Wolf von Langa (WVL) Chicago Speakers - Dream Speakers

I auditioned Sons in my room. The pair I auditioned had these legs.

The Sons are short, so the height helped the sound.
What did you think of them?
 
So you tried them with and without the legs ?
No, only with the legs. I like tall loudspeakers.

DavidAVDavid, who has Sons and loves them, has confirmed that he prefers them with some sort of riser.

Iirc they have threaded inserts for attaching footers. Maybe no modification were needed to allow adding the legs. Smart move on Herr von Langa's part.
I did not see threaded inserts. Actually I did not care at all for how they were attached. Each leg is attached with three small screws. The attachment method looked appropriate for a lightweight coffee table, not for a heavy loudspeaker. I would've preferred a much more robust attachment method, and much heavier, sturdier legs.

PS: I like the Sons a lot. I have liked every field coil implementation I've heard (WvL, Classic, Songer, Treehaus) except the small Audio Note.
 
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I haven't tried the stands but am interested in them so I simulated the concept by raising them roughly the same height. Used a Christmas tree stand and a few small pieces of plywood, plus sorbothane feet, under each speaker. I can send a pic if you wanr a good laugh. Probably not as quiet or isolated as the real thing but a pretty good test for the main differences.

Soundstage - definitely grew in height. So in addition to raising the SS, there was expansion below the speakers. In terms of width and depth, possibly a little but not a blatant change.

Accuracy- the replication of the recording's environment is more precisely demonstrated. All details improved in accuracy of location but didn't lose musicality. Instrument and voice position became more specific in all three dimensions. This isn't a change that you have to convince yourself it exists. It's easily heard in any track.

Air - I know there's a more specific term but instruments are noticeably more airy and resonant tones fade off into darkness more. This change isn't subtle and in some recordings really gives a sense of being there for the recording.

Weight - lost a little "weight" in this setup. Primarily in upper bass through middle midrange. When on the floor, my soeakers sit on the isolating sorbothane feet that the SONs come with. Regardless, I think my test further isolates the SONs from the floor. I assume this "weight" comes from the floor picking up vibration and/or some interactions with the room more prevalent when the speakers are lower. FYI, my floors are carpet. Important to note that a lot of that weight can be returned with speaker placement. Also, adjustment of the field coil voltage is useful in tweaking "weight".

Hope this info helps.
 
No, only with the legs. I like tall loudspeakers.

DavidAVDavid, who has Sons and loves them, has confirmed that he prefers them with some sort of riser.


I did not see threaded inserts. Actually I did not care at all for how they were attached. Each leg is attached with three small screws. The attachment method looked appropriate for a lightweight coffee table, not for a heavy loudspeaker. I would've preferred a much more robust attachment method, and much heavier, sturdier legs.

PS: I like the Sons a lot. I have liked every field coil implementation I've heard (WvL, Classic, Songer, Treehaus) except the small Audio Note.
Hi Ron, heads up that the set of CONICA (official name) stands you saw was a preproduction prototype built for a show and not representative. I think you'd be pleased with the fit/finish and heft of the actual product. Ask David for his thoughts when he returns home.

IMO, everything Wolf von Langa releases is absolute top quality.
 
Hi Ron, heads up that the set of CONICA (official name) stands you saw was a preproduction prototype built for a show and not representative. I think you'd be pleased with the fit/finish and heft of the actual product. Ask David for his thoughts when he returns home.

IMO, everything Wolf von Langa releases is absolute top quality.
Excellent! I am delighted to learn this!

Thank you for weighing in here, Colin!

Yes, everything I have ever seen from WvL is indeed absolute top quality, which is why I was puzzled about those legs.
 
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Excellent! I am delighted to learn this!

Thank you for weighing in here, Colin!

Yes, everything I have ever seen from WvL is indeed absolute top quality, which is why I was puzzled about those legs.
Hi Ron

Seasons greetings ☺
May i ask,
were you not tempted by a pair of Chicago as your main speakers?
 
Hi Ron

Seasons greetings ☺
May i ask,
were you not tempted by a pair of Chicago as your main speakers?
Hi!

Happy holidays!

Only because I'm not tempted by any loudspeaker that is not a planar dipole. Every single speaker I have owned since I got into this hobby has been a planar dipole. I like -- especially on vocals -- what I perceive from planar dipoles to be an open and realistic and natural presentation.
 
I think it's also worth pointing out that I don't think the legs/stand are optimal or preferred in all circumstances. Many people, including the AS reviewer that gave it speaker of the year, loved it before the legs were available.

Low slung seats put the tweeters at ear height and they have sounded great when I temporarily put a seat of that height in place. My post above include characteristics that will likely be impacted by isolation footers regardless of the height change provided by the legs.

in the end the best set up will depend on your specific environment.
 

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