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Are Wilson speakers

I have posted under the Amp thread the fact that my Krell KMA 160s are too "mean, lean and sterile" in my sytem and have blamed everything but the speakers. I am currently deciding between a number of tube amps (Atma-sphere, VTL-450, Wolcott, etc - they must have balanced inputs and fill a 23 X 15 room with high resonance. Then I assembled a baby system in a 12X12 room - Jolida 302B (mod Underwood HiFi) and Totem Sig 1's, Naim CD 5, Nordost interconnects and Poeima! speaker wire) and it sounds magical, musical, engaging and glorious. So I blamed the amp only. Now, after listening again and again, and running upstairs and downstairs, to compare, a horrible thought struck me: Maybe it is the Wilson WP 3:2's that are not musical and engaging, rather than all the associated front end and power.........obviously, this is a reluctant conclusion, given all the positives written everywhere about the Wilson speakers and the expense in getting not only a new amp, but new speakers as well - let alone wife factor. So I will change the amp - since it seems to be a universal consensus that the Krell KMA 160s are "lean and clinical" (every dealer I speak to says so and I must have spoken to dozens this last month)and listen to the Wilsons with an Atma-sphere or VTL-450.
I cannot get a Sound Labs or Quad 989 because of wife factor and need the same/similar footprint as the Wilsons - I have seen the thread of someone looking for a pair of speakers under $15K, so will look at those 4 speakers - or try to hear them.
I dont want to bash Wilsons, as I believe they are a wonderful company (I will tell a Dave Wilson story on another thread that confirms what a great guy he is..........) but need A'goners help/input again to sort out my musical non-bliss with this expensive system so that I get the same musicality, involvement and engagement that I dont feel with it, but do with a baby system, costing a tenth or less, in my main listening room.
Thanks in advance for your comments on attaining musical improvement - this and a warm, engagement with reduction of the clinical, sterile sound is the goal.......

System:
Mark Levinson Ref 32
Esoteric DV-50
Krell KMA 160
WWP 3:2
PAD Dominus, Poiema!, PAD Venustas cables
BMI Shark, Michael Wolf PCs
PS HO/HC
springbok10
keithr
1,306 posts
 
To your ears Bigpowerballs--your SFs put me to sleep, so to each his own eh?

To blanket statement any system without regard to components is silly--yes Wilson/Spectral was stale to me. However, Wilsons on VTLs or BAT gear has been phenomenal to these ears.
tomryan
796 posts
 
Let's hear it for tube amps! I really can't see any reason to go SS at this point - too many damn good choices from 2wt SETs through 500wt VTLs and everything in between. You can find an amp to drive any speaker around. I've been delighted with my self biasing AirTight for over three years, no maintanence except for some fun-time tube rolling.

Let us know how the Atmas are working out unless you're spending all free time listening to music!
mphnkns
68 posts
 
Albertporter:
I think people need to realize that frequently they may be hearing the system AHEAD of the speakers instead of assessing the sound of the speakers themselves. I read the Alons are "bright." Nonsense. I have several models. They're no brighter than I am (not very!). However, if a component ahead in the chain is not, say, isolated properly, it will cause the final effect to sound that way. I learned early on in my audio life not to make a conclusion about the bad stuff based on what I heard, but to definitely pay attention to the good stuff. My experience is that the good stuff can be made better, but if you "see" it immediately in a demonstration, one can rest assured that the speakers MUST be able to pass on that stuff or you wouldn't be hearing it. Therefore, the speakers' most obvious and enjoyable traits are absolutes os sorts. The bad stuff may be an (unfavorable) system interaction, and can be mitigated frequently. Not always, but frequently.
springbok10 OP
711 posts
 
Yes, I am spending all my free time listening to music, but since you were all kind enough to take time to help me make a decison, the least I can do is leave feedback:) The Atma-Spheres and Kharma 3.2s make great music. I changed amps and speakers almost simultaneously (I know, very unscientific) but after 13 years, I think I knew what sound I wanted and didnt want, so I cant tell how much is Amps and how much speakers. The combination, though, gives a coherent, seamlessness to the music, with better detail, crisper imaging, depth, soundstaging and smoother highs, more luscious midrange and a grabbing presence and beat that defines to me, the "musicality" of the sound that I seek.........it certainly requires both an amp and speaker synergy to do this, and believe me, they do. The background is also pitch black and the dynamics amazing.......
Now, if the tubed preamp that is being loaned to me makes it even more so (compared with that classic of the ss age - the Mark Levinson 32 that I use,) I will post again!
dodgealum's avatar
dodgealum
1,406 posts
 
I haven't read all the threads here but as to the original question--yes. I just spent about 3 hrs with the Wilson Sophia's and they are very, very musical. Probably the best speaker I've heard to date. Doesn't do all the audiophile stuff (i.e. image depth is forshortened, not the last word in resolution, etc) but extremely musical speakers that allow you to become completely absorbed. I would highly recommend checking these out if you are in the market at that price range. As good as the Vandy 5's are, IMHO the Sophias are better.
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