Revel Salon2 vs. B & W 802D vs. Wilson W.P.7?

I believe they tried to correct the ringing on the WP 8 - something to do with damping the back wave. However what is disconcerting is that the tweeter clearly shows significant audio compression at a mere 95 db SPL (this is a difference plot of response at 70 db versus 95 db SPL form Soundstage, which use NRC labs). Of course most home speakers suffer this kind of problem, but a speaker of this calibre really ought to be able to play cleanly at much higher levels, IMHO.

Well I have had all three and I can tell you that the 802d is not in the same class as the other two. The Salon2 and the WP7 are both very good and it just comes down to taste. The WP7 is a cleaner sound do to their cabinet having no distortion. The Salon2 is a more forgiving speaker as far as room placement. The top end both sound very very close.

The Jackasses who say the wilson tweeter has resonance problems or bright hot ect have no idea what they are talking about. It just takes one person to start that and everybody runs with it. Unless you have heard these speakers in your own environment don't give advise. I use to believe that crap and never give the wilson a chance but now that I did I think the wilson speakers are some of the very best. The Salon2 is another speaker that ranks right up there also.

We are not "jackasses". But your speakers have a crap tweeter, and you are evidently deaf and a yahoo.

I haven't heard the WP8, but I agree the Wilson "sound" is excellent, right up there with the best I've heard. I have heard the Sophia 1, MAXX1, WP7 and Alexandria, and never found them to be bright or ring in the 4-8khz range.

I agree the Wilson "sound" is excellent, right up there with the best I've heard.

I agree. FWIW: Rigid Metal or Ceramic woofers are often used in high end systems and people love them and buy them (lightweight "piston" operation means small low cost motors, such as 1 inch voice coils, can be used and they are efficient and very linear in response).

However these designs ALL have ringing problems! Why else do manufacurers use sharp Q notch filters to dampen ringing and why else do some use two rubber dampers on the edges of the driver cone. Why else do paper/pulp/polypropelene and woven and doped kevlar designs exist...these less stiff designs offer better internal damping - less ringing - even if they are less ideal "pistonic" (and generally require an expensive larger voice coil for better diaphragm support)!

Speaker design is often a compromise...thats all. However, I'd be wary of this particular tweet - note that it is used extensively in another highly regarded manufacurers speakers ...so perhaps the other manufacturer deals with the ringing problem more effectively in their crossover design.