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What is the process to demo speakers?

I’m dealing with an acoustically challenged room in my new house and am considering Wilson Audio Duettes. The room requires speakers be up against a wall or inside a bookshelf. I went to Overture in Delaware this weekend and listed to the Duettes, I thought they were amazing. However, I was in a listening room designed to sound good, much different than my home.

I’d like to be able to try these speakers in my house before I commit to purchasing them. Is this a reasonable request to make of Overture and does anyone know if they offer this kind of service? Also, if this is common practice for good audio stores do they charge anything for the service of letting their customer try equipment before they purchase?

I’m fairly new to upper end equipment so I appreciate any advice you can offer.

Ken.
kwilkins
s7horton
1,077 posts
 
Not true, they are also designed to work as a standard monitor. That's the reason for the stand. You can do a crossover mod if you are going to use them in a normal audiophile setup.

One of my friends had the wilson dealer setup his watt puppy 7's. In my opinion it is worth what the dealer charges to get it right.
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cytocycle
1,043 posts
 
S7horton: Yes, they will work as a standard monitor but they were designed for interior decorators where speaker were to be integrated into bookshelves and out of the way. Plus these are smaller than Cub II's and with the external crossover provides additional flexibility in installation options. My dealer informed me that the stands were mainly for dealers stores to demo them.. yes you can buy the stands but the cost of the stands plus the speakers is more than a pair of Sophia 2's which go lower ... so why would you buy monitors when you can buy floor standers.

Tvad: You are correct in that if someone purchases Wilson speakers the dealer does install and setup the speakers in house. The question referred to an in home demo of speakers before purchasing.
montytx
138 posts
 
I've heard the Duette during a demo tour that David Wilson was conducting at a local dealer. They were mounted on stands and a couple of feet out from the front wall. While it's true they were designed to work in unfriendly conditions, that doesn't mean that's the best position for them.

What immediately struck me during the audition was how far out they projected the sound. This was no doubt as intended to give them needed depth in situations where the speaker was close to the front wall or in a bookshelf. I could certainly see that they would project a nice stage even against a wall.

I loved the way they made music and normally find speakers that are that forward to be annoying. Not the Duettes. They were stunningly engaging. I want a pair...like yesterday.
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