Wilson tiny tots


Hi,

I just purchased two used Wilson tiny tots.    I do not have an amp yet.   I would like to have two channels connected to the TV.     My music, these days is through YouTube and I would love to play movie sound through the two Wilson’s.   Can you connect an amp through optical or HDMI directly to the TV then out to the speakers?   what amp do you recommend

 

I’m looking to spend $2000 or less.   As you can see I’m an amateur don’t be afraid to give a lot of detail.  
 

thanks

craig 

craigdemling

My recollection of the Tiny Tots was that they were a location monitor made by Dave Wilson to monitor his recordings.  They were described as (1) ruthlessly revealing with a somewhat rising treble, (2) difficult to drive (they went below 1 ohm at 2 Khz) and (3) severely lacking in bass (I think they cut off at about 50 Hz or so).  One reviewer (John Atkinson) implied that they offered a vision of heaven but also a glimpse of hell, as I recall.  Another said they desperately needed a woofer (much less a subwoofer), which is why when Wilson started marketing them seriously, they designed the Puppy woofers to go with them.  Before that I recall a lot of people paired them with Entec subwoofers, which doubled as a stand for them (that's how I heard them years ago).  

I think it will be difficult to get the best out of them from a receiver, but if you can get one that can drive very low impedance loads, I suppose it could work for a HT system.  I think Audiotroy is right, though, they will work best with a quality integrated.  In any case, if you just want the Wilsons for dialogue from movies it would be OK and probably better than a soundbar, but I doubt that you'll get much bass from the soundtracks without at least a decent subwoofer crossed over in the mid-bass region. 

Just my two cents, but if you check the Stereophile archives I think you'll get a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of the speaker.

Just so I understand, you did say "tiny" tots, right, not "tune" tots?  Tune Tots are a current speaker; Tiny Tots (WATTs) date back to the 1980s. 

Can I go TV direct to amp to speakers?  If yes, what amp should I use.  

@audiotroy ?

I know many have their eyes roll back in their sockets when they hear the name. Wilson. However I am not convinced that the Tiny Tots are as good as many seem to believe. I dunno, but there is a sort of legend wrapped up in Wilson name, and maybe the tots have not inherited the genetic makeup of the others.

But I am thinking you need to see if there is a red and white RCA on the back of the TV, and if not, then maybe consider moving those speakers on and getting a sound bar to connect to the TV.
That should be super easy to make work.

But one could look for the amps with the HDMI input.

Those are sort of seeming like the two choices.