Hi Jay, thanks for making a video tipping your hat to the only TH-camr with the Chutzpah to buy and set up a room and allow others to judge them. I tried to get a big room, but none were available. So more than anything, I was putting up myself and my products to show Im not scared to face the public and prove that im not a big mouth. There was nobody else in the industry behind me, I did this solo with my friends and family. So my goal was reached. Next, you just said it. The room was packed, and never empty. I know from doing enough of these shows how to judge the level of my room simply by who comes into the room & how many times they come back. When I have manufacturers and distributors coming back with others and staying for 3 or 4 songs, it does not matter what the forum clowns say. We all know shills and idiots live in the forums. The proof was in how busy my room was, and how long people stayed in the chairs. Ive always totally respected Wilson and you know this. I respect the build level and how well they sell. How could anybody not respect that ? Its simply not my type of sonic along with Magico and Focal as an example. So its more a TYPE of sonic than it is a certain brand or another.. But to date, Ive never wanted to have those brands just as an example. I appreciate you saying you dont think anyone could have done better in my room. I appreciate your honesty. As a side note, when you said "nothing stood out", this is exactly what I was after. I consider this balance, perhaps you think its boring. Eventually, sound that is shiny, uber punchy, extra detailed and all that other ear candy, fades, in my opinion. The novelty wears off. That's when balance reigns supreme, because we are listening to the music, not the way the music is played back. Fortunately, many people, especially the ones just off the street that walk in to a dealer are charmed by the ear candy and buy it.. so its a fabulous business plan... I happen to not be the business plan type, I am after a certain sonic result and I sell that one type of result as Im a specialist in that regard. Thanks again for the coverage... ;-) Hope you have a great Holiday !!
Mike your room sounded great and your interaction with the show attendees was one of the best I experienced. Heck we came back on day 2 and you remembered that I wanted to hear the floorstanding set. Your personable interaction is unique and in my opinion makes a meaningful difference.
I absolutely loved your room, Mikey. I thought it was one of the very best in the show. Like top three. And the only rooms that sounded better to my ears contained gear that was vastly more expensive. When I was listening to the music in your room, I just wanted to stay there. It's like I'd found my home
Jay, you are awesome. I have been in the music game for about 20 years. For my experience I'm in the lower high end, but i live through you. I appreciate all your amazing ultra high end reviews and your ridiculous systems. Thank you!
This is definitely why you want to listen to speakers (or equipment) before you buy. Mikey likes some more laid-back sound that he can listen to for hours while Jay loves a lot of detail lots of sparkle and a lot of dynamics and Jay listens for shorter durations.
I’m on my 34th year of being entangled in this hobby and have owned brands far too numerous to mention, just a few were TDL, Tannoy, B&W, Sonus Faber, Mårten. My journey for speakers ended in 2005 when I settled for my Wilson MAXX 2’s. Love them to date. Zero listener fatigue as mentioned by some and my sessions can be for as long as 8-10 hours, on occasion. Respect to Jay for his diplomacy and most importantly, decency. A gentleman. Not a defensive, cantankerous moron. Thank you Jay for your work that has me riveted despite the fact that I’ve ceased my hunt. I’m still fascinated by what’s available and the choices todays music lovers have. You do us a wonderful service.
I've noticed that many people and reviewers want to dislike Wilson Audio, but many experienced reviewers like yourself and thousands of happy customers have embraced this iconic brand. I, like many tight-budget audiophiles wish for products that can compare with the Wilson line-up for less money, but I remember that old Porsche slogan, "There Is No Substitute". Wilson Audio must be doing many things right to attain and keep their leading position.
I’ve got zero hate for Wilson, and I can afford it. I tip my cap to the top notch performance. However for me, when I spend $50-100k for a single piece of hifi equipment, I demand that it look beautiful in my eyes and I must love looking at it. Unfortunately I find Wilsons very ugly to look at. I owned Focals for a long time, and my next purchase will be Magico.
Damn right my friend! Zellaton are the best speakers in the world! By a quite margin. No other brand can reach this Level. :) But only with the classic line. The Plural EVO Line ist just on Magico, Tidal, YG, TAD or Wilson Level. ;)
@@jaysaudiolabHave you ever heard the Classic Line? If not visit NYC Audioarts to listen to them in a good surrounding. ;) Kind regards from snowy lake tegernsee, bavaria. Andi
You know I’m an art critic first of all. I love art. I happen to believe that the whole line of Wilson audio speakers are absolutely gorgeous and more so than Magico. I look at Magico speakers And their simplistic design be nothing more than rounded boxes. It’s still old-fashioned just goes to show different strokes for different folks. My amber pearl Wilson, audio Alexia V speakers are absolutely gorgeous. My better half does happen to like this speaker covers on, and not just the bare speakers, though.🫨😁😘
Wilson Audio reminds me of ATC speakers. Both brands top models do not have that instant style appeal on looks alone, but once hearing them they developed a certain following of dedicated audiophiles. Both brands have that similarity in that they look like they were designed in the 70.s or 80's, but hey if it works why change it.....
I gotta say: reviewers give too much darn credit to the room's influence on the sound of the system. WAAAY too much. Because some of those same rooms sound very good, so we ought to take the room out of the equation. Like I said in another video, I peeked into his room and wasn't impressed. I'd love to know what the price point of his speakers are, because if they're a dime over 5k, then the question would be why buy them over a pair of Sonus Faber Sonettos?
@@OCDHIFiGuy Mikey, don't let them hear those Sonettos, or they'll be beating down your door for a refund! Lol Hell, I would like to hear those beside the Mofi Source Point 10's. Nonetheless, I'm glad you got a few sales! I also look forward to hearing your setup again next year at CAF. Maybe I'll hear what those 5 heard.
Is it possible that he refers that 80% of total sales of speakers were Wilson Audio, but he talked about total value ($) ? That would make so much sense. Because if you mean by VOLUME, given the high cost of Wilson that would be pretty crazy. Super high value items would add a lot to tatal value sales, but in terms of volumen shouldn't be the larger part of the pie. I would encourage you to send him an email and double check this.
The fact that 80% of KJ West One's speaker sales is Wilsons Audio is plausible. KJ West One is a true Hi-End shop (akin to what Lyric Hi-fi was back in the day). The overall wealth in London is quite significant, and it makes sense that they cater to a certain clientele. Believe it...
Didn't hear Mike's room. Haven't heard any of the components in his room. But I will say, that in my experience matching the system to the room is absolutely critical.
Jay is a cool guy... had a casual run in at CAF 2023. Tried to get into Mikeys room... but it was waaay overcrowded. I did request Him to play Sad but true(Metallica).. got turned down.. the Jazz crowd was out in force
I've always been impressed by the Wilson sound and their ability to approach realistic dynamics with a highly detailed sound. I would, if given the chance and funds, purchase one of their speakers in a heartbeat. But that doesn't mean I find their speakers aesthetically attractive. To me a system that gets the ugly prize, would include Wadax gear, OMA TT's, and Wilson speakers. It would also, IMO, be some of the best sound in the world.
Hi Jay, I really like your honest opinion and how respectful you talk. Please see this as positive feedback, cuz again I like you as a person. You use quite allot terms like the msrp of this gear is… To me is msrp not interesting, it’s about the music.
I don't mind the look of the Wilson's, but I understand why the appearance can be polarizing. It can't compete against a Sonus Faber for looks, but at this price level performance becomes more of a priority. I think the look of the Wilson's start to grow on you.
I think you're spot on about Wilson. Many people today simply never learned how to deal with their emotions unfortunately. It's the little boy hitting the girl, because he likes her type of thing. Denial is not a river in Egypt. ✌️
Different strokes for different folks... No offence, but some may say it looks like your Wilson speakers look like Dr. Frankenstein (ok, maybe that's going too far.) designed and built them. IMO, they are defiantly Function over Fashion, but hey, their "sound" is worth it. After all, that's the main function of high-end audio speakers. On the other hand, have you ever seen (some) Tannoy speakers? I can't speak to their "sound", but Holy cow! Talk about beautiful veneer and solid wood work.
The fact that 80% of KJ West One's speaker sales is Wilsons Audio is plausible. KJ West One is a true Hi-End shop (akin to what Lyric Hi-fi was back in the day). The overall wealth in London is quite significant, and it makes sense that they cater to a certain clientele. Believe it...
I would argue that the look of the Wilsons is what some people are after. This is what comes to mind when people think of these speakers, *not* the sound quality. They just look polarizing and will appeal to some. Over the years I have tried the Alexia Series 2 and Sasha DAW at home and I have found these newer ones to be mostly okay but nothing too special. Fine for jazz and classical but not particularly exciting for rock or electronica. Older yet, I've also tried the WATT/Puppy 6 back in 2000 - terrible and hard to position properly. Although there's more to it, I'm suspicious that the paper cones and silk tweeters they use are the limiting factor in most of their designs. They also use all kinds of strange names like "X-Material" and "S-Material" with vague claims which are a bit of a turn off.
According to a dealer friend of mine, he saw a market study that showed Wilsons are the best selling high end speaker globally, and second place is not even close. He recently took on Wilson as a brand and currently has the same experience as the gentleman in the British store.
Jay you happened to go in to the Wilson store. It’s not more complicated than that. There are not that manny people in the UK or Europe that actually buys ultra high end to start with. If you come down to more high end or actual HiFi you would se a different picture. British hifi is about sounding as real instruments do in the real world. You have brands like, Rega, Cyrus, Exposure, Spendor, harbeth, graham audio, ATC, PMC etc they do expensive stuff but nowhere near your segment of ultra high end. / great video as always 👍
No ultra high end system sounds real. It’s has an artificial level of details. If you listen to classical music (100% real instruments and by far the most demanding regarding sound quality) it’s very obvious it doesn’t sound natural. It’s sounds amazing but if you go down the ladder you will get more realism. Ultra high definition has never been about sounding as it’s recorded.
@@dieselbrodeur You're clearly listening to the wrong systems. High end is NOT about being hyper-detailed, though you can certainly achieve that end if you like. At least for me, high end is about getting closer to the real experience. In real life, when an instrument is played or a singer sings, you also get a sense of the space they are performing in; high end systems can reveal that in recordings, mid-fi not so much. Now, is that "sense of space" often just a studio conceit? Of course, especially on modern releases where no two members of the band were in the same place at the same time, and each member just sent their stubs to the engineer who assembled them into a final mix. But when you're talking something like a classic Sinatra album, where he and a large orchestra WERE in the same studio, those details CAN be heard, more so on high end systems. Now, is that important to YOU? For some, they love hearing it as an "easter egg." For me, the more of those details are present, the greater the emotional transference from the performer to me when I listen.
For the record I am not saying that a HiFi system sound better than a High end one , just that it can sound more natural. The ultra high end will sound better and more spectacular in particular on music without a real world reference.
@@dieselbrodeur That's just it, that's not true. Both the mid-fi and ultra high-end system will pale significantly compared to reality, but the ultra high-end system will be closer in terms of reproduction of space and the instruments. As I said, it's easy to create a system that is hyper-detailed and overly analytic - many mastering engineers set up their systems that way - but most high-end systems do not lean towards that extreme.
You use the term ‘blown away’ quite often and I’m always suspicious if a system ‘blows me away’ at a show… invariably the bombast becomes simply surface depth and not musical depth, not satisfactory for the long haul.
I could easily live with a pair of Wilson speakers. Some of the best sounding speakers I’ve heard. I owned Tektons speakers before and hated to look at them after owning them for a year. Sound was good except for bass .
Bass was anemic for speakers with 10 inch woofers. Had to use subs most of the time. Moved down to speakers with 6 inch woofers and got much better bass . Cleaner , quicker and lower . I hardly ever turn on the subs now.
@@miquifaye So they lacked low end extension (not that surprising really, as they're high sensitivity drivers) right? What about mid bass punch? Did they at least have that? What size room were they in?
My comment would be not all brands are equal across all of their lines offered. Example Wilson Audio might be more well balanced speaker to speaker and price point to price point versus Sonus Faber. Sonus Faber lower to mid end might not be as good but their Aida's 2's I have are awesome. So you will find with different brands the quality and consistency can change versus pricing levels. Case in point some appliances mass produce crap in Mexico for their lower price high volume selling items. Their top of the line stuff still made in U.S.A from better parts. To get the cost down they have to cut corners somewhere. I listened to Wilson and I would say it was very TECHINCAL and CLEAN but more sterile to me ( contemporary ) versus Sonus Faber more romantic and inviting (traditional). Nothing wrong with either it's just what suits your fancy. I do very large commercial real estate deals so do not want to be blasted away with clean techno when I take a break. I want to listen to a singer that washes over me with soul, emotion, and lets me get away for 20 to 30 minutes and then go back to work at the office refreshed again. Wilson is a more robotic futuristic look which I do not care for much. I can say the same for PS Audio I think those speakers are ugly. Wilson not ugly just very technical and sharp design.
What a lame excuse to not like Wilson speakers - the felt around the tweeter. Can anyone be so ignoramus? It is there for anti-diffractionary purposes! With Wilson, form follows function. Period.
Please like and subscribe !
Hi Jay, thanks for making a video tipping your hat to the only TH-camr with the Chutzpah to buy and set up a room and allow others to judge them. I tried to get a big room, but none were available. So more than anything, I was putting up myself and my products to show Im not scared to face the public and prove that im not a big mouth. There was nobody else in the industry behind me, I did this solo with my friends and family. So my goal was reached. Next, you just said it. The room was packed, and never empty. I know from doing enough of these shows how to judge the level of my room simply by who comes into the room & how many times they come back. When I have manufacturers and distributors coming back with others and staying for 3 or 4 songs, it does not matter what the forum clowns say. We all know shills and idiots live in the forums. The proof was in how busy my room was, and how long people stayed in the chairs. Ive always totally respected Wilson and you know this. I respect the build level and how well they sell. How could anybody not respect that ? Its simply not my type of sonic along with Magico and Focal as an example. So its more a TYPE of sonic than it is a certain brand or another.. But to date, Ive never wanted to have those brands just as an example. I appreciate you saying you dont think anyone could have done better in my room. I appreciate your honesty. As a side note, when you said "nothing stood out", this is exactly what I was after. I consider this balance, perhaps you think its boring. Eventually, sound that is shiny, uber punchy, extra detailed and all that other ear candy, fades, in my opinion. The novelty wears off. That's when balance reigns supreme, because we are listening to the music, not the way the music is played back. Fortunately, many people, especially the ones just off the street that walk in to a dealer are charmed by the ear candy and buy it.. so its a fabulous business plan... I happen to not be the business plan type, I am after a certain sonic result and I sell that one type of result as Im a specialist in that regard. Thanks again for the coverage... ;-) Hope you have a great Holiday !!
Mike your room sounded great and your interaction with the show attendees was one of the best I experienced. Heck we came back on day 2 and you remembered that I wanted to hear the floorstanding set. Your personable interaction is unique and in my opinion makes a meaningful difference.
We’ll done, Mikey.
I absolutely loved your room, Mikey. I thought it was one of the very best in the show. Like top three. And the only rooms that sounded better to my ears contained gear that was vastly more expensive. When I was listening to the music in your room, I just wanted to stay there. It's like I'd found my home
Wish I could have been there.
No problem Mikey. Happy holidays to you and your loved ones as well.
Jay, you are awesome. I have been in the music game for about 20 years. For my experience I'm in the lower high end, but i live through you. I appreciate all your amazing ultra high end reviews and your ridiculous systems. Thank you!
Thanx for your videos,,it is getting better & better
It's my pleasure
This is definitely why you want to listen to speakers (or equipment) before you buy. Mikey likes some more laid-back sound that he can listen to for hours while Jay loves a lot of detail lots of sparkle and a lot of dynamics and Jay listens for shorter durations.
Indeed
Nailed it..
@clickbeetle2720 Yes
20.7s are smooth & airy
Rel CS for bottom end 😊
I’m on my 34th year of being entangled in this hobby and have owned brands far too numerous to mention, just a few were TDL, Tannoy, B&W, Sonus Faber, Mårten. My journey for speakers ended in 2005 when I settled for my Wilson MAXX 2’s. Love them to date. Zero listener fatigue as mentioned by some and my sessions can be for as long as 8-10 hours, on occasion. Respect to Jay for his diplomacy and most importantly, decency. A gentleman. Not a defensive, cantankerous moron. Thank you Jay for your work that has me riveted despite the fact that I’ve ceased my hunt. I’m still fascinated by what’s available and the choices todays music lovers have. You do us a wonderful service.
I've noticed that many people and reviewers want to dislike Wilson Audio, but many experienced reviewers like yourself and thousands of happy customers have embraced this iconic brand. I, like many tight-budget audiophiles wish for products that can compare with the Wilson line-up for less money, but I remember that old Porsche slogan, "There Is No Substitute". Wilson Audio must be doing many things right to attain and keep their leading position.
Agreed
I’ve got zero hate for Wilson, and I can afford it. I tip my cap to the top notch performance. However for me, when I spend $50-100k for a single piece of hifi equipment, I demand that it look beautiful in my eyes and I must love looking at it. Unfortunately I find Wilsons very ugly to look at. I owned Focals for a long time, and my next purchase will be Magico.
Check Zellaton speakers
Sounds good
Damn right my friend! Zellaton are the best speakers in the world! By a quite margin. No other brand can reach this Level. :) But only with the classic line. The Plural EVO Line ist just on Magico, Tidal, YG, TAD or Wilson Level. ;)
@@jaysaudiolabHave you ever heard the Classic Line? If not visit NYC Audioarts to listen to them in a good surrounding. ;) Kind regards from snowy lake tegernsee, bavaria. Andi
You will love the Magico. I own one. I think the sweet spot is the S7.
Ditch the streaming and go back to CD if you want to improve sound further!😃
You know I’m an art critic first of all. I love art. I happen to believe that the whole line of Wilson audio speakers are absolutely gorgeous and more so than Magico. I look at Magico speakers And their simplistic design be nothing more than rounded boxes. It’s still old-fashioned just goes to show different strokes for different folks. My amber pearl Wilson, audio Alexia V speakers are absolutely gorgeous. My better half does happen to like this speaker covers on, and not just the bare speakers, though.🫨😁😘
I also have gorgeous amber pearl AlexiaV speakers. Love em!
Wilson Audio reminds me of ATC speakers. Both brands top models do not have that instant style appeal on looks alone, but once hearing them they developed a certain following of dedicated audiophiles. Both brands have that similarity in that they look like they were designed in the 70.s or 80's, but hey if it works why change it.....
I gotta say: reviewers give too much darn credit to the room's influence on the sound of the system. WAAAY too much. Because some of those same rooms sound very good, so we ought to take the room out of the equation. Like I said in another video, I peeked into his room and wasn't impressed. I'd love to know what the price point of his speakers are, because if they're a dime over 5k, then the question would be why buy them over a pair of Sonus Faber Sonettos?
$4500 and I sold 5 pair... ;-)
@@OCDHIFiGuy Mikey, don't let them hear those Sonettos, or they'll be beating down your door for a refund! Lol Hell, I would like to hear those beside the Mofi Source Point 10's.
Nonetheless, I'm glad you got a few sales! I also look forward to hearing your setup again next year at CAF. Maybe I'll hear what those 5 heard.
@@OCDHIFiGuyClayton Shaw sold 120 pairs of his at the same show. ✌️
I like the looks of wilsons. And they sound good to.
The time has come for a playback design DAC MPD-8 review!
Soon maybe
@@jaysaudiolab Want me to bring it again ? Ill be in Pompano Friday.... ;-)
Is it possible that he refers that 80% of total sales of speakers were Wilson Audio, but he talked about total value ($) ? That would make so much sense. Because if you mean by VOLUME, given the high cost of Wilson that would be pretty crazy. Super high value items would add a lot to tatal value sales, but in terms of volumen shouldn't be the larger part of the pie. I would encourage you to send him an email and double check this.
The fact that 80% of KJ West One's speaker sales is Wilsons Audio is plausible. KJ West One is a true Hi-End shop (akin to what Lyric Hi-fi was back in the day). The overall wealth in London is quite significant, and it makes sense that they cater to a certain clientele. Believe it...
Yea good point, it is London after all. I can certainly see it. ✌️
Dave Wilsons favorite speaker in th 80s was the Vandersteen model 2 he loved it . I know he likes Vandersteen principles
Borresen coming soon ; )
You bought the Borresen?
Didn't hear Mike's room. Haven't heard any of the components in his room. But I will say, that in my experience matching the system to the room is absolutely critical.
Sasha DAW. Look sweet to me.
Wilson Audio is a top-tier brand.
Simply the best!
@@roybatty6368 Yes, definitely! The enclosure technology is second to none (YT): Demonstrating Wilson's V Material against Competition
Jay is a cool guy... had a casual run in at CAF 2023. Tried to get into Mikeys room... but it was waaay overcrowded. I did request Him to play Sad but true(Metallica).. got turned down.. the Jazz crowd was out in force
I've always been impressed by the Wilson sound and their ability to approach realistic dynamics with a highly detailed sound. I would, if given the chance and funds, purchase one of their speakers in a heartbeat. But that doesn't mean I find their speakers aesthetically attractive. To me a system that gets the ugly prize, would include Wadax gear, OMA TT's, and Wilson speakers. It would also, IMO, be some of the best sound in the world.
Say what ya want but the m -fers sound great!
They do
Ayre time!
Hi Jay,
I really like your honest opinion and how respectful you talk.
Please see this as positive feedback, cuz again I like you as a person. You use quite allot terms like the msrp of this gear is… To me is msrp not interesting, it’s about the music.
Thanks
Ive heard Wilson a few times , including kj west one and I didnt rate them . They sounded like pa speakers and they look like mcdonalds dustbins
Nice store visit 😂 Sales so by value? If its so the Chronosonic and the Sasha they dont hv to sell many to get top spot hehehe.
I don't mind the look of the Wilson's, but I understand why the appearance can be polarizing. It can't compete against a Sonus Faber for looks, but at this price level performance becomes more of a priority. I think the look of the Wilson's start to grow on you.
Performance is indeed the factor that should matter most
I love Wilson Audio, but I also agree with you, I prefer build quality and sonic performance over looks.
A lot of people dislike the look of Vivids as well, I've always found them to look organic and like a musical instrument.
True
I think you're spot on about Wilson. Many people today simply never learned how to deal with their emotions unfortunately.
It's the little boy hitting the girl, because he likes her type of thing.
Denial is not a river in Egypt. ✌️
Different strokes for different folks...
No offence, but some may say it looks like your Wilson speakers look like Dr. Frankenstein (ok, maybe that's going too far.) designed and built them. IMO, they are defiantly Function over Fashion, but hey, their "sound" is worth it. After all, that's the main function of high-end audio speakers. On the other hand, have you ever seen (some) Tannoy speakers? I can't speak to their "sound", but Holy cow! Talk about beautiful veneer and solid wood work.
The room even sounded good on YT
I think you're going to see "How low Mikey can go" real soon! 😂😂😂😂😂
Cool ! What am I doing ??
Time always tells....😁@@OCDHIFiGuy
Hard to believe they numerically sell 80% of WA speakers...in weighted terms (if selling upper echelon of WA offer) might be
The fact that 80% of KJ West One's speaker sales is Wilsons Audio is plausible. KJ West One is a true Hi-End shop (akin to what Lyric Hi-fi was back in the day). The overall wealth in London is quite significant, and it makes sense that they cater to a certain clientele. Believe it...
I would argue that the look of the Wilsons is what some people are after. This is what comes to mind when people think of these speakers, *not* the sound quality. They just look polarizing and will appeal to some. Over the years I have tried the Alexia Series 2 and Sasha DAW at home and I have found these newer ones to be mostly okay but nothing too special. Fine for jazz and classical but not particularly exciting for rock or electronica. Older yet, I've also tried the WATT/Puppy 6 back in 2000 - terrible and hard to position properly.
Although there's more to it, I'm suspicious that the paper cones and silk tweeters they use are the limiting factor in most of their designs. They also use all kinds of strange names like "X-Material" and "S-Material" with vague claims which are a bit of a turn off.
So Wilson is the best selling speaker in europe because it sells well in England? That dosn't make any sense!!
According to a dealer friend of mine, he saw a market study that showed Wilsons are the best selling high end speaker globally, and second place is not even close. He recently took on Wilson as a brand and currently has the same experience as the gentleman in the British store.
Hmm. So I guess it actually makes perfect sense. 🤣🤣🤣
Hello Jay 👋
Hello 👋
Cybertruck is cool
Wilson Audio look really unappealing. In fact some would even say ugly.
Dude, new ink? 😎
Old lol 😂
Have you tried the Sony CS5?
I don't hate them....but would never consider owning such an alien looking monstrosity.
Jay you happened to go in to the Wilson store. It’s not more complicated than that. There are not that manny people in the UK or Europe that actually buys ultra high end to start with. If you come down to more high end or actual HiFi you would se a different picture. British hifi is about sounding as real instruments do in the real world. You have brands like, Rega, Cyrus, Exposure, Spendor, harbeth, graham audio, ATC, PMC etc they do expensive stuff but nowhere near your segment of ultra high end. / great video as always 👍
Are you implying Wilson is NOT about having instruments sound real?
No ultra high end system sounds real. It’s has an artificial level of details. If you listen to classical music (100% real instruments and by far the most demanding regarding sound quality) it’s very obvious it doesn’t sound natural. It’s sounds amazing but if you go down the ladder you will get more realism. Ultra high definition has never been about sounding as it’s recorded.
@@dieselbrodeur You're clearly listening to the wrong systems.
High end is NOT about being hyper-detailed, though you can certainly achieve that end if you like.
At least for me, high end is about getting closer to the real experience.
In real life, when an instrument is played or a singer sings, you also get a sense of the space they are performing in; high end systems can reveal that in recordings, mid-fi not so much.
Now, is that "sense of space" often just a studio conceit? Of course, especially on modern releases where no two members of the band were in the same place at the same time, and each member just sent their stubs to the engineer who assembled them into a final mix.
But when you're talking something like a classic Sinatra album, where he and a large orchestra WERE in the same studio, those details CAN be heard, more so on high end systems.
Now, is that important to YOU?
For some, they love hearing it as an "easter egg."
For me, the more of those details are present, the greater the emotional transference from the performer to me when I listen.
For the record I am not saying that a HiFi system sound better than a High end one , just that it can sound more natural. The ultra high end will sound better and more spectacular in particular on music without a real world reference.
@@dieselbrodeur That's just it, that's not true.
Both the mid-fi and ultra high-end system will pale significantly compared to reality, but the ultra high-end system will be closer in terms of reproduction of space and the instruments.
As I said, it's easy to create a system that is hyper-detailed and overly analytic - many mastering engineers set up their systems that way - but most high-end systems do not lean towards that extreme.
You use the term ‘blown away’ quite often and I’m always suspicious if a system ‘blows me away’ at a show… invariably the bombast becomes simply surface depth and not musical depth, not satisfactory for the long haul.
I could easily live with a pair of Wilson speakers. Some of the best sounding speakers I’ve heard. I owned Tektons speakers before and hated to look at them after owning them for a year. Sound was good except for bass .
What was wrong with their bass? ✌️
Bass was anemic for speakers with 10 inch woofers. Had to use subs most of the time. Moved down to speakers with 6 inch woofers and got much better bass . Cleaner , quicker and lower . I hardly ever turn on the subs now.
@@miquifaye So they lacked low end extension (not that surprising really, as they're high sensitivity drivers) right? What about mid bass punch? Did they at least have that? What size room were they in?
@@miquifaye Sorry. Thank you for the reply also. I really appreciate it. ✌️
@@amb3cog mid bass punch was good. not the tightest but very live venue sounding.
My comment would be not all brands are equal across all of their lines offered. Example Wilson Audio might be more well balanced speaker to speaker and price point to price point versus Sonus Faber. Sonus Faber lower to mid end might not be as good but their Aida's 2's I have are awesome. So you will find with different brands the quality and consistency can change versus pricing levels. Case in point some appliances mass produce crap in Mexico for their lower price high volume selling items. Their top of the line stuff still made in U.S.A from better parts. To get the cost down they have to cut corners somewhere. I listened to Wilson and I would say it was very TECHINCAL and CLEAN but more sterile to me ( contemporary ) versus Sonus Faber more romantic and inviting (traditional). Nothing wrong with either it's just what suits your fancy. I do very large commercial real estate deals so do not want to be blasted away with clean techno when I take a break. I want to listen to a singer that washes over me with soul, emotion, and lets me get away for 20 to 30 minutes and then go back to work at the office refreshed again. Wilson is a more robotic futuristic look which I do not care for much. I can say the same for PS Audio I think those speakers are ugly. Wilson not ugly just very technical and sharp design.
Wilson Audio ONLY.
What a lame excuse to not like Wilson speakers - the felt around the tweeter. Can anyone be so ignoramus? It is there for anti-diffractionary purposes! With Wilson, form follows function. Period.