Wilson Alexx V vs Rockport Orion

[Mike Lavigne]

so far Charles S. seems to be taking criticism of the Wilson XVX personally. indignantly. which is his choice. how we all deal with criticism of gear we own, particularly gear we researched and convinced ourselves is the end-all varies. and processing those feelings evolves. he has only been on WBF for three weeks.

Ron is just trying to speed up the process.....in Ron's own way. 10 days ago i tried to warn Charles S. to try and be less defensive. but maybe he just likes a little conflict and defending his choice. i can see the value of saying how you feel. and the value of engagement. it can be fun. where is @caesar to really get the anti-Wilson conspiracy juices flowing? and i notice Kedar has not dragged out his NLF yet to throw into the mix here.

popcorn time.

 

[Audiohertz2]

I have multiple times and by the way if you like music and have a Million to spend ..... do yourself a favour and listen to this .( not reviewers / magazines)

View attachment 137452

Is that Manny Huber’s latest ...?

 

[sbo6]

Huh? I haven’t heard Asian speakers..do you have brands in mind?
I would add to my earlier post by saying that the Rockports I have heard, in contrast to big Wilsons, are to my ears paragons of coherence and musicality… )

It was a joke..

 

[SuperDave]

I find it quite interesting that in this entire discussion I am the one of the few who recognizes that the XVX is not only the speaker of the decade but this half of the century, and Wilson is by far the most prestigious well thought off loudspeaker company of the last 30 years. it's their flagship statement speaker. I believe that I meant that your posts were novice, not the persons. You are not novices. Jimi you are quite negative toward the XVX as is Elliott and most of the rest of you. It seems your are on a mission to condemn it. I would be extremely surprised if you found anything other than to condemn it by faint praise. Why waste your time since I already know how you feel. As far as my knowledge of the high end is concerned, somehow I have managed to wind up my 50 plus years of high end with an XVX/Thor MC2.1KW An, 1.25KW (2), MC3500 (2), MCD12000 An, and C-12000 An, exactly the gear I wanted and highly respect. This whole thread began with the novice assertion that the Lyra was "better" than an XVX as verified by anecdotal evidence. This is and remains a ridiculous assertion. A forum like WBF is well established and has well established members that know each other and gang up on new folks who totally disagree with them. They are surprised and offended when someone new stands their ground as I have. But I am afraid that you have chosen a losing position, by asserting that the Lyra is a "better" speaker than an XVX. It's just not, and no amount of trips to hear it, etc., can change this fact.

You all haven't addressed the Lyra's advanced age, its small size, the discontinuation of the Arrakis in favor of a much smaller speaker that is almost a decade old. You haven't addressed RH's opinion of it or MF's other than to brush them aside. You haven't addressed MC extensive review and numerous other extremely positive glowing reviews. And you have dismissed me and my opinion that it is hands down the finest loudspeaker that I have heard. So by all means go hear the XVX in the million plus dollar setup. It won't change your mind but just give you more ammunition to condemn it. You have chosen a weak horse to race in your assertion that the Lyra is a "better" speaker than an XVX.

Hi Charles,
I read for entertainment and information, there is a lot I have been exposed to on this forum that has helped me learn and shape my sound. I'm far from where I started, ignorance is bliss, but after being exposed to more revealing sound, I could never go back to where I started. I remember reading your story on another forum years ago and I'm happy you're still loving the sound.

I don't think the XVX has been attacked but I do think your methodology has some holes in it. You have made a few blanket statements about the XVX that cannot objectively be backed up. We all prioritize different aspects of the sound we get, and its hard to accept that different speakers excel in different ways but you want us to believe the XVX wins in every category and why? RH says so or the price of admission?

I have a pretty small room right now, would the XVX be better in my room than the appropriately sized Aviors, it may be an improvement in some aspect but the full potential would never be realized? You mentioned how the XVX can scale with large orchestral works but have you paid attention to the Lyra's ability to do a jazz trio or an acoustic session? The speakers are just part of the equation, we haven't discussed amps, sources, grounding, digital vs analog, all of the things that are debated heavily on this forum all of which add or detract from the source.

I'm only typing this to encourage you to debate your choices and accept there is no consensus here, not everyone will like your stereo, and you shouldn't care if you're loving the music. It's easy to get the big kudos on other forums when you spend big, here you'll need to justify the spend. I'm not knocking McIntosh but I remember you saying you would never use another amp. Enjoy them but be open to the fact there could be something out there that is better, otherwise it seems like you're here only to defend choices you've already made, there is good advice here that can elevate your sound if you're open to it.

Dave

 

[sbo6]

I find it quite interesting that in this entire discussion I am the one of the few who recognizes that the XVX is not only the speaker of the decade but this half of the century, and Wilson is by far the most prestigious well thought off loudspeaker company of the last 30 years. it's their flagship statement speaker.

Charles, I'm curious, was there an award and writeup identifying the XVX as the speaker of the decade / half century? trying to understand your assessment of the XVX and what input you've read. Thanks.

 

[Ron Resnick]

That's pretty harsh -- you're coming across as a forum owner driving someone away. He's already been beaten up for his views. Charles likes his speakers and their manufacturer although he should not expect others to agree with him about those or his opinion on Rockport. He believes in different audio gods. I say just let him be. Whatever it may be, his understanding of "the nature of this hobby" is just that.

Thank you for your comment.

Yes, I agree. I was too harsh.

Charles, I apologize.

 

[nirodha]

You have chosen a weak horse to race in your assertion that the Lyra is a "better" speaker than an XVX.

Most of us choose our own “weak horses” if it suits us

 

[Audiohertz2]

Belmont now are we ..

Anyway,

Answering to the OP , it appears the Rockport is favored over the WA by most responding ..

 

[QuadDiffuser]

In case anyone is curious about the Alexx V’s technical data/measurements (compared to the Dali Kore loudspeakers):

Dali Kore loudspeakers

Dali's flagship Kore loudspeakers have emerged as a potential choice for my upcoming dedicated listening room after I first saw them (static display versions) at Munich 2024, followed by a recent brief audition (click red link below)...

www.whatsbestforum.com

 

[Charles S]

Thank you for your comment.

Yes, I agree. I was too harsh.

Charles, I apologize.

Ron, I totally accept your apology. I almost rarely in threads like this but once things get started they can get a little abrasive and rough. I think I've made my main point: that I personally do not believe that the Lyra is a "better speaker than the XVX", whatever is meant by "better". Absolutely, I believe that the Orion and Lyra are superb loudspeakers, simply that they are not "better" than an XVX or Alexx V. I now understand that on WBF there is a group of very well heeled knowledgeable audiophiles that prefer Rockport's above Wilson speakers. I think it best to leave it at that and move on.

 

[Charles S]

Ron, I totally accept your apology. I rarely post in threads like this but once things get started they can get a little abrasive and rough. I think I've made my main point: that I personally do not believe that the Lyra is "better" than the XVX, whatever is meant by "better". Absolutely, I believe that the Orion and Lyra are superb loudspeakers, simply that they are not "better" than an Alexx V or XVX. I now understand that on WBF there is a group of very well heeled knowledgeable audiophiles that are vocal in preferring Rockport's above Wilson speakers. I think it best to leave it at that and move on.

 

[sbo6]

Thank you for your comment.

Yes, I agree. I was too harsh.

Charles, I apologize.

Glad you had the opportunity for someone to point out your errors where you could apologize rather than not having the opportunity to do so and having your post abruptly deleted. Food for thought.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Glad you had the opportunity for someone to point out your errors where you could apologize rather than not having the opportunity to do so and having your post abruptly deleted. Food for thought.

I don't understand. If you or anyone reported my post, then it was evaluated by the moderation panel against the Terms of Service, like every other reported post is evaluated.

 

[andromedaaudio]

Ron shouldnt apologize .
Charles S should apologize for stating the XVX is the best transducer of the past 50 years .
Quit offensive / untrue statement/ misinformation

 

[Charles S]

I too apologize for to anyone who finds my beliefs offensive.

 

[andromedaaudio]

If you re happy with your choice is all that matters .
There are millions of ways to execute a transducer hence all the different brands / techniques .

 

[andromedaaudio]

I think a large part has to do with the fact that we dont exactly understand the physics.

A membrane sets the air in motion ...... but does it resemble somewhat the soundwaves of what a real music instrument is capable of .
Has there been research done that came up with undenaiable " facts " regarding that ?
Untill then its merely about taste/ preference not " Absolute Sound "

 

[Charles S]

BTW, since I am a new member but an old hand when it come to the high end, I have retail probably 900K in my system. My system is pretty much finished. In April when the Mac An gear came out my dealer actually called me and made me an excellent deal on a 2.1KW An, C-12000 An and MCD12000 An. I decided to keep (2) of my (3) 1.25 KW's as backups for my 3500's. I traded one in for the 2.1KW An. The total expense to me was about 107K and truly finished out my system. The XVX is my final speaker. You can't imagine the measurements and difficulty it took to get them correctly set up. I can make my 1.25KW's sound about 97% as good as my 3500's by using the tube outputs of My MCD12000 cd player and C-12000 pre. I am currently listening to them, giving my 3500's a rest for a month or two. It's fun to switch back and forth.

 

[sbo6]

BTW, since I am a new member but an old hand when it come to the high end, I have retail probably 900K in my system. My system is pretty much finished. In April when the Mac An gear came out my dealer actually called me and made me an excellent deal on a 2.1KW An, C-12000 An and MCD12000 An. I decided to keep (2) of my (3) 1.25 KW's as backups for my 3500's. I traded one in for the 2.1KW An. The total expense to me was about 107K and truly finished out my system. The XVX is my final speaker. You can't imagine the measurements and difficulty it took to get them correctly set up. I can make my 1.25KW's sound about 97% as good as my 3500's by using the tube outputs of My MCD12000 cd player and C-12000 pre. I am currently listening to them, giving my 3500's a rest for a month or two. It's fun to switch back and forth.

I'm glad you're enjoying your very fine system. Sounds like you, as many of us have done went through extraneous efforts to dial in your system.

Just a thought - as good as the Mac gear is, you might want to investigate some of the ultra - high end preamps and amps such as CH Precision, Dhartzeel, Pilium, Gryphon and Audionet offerings. You very well may be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Audiohertz2]

I'm glad you're enjoying your very fine system. Sounds like you, as many of us have done went through extraneous efforts to dial in your system.

Just a thought - as good as the Mac gear is, you might want to investigate some of the ultra - high end preamps and amps such as CH Precision, Dhartzeel, Pilium, Gryphon and Audionet offerings. You very well may be pleasantly surprised.

Hahahaha , Looking forward to round 2 ...