A brutal review of the Wilson Maxx

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.

Samuel
I'm starting to suspect this is some sort of an elaborate publicity stunt hatched to get this "review" site some free exposure and cook up some controversy. I don't know about you but I'd never heard of them previously up until this surreptitious link was posted! I've also never seen so many flatlanders, or flatliners or whatever you want to call these measurement objectivists crawling out of the woodwork in such vociferous quantities. Man, either Wilson must have pissed off an awful lot of folks or these guys want some attention! Just go listen to the speakers, people THEN form an opinion. Pathetic, methinks as most of the pogromers are speaking from ignorance and dictum not hands (ears) on experience.

Not only do I think you're right, Grant, and understand and appreciate that Mike Fremer should be defending his integrity, I know this guy who did this review did not listen to speakers he is debunking from the (very) few comments he actually did make pertaining to what approximates (?) listening comments to the actual speakers SOUND. They just flat out contradict my own experience and, I'm sure many of the above posters actual experiences of listening to them diametrically.

What i also find fascinating is that he doesn't reference Maxx2 but rather goes on and on about the Maxx. Perhaps this "perfectionist" had an older pair of the admittedly much improved versions? What a joke! This guy claims to be a perfectionist yet doesn't give context, gear he used, room,can't even write the model name correctly etc etc etc?

What would be really funny and perhaps even of interest and value is if every poster here described the context and partnering equipment, setting and time spent that they had in front of an actual pair of Maxx2's so we can actually develop some relevant discussions based on actual experience and not just what other people have written or some ridonculous objectivist dogma Repeat after me - any speaker that is not ruler flat, time and phase coherent ain't no speaker at all. It amazes me also that people can form opinions on a speaker or brand based on partnering with certain solid state amps that are known to be sterile, lean and uninvolving. In my opinion the speaker is letting you know what is happening upstream. Its a good sign to me of a great design when that effect is apparent as it demonstrates the opposite as well to a great degree. Anyone that's heard the Maxx's on a great tube amp would think they sound completely differently from someone who's heard them only on Spectral or Halcro. In fact, I've never heard a speaker that has been more chameleonlike demonstrating this effect more than the Maxx2.

I have to laugh out loud at what an easy target it is to attack the most successful high end speaker without actually listening to the product. Hilarious thread!

Oh, my disclaimer? I've actually heard them.

Well i thought i would join in too. I once heard a Wilson Watt Puppy about 5 years ago and it was my first High End experience. While i did remember that i found the sound very cold and dead sounding that the precision and depth really impressed me. I am now currently listening to diva's and wouldnt trade them for any other speaker out there but i am sure that if setup correctly that the Wilsons sound pretty good. For the money i am sure that they are not very good, but who can justify calling a 100K speaker a bargain.

-Flo