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I spent some time recently auditioning the new V's too. Tonally they're close to Alexia V's but there's a bit more presence - from a touch of emphasis in the upper mids / low treble. They are definitely an exciting ride, with enormous transparency and resolution, and a soundstage that's...
Timing of a D4 release will to some extent depend on D3 sales and other marketing related strategies, but it was leaked in 2016 that B&W was already working on the 800D4, so the engineers obviously do have a few new tricks up their sleeves. If you look back at the 800 timeline model updates seem...
Haven't heard them side by side but have heard both in the same listening room. No doubt the 800D3 is better overall. The bass is really clean and defined and the lack of distortion from the bass drivers allows the new continuum to really shine. Overall, the drivers seem to mesh together more...
If you use LP as your primary source, yes, but for all digital formats, no. That said, there are some very fine ADC's these days.
Not that there aren't issues with digital processing. I've heard a few active DEQX systems and none of them have ever sounded as natural as the best passive...
Wilson's use of second order electrical makes it impossible to achieve time alignment in the strictest sense - because the mid driver needs to be phase flipped to provide 'phase' alignment with the woofers and tweeter. That said, the level of phase alignment / coherence achieved is vastly better...
The Diamond tweeters are sensitive to vibration, so it's possible that the speaker was subjected to a bump or was moved etc. When tweeters burn out from too much power there's usually no obvious damage to the dome itself. It's the voice coil that's usually detached or burnt through. Fwiw I own a...
My opinion, having heard both in the same room; Alexia S1 was and still is one off the very best speakers but S2 manages a tad more extension top and bottom, with just the right amount of air and immaculate bass definition, and somehow manages to project a wider, taller, and deeper sound stage...
http://www.soundstageaustralia.com/index.php/reviews/84-wilson-audio-specialties-alexia-series-2-loudspeakers
Wilson engineers have weaved some more magic and managed a few more steps closer to sonic perfection with the new Alexia.