Wilson Speakers & Reviewers

I did not like the "Wilson sound" at all up to and including the Watt Puppy 6. They sounded hollow in the midrange as kiethahughes says above. But I loved the change in sound first appearing in the Sophia (which were my first Wilsons) which was warmer and more natural than the WP6. The WP7 (my second Wilsons) also had the newer, more natural, but still reasonably transparent  sound (although not the very last word in transparency), followed by the Sashas (my third) and now Sasha2 and Alexia2 (my fourth). I think the Alexia v2 was a big step up the transparency ladder but is unmistakably Wilson--natural, front stage yet dimensional and dynamic. Wilson makes a great product WHEN SET UP CORRECTLY. Set them up in a random fashion--and lose at least 60 percent of the characteristics that make them so popular.

It’s a great question.  

They are undoubtedly great speakers.   No question.  
 
But we have to be open to the idea in any industry that there is a symbiotic relationship between ‘influencers’ and manufacturers’ marketing departments.   A friend of mine works in the music industry.  He has a pair of £10k speakers and an £8k record deck, both donated to him.    And he isn’t even a prolific blogger.    

I work in marketing.  If I was marketing a known great product that I knew significant influencers wanted to own I would sure as hell ensure they owned it.   

Because of reputation, looks, and people believing that they have to sound good due to their price.

I’ve talked to many people who demoed their lineup, and all said they much prefer the KEF Blades and Revel Salon2/Studio2, and the measurements back that up. 

Fred;

“why do do people( reviewers) prefer Wilson?”

Yes, that is even a better question 

The thing I noticed is all the reviewers (appeared to ME) went thru a boat load of speakers , before ending up with Wilson

Wilson appears to be an end game....

there have been been a lot of good comments......

jeff

Frozen, the industry has many storries sometimes a reviewer does fall in love with a product, sometimes the product is sold to said reviewer for a tiny fraction of its retail or wholesale cost.

There was a famous reviewer who magically was caught selling tons of donated uber expensive flat cables for years that he was promoting. Do you think he paid for those cables?

We know a famous Brooklyn audio reviewer who has tons of a particular company’s amps and preamps that are on never ending extended loan. ie free. The reason is simple he mentions those amps a lot as that is what he tests with.

Wilson are no more destination speakers than Rahido, Rockport, Magico. or any other well designed pair of speakers. The same conversation can be applied to cars is a BMW more of a destination auto than a Mercedes or an Audi or a Lexus or an Infiniti?

One thing that may color this conversation is if the reviewer did pay money for said product even if it was a fraction of its retail or wholesale price if that reviewer is thinking about how easily it will be to turn over that product, and pocket some money than a Wilson would be easier to move than lets say a pair of Estelon loudspeakers as more people know the Wilson product than the Estelon. If you don't think that some reviewers think this way then you don't know many reviewers. 

We are not saying Wilson makes a good, or bad product but in this industry Wilson is a very recognizable brand so they are way easier to turn if you want to.

Sound and preference is a matter of taste there are guys here who love their Wilson’s, or Magicos, or Rockports or whatever.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ