Wilson Maxx 2

Thanks, Jonathan. You're right, but was wondering, hoping that there might be a way... ;^)

I know you had the originals at one point and probably went through many amps with them before going the Kharma Tenor route. With 95 db they start to become interesting for lower powered amps, but looking at those big woofers makes me wonder...

They were a big step up from my WP7's in that they produced a wall of sound.. versus just the pinpoint soundstage the WP7's provide. I still enjoy and believe no other speaker short of large Stators or Magnepans can provide the imaging or quickness with Dynamic that the WP7's provide...

I like the original Maxx's but the new ones make me want to upgrade (but that will be 2 years+ to save that kind of money for me.. )

I listend to the original Maxx 2's with Rowland 302 amp (not a small powered set..) I listened with the original Maxx with Halcro, both systems were in treated rooms and running Transparent XL or higher...

Thanks Cyto. Are you saying the Wp7 has more pinpoint imaging than the Maxx 2? Can those big boys disappear?

mr. owl,
if you didn't like the maxx-I you're not going to like the maxx-II any better. wilson's are appropriately priced IF the sound they make is your cup of tea (as the build quality is the best there is), but they are grossly overpriced if that's not the case. it's really too bad because they are absolutely gorgeous speakers...

I owned the 7's and Sophias prior to purchasing the Maxx 2's, and have listened at length with the Alexandrias under very controlled conditions.

In my opinion, the 7's and Sophias represented a giant leap toward a more coherent and harmonically pure center, from earlier designs such as the WATT 6 and 5.1's. The MAXX 2's and X2's represent these fundamental changes in the larger Wilson designs. Along with the incredible dynamic scale they also possess a delicacy and harmonic purity that was missing in earlier iterations. Comparing the original MAXX 2's to the MAXX's, I'd say that the original models were cool and dry in the treble, and slightly forward and pronounced in the mid-upper bass. The MAXX 2's possess a richness and refinement in the treble that is clearly superior to the MAXX's and the X1's, and they present a more coherent whole.

I also find the MAXX 2's to be more precise at staging and imaging compared to the WATT 7's because the low-freq of the MAXX 2 paints the rear of the stage in a way the 7's and Sophias were incapable of.

I find it is no longer possible to categorize the Wilson speakers as many have in the past, as cold or analytical. To me they have evolved into complete performers and are on a par with the best speakers I've had up close experience with. Of course, personal preference is what drives us, but as a former Audio Physic owner (Caldera, Avanti, Virgo) I find the new Wilson models to be on a par in terms of tonal balance, timing and delicacy, and without peer in terms of dynamic shadings, immediacy and impact... JMHO