A brutal review of the Wilson Maxx

Sean, Nice summary - or should I say essay :).

I agree with you most that when you read a series of reviews from most/some? reviewers you get a sense of what they like and what their listening tastes/biases are.

Me I have no idea what sam tellig or Ken Kessler listening biases are, except that everything sounds WONDERFUL with correlation to the music playing. my two cents

who qualifies for an accommidation price? where do we sign up?

I think Hardesty is really on to something with his review. From now on, I am only reading reviews if they are based solely on the component's test-bench performance and engineering philosophy. I am sick and tired of having to read all those silly reviews where the reviewer has put time and energy into actually listening to the product before giving an assessment.

As I read Hardesty's article, I got the impression that he is not credible enough to write a well-thoughtout review of the product. Instead, he focusses on and criticizes other reviewers and the product's designer. Maybe he is afraid of what he might hear if he actually opened his mind to an in-home audition of a product that uses a different design philosophy than his own.

As for everyone that thinks that Hardesty is so great, we'll see what happens when he negatively reviews the components you have all carefully selected for your own systems. And, no, I don't own or particularly care for Wilson products. No doubt, though, Hardesty will eventually get around to criticizing the equipment that I do own. After all, my equipment will make an easy target since it is well-reviewed by the mainstream media.

Jeff

I for one have to agree with the review. I heard the Watt Puppy 6 and the Max and was not impressed at all. For that kind of money, the performance is a joke in my opinion. I am not saying its a bad speaker in general, but for the money its horrible. Of course, if you can afford it and the matching electronics then it is properbly not much for you. I had to bribe 2 reviewers here just to get them to listen to "the products". You invite them to dinner, then chat some more and ask what they want and give them something nice. And see there a nice glowing review is coming. Very sad! For us small fish in the see, the industr. sucks.

Rcprince, what is your opinion of Jarvi's work as new musical director of the NJSO? Have you attended any recent concerts? I agree that NJSO is an excellent orchestra. The hall at NJPAC is first rate, with an incredibly low noise floor, detailed with just enough warmth. Superior to Fisher Hall indeed.