Wilson Audio Haters

Thank you for the lengthy description of 2D bo. Despite the ignorance plaguing board discussions at times, I for one find all this very interesting.

Great stuff It brings another question to mind. Will we see, hear rather a 4D or even a 5D system any time in the the near future, or even in our lifetime? Maybe I am jumping way too far ahead of technology.

I am going to have to give a big AMEN to dlcockrum and jmcgrogan, thank you both.

I think the polarizing attitude for Wilson is the pricing.  It never goes down but only up, although I agree they are not the only one.  The latest offering (the WAMM) is just ridiculous, not matter how you cut it.  I suspect the price is just for shock value.  I am sure it is well made and sounds good, but REALLY good speakers (and companies) find ways to make really good sound at a price more people can afford.  Sadly, this is rare.

One thing I notice is that it seems to me that this is the time that affordability should be embraced.  Once the well-to-do boomers push through the upcoming generation will be left with an out of control escalation of prices that few can afford.  Moreover, if the hope is nonexistent, you don't focus on it.  I enjoy the highest end like anyone else, but being an audiophile I can at least have some context to appreciate it.  But to outsiders, or those ambivalent to audio at least, it is just ridiculous.  The latest WAMM is $685K, and when you stop and look at what that can get you, especially not considering luxury goods, it makes it even more outrageous.  You can buy an airplane for that. 

I think as well that although Wilson has done well, in the grand context they really have done nothing new or revolutionary.  True, the WATT/PUPPY combo is the best one sold, but it was also one of the first, and the originals always sell.  But in terms of technology that has really pushed the art and science of speakers forward, Wilson has not been one of them.  The used available drivers. Magico has pushed the boundary of enclosure design with all-aluminum boxes and pushed further with cone and driver design. Focal has brought us EM woofers, TAD brought us concentric beryllium drivers....Wilson just made speakers, albeit good ones.  Were they ever the best?  Maybe.  But it is debatable.   But certainly at the forefront in cost, and the further out of reach something becomes, the more anger it generates.  And it is easy to be the industry "whipping boy" when you have the recognition of Wilson.  I suppose every hobby has its own Wilson.

It costs more so it has to sound better.

Don't invest in a gold mine invest in a high end speaker company.

When its put in a cost perspective I can think of a speaker I could hate, or hate to love rather.   

3 dimensional sound is not about money, it is all about properties. But the problem is that knowledge and insight is very limited in audio.

I give you an example; people think when I buy tubes I get a more musical sound and more emotion.

In the last few weeks people visited me who own expensive tube amps; like AudioResearch and Absolare.

They were stunned that my sound is even more involving than their sound and owns so much more layers. These layers influences our emotion the most.  I do not use tubes. Read the articles of the Pass labs XS-300. When I have the money I will buy a set of these.

You have no idea how much further I can get into sound and change each parameter of sound. Audio is your hobby, I earn my money with it. I never saw it as work. It is in my blood. It is inside my head.

I can adjust each single part you judge sound for. With this you can create a superior level in realims what never will be possible by trial and error. Even when you spend 1 million of dollars.

S.A.P. can reveal details which you cannot hear with a pre amp of 50.000 dollar. Money does not create the same level of details. Money will not give the same level in timing. 

It is insane that many companies in audio have been sleeping for a long time. Many think it is still 1980.

Without giving a name, I can garantee for 100% that many highend manufacturers of expensive loudspeakers often use 2 dimensional amps and sources.

They often use the wrong cables. They have no idea of the properties. It is just a guess what they do. But audio does not work like that and it never will. You need to learn to look further!