Wilson Maxx 2

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

Samuel. Thanks for sharing your experience. Very interesting that i've also have been through the Sophias and 7's and was left looking for something more. The wp7 was an absolutely outstanding speaker, but was still a small speaker that was trying to sound like a big speaker. In hearing the Maxx's on 2 different occasions in very different setups and rooms, I felt like the speakers coherence was a major issue. The drivers did not integrate and was left hearing crossover points, tweeters, and a lack of the pinpoint precise imaging I crave and expect from Wilson. I went for the 7's. What did interest me about the Maxx's was that they were quite exciting to listen to and as stated above created a huge wall of sound effect with quite startingly powerful bass. It was fun to listen to but felt like it was just a bunch of drivers that never came together to sound like a whole.

BTW, How do the Alexandrias compare to the Maxx2? How close do the 2's come ? ;^)