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What is the process to demo speakers?

I’m dealing with an acoustically challenged room in my new house and am considering Wilson Audio Duettes. The room requires speakers be up against a wall or inside a bookshelf. I went to Overture in Delaware this weekend and listed to the Duettes, I thought they were amazing. However, I was in a listening room designed to sound good, much different than my home.

I’d like to be able to try these speakers in my house before I commit to purchasing them. Is this a reasonable request to make of Overture and does anyone know if they offer this kind of service? Also, if this is common practice for good audio stores do they charge anything for the service of letting their customer try equipment before they purchase?

I’m fairly new to upper end equipment so I appreciate any advice you can offer.

Ken.
kwilkins
montytx
138 posts
 
I've heard the Duette during a demo tour that David Wilson was conducting at a local dealer. They were mounted on stands and a couple of feet out from the front wall. While it's true they were designed to work in unfriendly conditions, that doesn't mean that's the best position for them.

What immediately struck me during the audition was how far out they projected the sound. This was no doubt as intended to give them needed depth in situations where the speaker was close to the front wall or in a bookshelf. I could certainly see that they would project a nice stage even against a wall.

I loved the way they made music and normally find speakers that are that forward to be annoying. Not the Duettes. They were stunningly engaging. I want a pair...like yesterday.
Post removed 
audiooracle
387 posts
 

If you want peace of mind make sure Overture will let you borrow the speakers and let you hear them in your room, which is not an outragous request if you are going to spend that much money.
ckoffend
684 posts
 
While many have already confirmed that the installation is part of the purchase price of the speakers, I want to reiterate this. It is, in fact, required to get the Wilson warranty!

They installed mine, no additional charge and a 1:45 distance from the dealer - no questions asked.

I have tried them in both the near wall installation and on stands out in the room. They sound very good in both set-ups. Perhaps it is psychological, but I prefer them out from the wall on the stands, but then I have the space for this.

FYI, when you purchase the speakers, two sets of cables are including from the cross-overs to the speakers. One pair is marketed for near wall positioning and the other for more traditional placement. There are also two sets of resistors for the cross-overs. So the comments about modifying the cross overs is not 100% accurate as the items that you need to change the performance of the speakers for the different placement options are part of the standard delivery (all sets included with whichever set-up you choose).

I hope this helps to clarify your options. They sound great and in my opinion are smoother than the Sophias in the upper frequencies but don't go quite as deep (but they still do a credible job down into the mid to upper 30s) and are fairly tight and controlled.
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