.

Taun, get a pair of Neat Veto's

Hi,

It goes to show how much taste and set up makes a difference. I heard a CDS2/52/500 with Wilson Sofias last year and was impressed by weight and scale, but not much else. Compared to the Nottingham TT/Chord/Wilson benesch Chimera my girl friend and I heard the day before it was quite uninvolving. It only took a few tracks before we were back on the road to Windsor from Chicago. We were happy to return to my much more rewarding CDS2/52/250/Wilson benesch ACT 2. In the set up I heard, the Sofias would qualify as 'head floater, bass bloater" speakers. Tracey Chapman was spread across the room, her mouth must have been bigger than the door to the listening room. The guitars were also dry and forcefully plucky and the cohesion just wasn't there. I guess my tastes are more "flat earth" as far as rhythm, timing, and cohesion being equal to involvement. My girl friend also agreed without so much as a flinch that my system at home was significantly better. And now that I have been "experienced, not exactly stoned but beautiful" (ie, have a 500) it is that much more so.

dave

I had a better experience with the Sophias than Dave. Still, at the price doesn't really matter level, I'd probably go with the Act 2 too. They are more involving, less showy. And they're much better looking.

I think we have all heard the same damned pair of sophias in chicago on the end of tones of good naim stuff. They impress like hell, but they have a sort of artificial quality to them that rocks at first, but I think would be difficult to live with the long term.

Listening to them on the end of a fully naimed lp12 ,monster naim system, I was reminded of the second installment of Die Hard, which i saw as a teenager in the theater. I remember leaving the theater satisfied, but commenting to my dad that i didn't think the sound of a punch was supposed to knock me back into my seat. Everything was just too damned percussive.

I think the Wilson speakers suffer from this. It's good clean tight bass. But a bit much.

judd

quote:

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Originally posted by bambam:
Tuan,

You don't list your source - is it still a CD3? Are you trying to outdo Billy Ray Cyrus with a pair of $16K speakers at the end of that? Don't be a mullet boy.

BAM BAM

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Yes. I am using the CD3 with 102/supercap/250 (amplification system made in late 2001 or 2002 based on serial numbers). I am planning to upgrade the CD3 to CDX2 soon but so far I have not made the move since I still very much like the sound of the CD3 (I am into the rhythm more than resolution) and the music from the CD3 moves me. The Matrix 805 is good enough but the sophias shocks me with the soundstage power (Mark Levinson mono blocks probably play part of this). It is quite clear to me that my little Naim CD3 makes better music than the fancy Classe (but the Classe has better resolution) playing with the ML amplification. With no doubt, those mono blocks are very impressive, the sound is clear, clean and fast as lightning. They give me an impression that a Naim CD player with Mark Levinson amplification system probably the best way.

a Naim CD player with Mark Levinson amplification system probably the best way.[/QUOTE]


Having had CDS1 with ML pre-power for years, I have to disagree. This is a marriage made in Hell, highlighting the failings of both makes, without hearing the advantages. I spent a fortune on wires and stands trying to make it sound o.k.
It is ownership of this exact combination that turned me into a one-make system supporter. I have heard all ML systems sound great and all Naim systems, but never a mix that satisfied musically in the long run.

malcolm

Justin and "skraft",

I agree with the assessment of the Wilson Sofias being showy, the sort of "plasma screen TV" of audio. I guess in a short demo a lot of people would be impressed with them. But the difference at home versus an in-store demo lies in enjoying the entire musical experience versus the "special effects". Sort of like the difference between watching a great film at home and being totally absorbed in it versus going to Future Shop and comparing color saturation and contrast on a range of TV monitors as though these are attributes more important than the totallity of the film or event being screened.

ACT 2s are less showy, but take you on myriad musical journeys, even late into the night at whisper volume levels. I see them as my musical "guide" in almost a mystical sense. Truly speakers to live with. They are to speakers what the venerable NAT 01 was to tuners (IMHO). And when you want to pump up the volume, they have slam in spades.

dave