Chronosonic XVX.

[HughP3]

Great stuff!! You have a sensational system (and room by the looks of it) with great electronics. My personal experience is that Gryphon and Wilson work well together...the dynamic capability, sheer unbridled power and depth of tone suit the big Wilsons that can absorb and use high quality power. We lived happily with this combination for nearly 11 years and only very very recently have stepped away towards Robert Koda.

But we remain big fans of Wilson and ourselves are planning on hearing the XVX at some point this year when we have some time, perhaps next month.

Very much look forward to hearing what you think of the mighty 4-tower Kodo...and of course then there is the XVX plus its own tower subs the Subsonics!

Would like to hear your thoughts on the xvx too. If i make a jump for either speaker i would pair them with mephisto mono’s. If i stay with the tridents i have been recommended to go with the EVO monos, i have the stereo version right now. I am not sure the monos would improve things since the Tridents are semi active? Thoughts

 

[LL21]

Would like to hear your thoughts on the xvx too. If i make a jump for either speaker i would pair them with mephisto mono’s. If i stay with the tridents i have been recommended to go with the EVO monos, i have the stereo version right now. I am not sure the monos would improve things since the Tridents are semi active? Thoughts

Hi Hugh. Very interesting choices. I really am looking forward to watching how this progresses for you, and what you choose to do.

My personal experience?

- When you are this level (which you would not be if you did not care about EVERYTHING)...then the idea that something 'wont make a difference' kind of falls to the wayside in my experience. Does anybody 'need' the Boulder 3050 monos (1100 watts/channel into 8ohms and 1500 into 4... doubling both figures at peak) to drive a pair of 93.5db efficient XLFs? No...but do you hear a difference? I feel absolutely certain you do.

So coming to your situation,
- if you love the Mephisto best (I certainly preferred it to Antileon and Colosseum by a good margin), then I find it difficult to believe you would not hear the difference with either of the speakers
- What is the best combination? Pass...I dont know the latest gen of Evos. I do think the Mephistos are magnificent

As for stereo vs mono on the semi-active Tridents...I suppose the stereo vs the monos 'might' NOT be that different on the Tridents, but I would probably guess its more 'it does not matter 'that much' rather than the sound signatures are truly indistinguishable and identical at all levels in all rooms and with all music. Personally, I would say that here, there might be a little argument for going stereo vs mono...as opposed to whether you would hear the difference between Mephisto vs Evo on either speaker.

I will let you know when we've heard the XVXs.

 

[HughP3]

Hi Hugh. Very interesting choices. I really am looking forward to watching how this progresses for you, and what you choose to do.

My personal experience?

- When you are this level (which you would not be if you did not care about EVERYTHING)...then the idea that something 'wont make a difference' kind of falls to the wayside in my experience. Does anybody 'need' the Boulder 3050 monos (1100 watts/channel into 8ohms and 1500 into 4... doubling both figures at peak) to drive a pair of 93.5db efficient XLFs? No...but do you hear a difference? I feel absolutely certain you do.

So coming to your situation,
- if you love the Mephisto best (I certainly preferred it to Antileon and Colosseum by a good margin), then I find it difficult to believe you would not hear the difference with either of the speakers
- What is the best combination? Pass...I dont know the latest gen of Evos. I do think the Mephistos are magnificent

As for stereo vs mono on the semi-active Tridents...I suppose the stereo vs the monos 'might' NOT be that different on the Tridents, but I would probably guess its more 'it does not matter 'that much' rather than the sound signatures are truly indistinguishable and identical at all levels in all rooms and with all music. Personally, I would say that here, there might be a little argument for going stereo vs mono...as opposed to whether you would hear the difference between Mephisto vs Evo on either speaker.

I will let you know when we've heard the XVXs.

Very thoughtful thank you!

 

[ashandger]

Martin Colloms' review of the XVX is now available on the Wilson website (link attached below)....VERY detailed and informative review.

https://www.wilsonaudio.com/media/1275/HFC_Issue-63_XVX_Wilson-reprint.final.pdf?fbclid=IwAR24shQZP9zfaIGNBNQl6z2pmXUg4dnxU7w8pv9SVffrIeTdMuU-bnsYeoY

 

[LL21]

I still have the July 1994 Wilson X1/Grand SLAMM review and have spoken with Martin about them via email. Very nice to add this to the collection of great work he has done over the years. Also have his SF Guarneri review. Owned both speakers and found his reviews very helpful.

 

[ashandger]

I still have the July 1994 Wilson X1/Grand SLAMM review and have spoken with Martin about them via email. Very nice to add this to the collection of great work he has done over the years. Also have his SF Guarneri review. Owned both speakers and found his reviews very helpful.

Would you believe I also have Martin's SF Guarneri review and bought my Guarneri's a couple of years later...my fav Franco Serblin design...wish I had kept them for a 2nd system. Wonder what the XVX would sound like with your amps!

 

[LL21]

Would you believe I also have Martin's SF Guarneri review and bought my Guarneri's a couple of years later...my fav Franco Serblin design...wish I had kept them for a 2nd system. Wonder what the XVX would sound like with your amps!

I owned the SF Strads too, and still feel like the SF Guarneri is the most 'perfected' as a design...also my favorite Franco Serblin design that I have heard. I have heard SF Strad, Amati, Guarneri, the next range 'down' as well as 2 of the 1990s models.

As for XVX and the Robert Koda...good gracious. Amazing with a price tag to match! To be fair, I never wanted to go 'up' from the original X1s we owned...until I heard the XLFs. They were a major leap for us over the original Grand SLAMM v1 (ours were literally from 1994...one of the first ever made, still hand-drilled by DW and his team).

I think Darryl has probably made a quantum leap over the XLFs...for now, exceedingly happy having just put the XLFs in after first hearing them 9 years ago when they first came out.

 

[docvale]

Martin Colloms' review of the XVX is now available on the Wilson website (link attached below)....VERY detailed and informative review.

https://www.wilsonaudio.com/media/1275/HFC_Issue-63_XVX_Wilson-reprint.final.pdf?fbclid=IwAR24shQZP9zfaIGNBNQl6z2pmXUg4dnxU7w8pv9SVffrIeTdMuU-bnsYeoY

Opening the review file with my wife sitting on the couch near to me:

Me: "so, how about these as our next speakers?"
Her: "oh my God, they're so insanely ugly!"
Me: "I listened to them at Elliot's" (that would be the Innovative showroom in NYC)
Her: "they look like they're supposed to be the speakers for a space station"
Me: "oh c'mon, they sounded fantastic at the demo"
Her: "they're even uglier than the speakers with the microphone"

So, the speakers with the microphone are the B&W 800 series. The "microphone" is the tweeter, that she swears looks like a microphone just dropped above their cabinet and that she claims she'd like to pull out as it is obnoxious.
So, these Wilson basically rank at her lowest possible WAF.
No biggie, I could never afford them

 

[cjfrbw]

I tend to be skeptical of all reviews, but I believe Collom's review. Must be quite a speaker.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I tend to be skeptical of all reviews, but I believe Collom's review. Must be quit a speaker.

It is!

 

[BruceD]

I still have the July 1994 Wilson X1/Grand SLAMM review and have spoken with Martin about them via email. Very nice to add this to the collection of great work he has done over the years. Also have his SF Guarneri review. Owned both speakers and found his reviews very helpful.

I too have those reviews also owned both Speakers --I still have the SF Guarneri's

The X-1's?-- last I heard resided at Doug Roger's Hollywood Hill top home( he of East West Music fame)

BruceD

 

[dcathro]

Martin Colloms' review of the XVX is now available on the Wilson website (link attached below)....VERY detailed and informative review.

https://www.wilsonaudio.com/media/1275/HFC_Issue-63_XVX_Wilson-reprint.final.pdf?fbclid=IwAR24shQZP9zfaIGNBNQl6z2pmXUg4dnxU7w8pv9SVffrIeTdMuU-bnsYeoY

That was one hell of a long review. I still found it readable and interesting!

 

[Addicted to hifi]

That was one hell of a long review. I still found it readable and interesting!

Stunning review by Martin colloms.

 

[microstrip]

Martin Colloms' review of the XVX is now available on the Wilson website (link attached below)....VERY detailed and informative review.

https://www.wilsonaudio.com/media/1275/HFC_Issue-63_XVX_Wilson-reprint.final.pdf?fbclid=IwAR24shQZP9zfaIGNBNQl6z2pmXUg4dnxU7w8pv9SVffrIeTdMuU-bnsYeoY

Great to read, an extremely interesting and fortunately long review. It was carried in the Wimbledon Absolute Sounds UK listening room and carries a message I know from practice since long:

"In particular, this room had been fine tuned to even out dominant coupled modes using
a number of discrete frequency absorbers based on TubeTrap technology. In such smaller rooms these can provide the sensation of a much larger space promoting essentially uniform bass lines, and this was the case here."

After I built and put in service a few custom bass traps tuned to my listening room the space enlarged significantly.

And yes, it confirms what everyone is saying - the XVX is a real progress in stereo sound reproductions. BTW, DCS Vivaldi owners ego becomes inflated with such review!

 

[microstrip]

Does their set-up include the Master Subsonics? Those solve your desire to add subwoofers to Arrakis.

As far as I know the current Absolute Sounds studio does not have the space for the Master Subsonics.

 

[BruceD]

As far as I know the current Absolute Sounds studio does not have the space for the Master Subsonics.

You mean Durham?--awhile since I was there but was thinking the same.

The Wimbledon mansion lounge with the large full-length opening doors onto the garden could possible be the location

but once again I am not privy to visiting for a few years.

BruceD

 

[carl13]

Wilson Audio Chronosonic XVX 4 Seasons | Hifi Pig

WILSON AUDIO CHRONOSONIC XVX 4 SEASONS LOUDSPEAKERS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE IN 2022 Wilson Audio has announced a limited XVX series that pays homage to the seasonal changes that we see throughout the year. The Wilson Audio Chronosonic XVX 4 Seasons. Utah, where Wilson is based, is known for its...

hifipig.com

 

[andromedaaudio]

I like the finishes
If i ever would buy a LS it ll be a wilson probably

 

[Bobvin]

Wilson Audio Chronosonic XVX 4 Seasons | Hifi Pig

WILSON AUDIO CHRONOSONIC XVX 4 SEASONS LOUDSPEAKERS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE IN 2022 Wilson Audio has announced a limited XVX series that pays homage to the seasonal changes that we see throughout the year. The Wilson Audio Chronosonic XVX 4 Seasons. Utah, where Wilson is based, is known for its...

hifipig.com

I could get on board with that IF they were chameleon-like and the colors changed with the season.

 

[marty]

Wow. Put any of these in a system with a Wadax combo and I'd need sunglasses just to sit in the room to listen (which would surely be a delight). Whatever happened to good old basic black? I must be getting too old....