Wilson's Chronosonic XVX loudspeaker over 3/4 of a million US dollars

@erik_squires   +1

My question was meant to be aimed at why it took so very long for Dave W to come to the realization that the old tweeter was such a weak part of his design. IOW, what precipitated the change ( for the better) after all those years?

why it took so very long for Dave W to come to the realization that the old tweeter was such a weak part of his design.

LOL, the "realization" came when Focal stop selling OEM drivers to competitors. Many of the older Wilson drivers were made by Focal and were/are superior to the stuff he is using today. The "new" sound may be less offensive. Some may call it "neutral," but it basically just lacking resolution due to the excessive use of paper cones (and a silk dome tweeter). Proac already mastered that particular sound in the late ’80s.
Wilson fans will continue to like them regardless of how they sound.  

My question was meant to be aimed at why it took so very long for Dave W to come to the realization that the old tweeter was such a weak part of his design. IOW, what precipitated the change ( for the better) after all those years?

Well,l I can't speak for any successful speaker maker, at all, but my guess is that his personal tastes changed, much like mine have.

Wilson Sr. always chose tweeters based on sound alone.  He liked bass, he liked extreme imaging. He liked the color in the Focal metal domes.

It is hard to sell a high end speaker that sounds like every other. That means, truly neutral speakers are a hard sell. Perhaps the Wilson brand feels it's so powerful that it is OK to be a neutral speaker?

Best,

E

As for the Focal tweeter, I've experimented with it a little.  Not Wilsons, but in Focals.

I think Wilson did two things which worked really well.  Surrounded it by felt, and put a custom rear chamber on it, which I believe extended the low end down, making it play a larger part in the speaker response.

Best,

E