Anyone heard the Wilson Duette speakers?

[DocG]

Or other Wilsons?

If the specs and reviews are anything to go by, the Duettes look like they were conceived for me: designed for "boundary use", acceptable size, immaculate finish, deep bass, coherent and fast, not too hard on the amp (should work a treat with the Dev 110)... but eyewateringly expensive!

Until I spotted a second hand pair, at an acceptable price. It's in Rotterdam, quite a drive, but still doable, I think...

So would it be worth the trip for a demo? Anyone with any experience?

 

[CnoEvil]

It is worth the trip to see if you love them or hate them.......as I believe they are that sort of speaker.

 

[plastic penguin]

Or other Wilsons?

If the specs and reviews are anything to go by, the Duettes look like they were conceived for me: designed for "boundary use", acceptable size, immaculate finish, deep bass, coherent and fast, not too hard on the amp (should work a treat with the Dev 110)... but eyewateringly expensive!

Until I spotted a second hand pair, at an acceptable price. It's in Rotterdam, quite a drive, but still doable, I think...

So would it be worth the trip for a demo? Anyone with any experience?

No - have heard the Arc (or could've been the Square Ones), as well as Discoverys. They need real gutsy amplification.

 

[matt49]

No - have heard the Arc (or could've been the Square Ones), as well as Discoverys. They need real gutsy amplification.

You're thinking of Wilson-Benesch (UK).

The Doc is asking about Wilson (US).

Matt

 

[Al ears]

Indeed he is. I would love a pair if I had the money I would go and audition (if I could find a stockist). However, lottery win aside, I cannot afford them so will not be auditioning as I only do this for stuff that I can actually buy.

They do sound like they could be ideal for the smaller room though for which we must thank the manufacturers. At last some are working towards kit that will work well in a 'normal' sized (for the UK at least) room.

Well done Wilson ......... now make them a lot cheaper. 🙂

 

[plastic penguin]

😳

 

[Tarxman]

I've heard their Watt Puppies and Alexandria speakers, huge open soundstage, though I did find on certain tracks (mainly Dylan stuff) when he played the harmonica, certain notes hurt my ears.

 

[DocG]

I've heard their Watt Puppies and Alexandria speakers, huge open soundstage, though I did find on certain tracks (mainly Dylan stuff) when he played the harmonica, certain notes hurt my ears.

One of the reviewers (I forgot where I read that) suspects they have a subtle lift in the mid-treble region, which 'injects some life' into well recorded classical stuff, but could indeed be a little too much for other music (like run-of-the-mill contemporary pop music*).

* For the record: I'm not insinuating Bob Dylan plays run-of-the-mill contemporary pop music -- you can say a lot about his music, but not that. 🙂

 

[DocG]

Indeed he is. I would love a pair if I had the money I would go and audition (if I could find a stockist). However, lottery win aside, I cannot afford them so will not be auditioning as I only do this for stuff that I can actually buy.

They do sound like they could be ideal for the smaller room though for which we must thank the manufacturers. At last some are working towards kit that will work well in a 'normal' sized (for the UK at least) room.

Well done Wilson ......... now make them a lot cheaper. 🙂

Isn't it ironic we need the Americans to do that for us? 🙂

 

[Al ears]

Indeed he is. I would love a pair if I had the money I would go and audition (if I could find a stockist). However, lottery win aside, I cannot afford them so will not be auditioning as I only do this for stuff that I can actually buy.

They do sound like they could be ideal for the smaller room though for which we must thank the manufacturers. At last some are working towards kit that will work well in a 'normal' sized (for the UK at least) room.

Well done Wilson ......... now make them a lot cheaper. 🙂

Isn't it ironic we need the Americans to do that for us? 🙂

Isn't it a funny old world?

 

[Electro]

I heard a pair quite a few years ago at a HiFi show driven by some large Krell amps and from memory they were very impressive , they sounded huge !

As is usually the way at HiFi shows they were only played at a very high levels in quite a large room so I could not tell you what they were like at more normal levels in a smaller room , but I can tell you they definitely do dynamics , soundstaging and realistic spl's and are capable of reproducing live music atmosphere 🙂

 

[DocG]

The Rotterdam shop is closed today, so I sent them an e-mail with some more questions.

If they are still available, I might just give them a try...

Now, how can I explain to my wife that this is important and that I'm not completely crack-brained? :?

Any tips?