I should probably clarify...it is mostly the 'scale' which I have heard from the big Genesis and Arrakis which make the rest of the pack above seem small (likes Sashas to Alexias). It truly is an immense rush and experience because it is not overpowering as one would expect...its just sitting there in front of you. No one is 'bracing for impact'...any more than when a band is practicing at home, and you're 5-7 feet away. And yet when you open your mouth to speak...you realize how loud it is, and from an audiophile perspective, you realize that these speakers can deliver a scale that seems natural, does not trigger your sense of 'bracing for impact'...and yet is actually not just loud, but full and complete...ie, its effortless in delivering life-like scale up to large ensembles.
If Money and and Real Estate weren't a concern, what Speaker would you select?
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I should probably clarify...it is mostly the 'scale' which I have heard from the big Genesis and Arrakis which make the rest of the pack above seem small (likes Sashas to Alexias). It truly is an immense rush and experience because it is not overpowering as one would expect...its just sitting there in front of you. No one is 'bracing for impact'...any more than when a band is practicing at home, and you're 5-7 feet away. And yet when you open your mouth to speak...you realize how loud it is, and from an audiophile perspective, you realize that these speakers can deliver a scale that seems natural, does not trigger your sense of 'bracing for impact'...and yet is actually not just loud, but full and complete...ie, its effortless in delivering life-like scale up to large ensembles.
Hi
I haven't heard the Arakis yet but have heard the Gen 1 and 1.2 ... When it comes to scale they are non-pareil. Most other speakers seem to be on a different level. I tend to believe that Magnepan and Soundlab if properly subwoofered (taken the liberty to invent a new verb: To subwoofer
) can provide this scale too. I haven't heard other uber speakers of the four columns variety but I would think the big Evo Acoustics could pull that trick too...Money no object? I would go toward the Genesis Dragon .. Amplification? likely Burmester. Recent re-acquaintance with the 911 has convinced me Burmesters are just my cup of tea.
. Source a tweaked-up computer. DAC is wide open but I do like the BADA a lot
Bespoke Experience Music/EMIA system...
Me, too. I don't know if I could take winters in the Catskills, though!
Hi
I haven't heard the Arakis yet but have heard the Gen 1 and 1.2 ... When it comes to scale they are non-pareil. Most other speakers seem to be on a different level. I tend to believe that Magnepan and Soundlab if properly subwoofered (taken the liberty to invent a new verb: To subwoofer
Money no object? I would go toward the Genesis Dragon .. Amplification? likely Burmester. Recent re-acquaintance with the 911 has convinced me Burmesters are just my cup of tea.
Hi Frantz...great stuff. Was it you who suggested somewhere else in WBF that you thought [maybe] that the Q7s had SUCH low distortion, they might be able to team up with several well-setup subs to match the scale of something like a Genesis or at least get darn close? I thought it might have been you...
...I did not realize at that time you'd heard the 1.1s and the 1.2s. Any further thoughts on Q7 plus several subs (expertly setup) vs Genesis?
...also any thoughts on 1.1 vs 1.2? Most curious! Thanks.
I had a bit of a re-think about what system I would put together if cost was no object & I was building a new house and treated audio room. I would find (beg, borrow or steal) a nice example of Infinity IRS-V's and send them to Bill LeGall for full restoration, including re-finishing the rosewood timber with fresh lacquer, upgrading all the magnets for the Emits & Emims, replacing the ribbons with Graz ribbons, replacing the Series V bass drivers with Series III drivers (as per bill's recommendation) and restoring/upgrading the crossovers & servo amp. I would replace the 2000 watt Infinity bass amps with Boulder 3050 mono blocks & feed the midrange/tweeter panels with Vitus SM-102 mono blocks. Preamp would be a Vitus MP-L201 fed by a TechDas Airforce One turntable, Graham Phantom Elite tonearm, Miyajima Kansui cartridge, Vitus MP-P201 phono amp & Vitus MP-T201/MP-D201 stack. That system would kick tail and ran!
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I'm not sure what I'd choose as I'd need to audition them, but one thing is for certain. I'd want them to have the finish of my choice.
If money AND real estate were not an issue, The Rockport Arrakis w/ a brace of Gryphon or Vitas amps. I could probably shoehorn the Q7 into my existing room. Living really large might have me going for the new Kharma Extremes.
Hi Joe,
Have you heard both the Arrakis and the Kharma Extremes? If so, any comparison would be much appreciated! I have heard the Arrakis, but was intrigued when Cuong Pham (Audiogon) went with Gryphon Mephistos and the big Kharma Extremes.
Only the Arrakis. I don't know if there are a pair of Extremes in the US. I sure would like to hear them, either with Gryphon or even Kharama's new amp line.
I remain amazed by the Arrakis. Remarkable...gives natural solidity a whole new meaning to me. Made all the XLF/X2s auditions feel to me like a Sasha/Alexia by comparison in terms of solidity, effortlessness, scale and impact. Even on the opening notes of a Norah Jones track, let alone Daft Punk Random Access Memories, Nirvana Unplugged. We did not get around to large scale orchestral, but that sure would have been fun.
I have heard larger scale orchestral (Hans Zimmer) on the smaller Altairs and remained impressed as well by its natural tone, quality of detail, intimacy and yet effortless power. But that particular Altair audition was not optimal (in terms of setup) and I did not get the sense of scale that I got with the Rockports which were on permanent display and thus seemed far more carefully tuned/setup.
Ok I get that. but unfortunately you can't specify when you select "other". Can we assume that the majority of those votes are for Wilsons? And if so, which model?
There is something other worldly about the Arrakis ability to create a palpable soundstage, regardless of the material: small scale jazz, large symphonic works, etc. What remains freshest in my mind was listening to side 2 of the "Blade Runner" soundtrack. The layering and image placement as well as deep bass fundamentals make that LP truly demo worthy. A friend has a pair of Aquilas driven by the Boulder 3050. I really enjoy listening to that setup as well.
I agree completely. The palpability no doubt comes from many many elements of the design, but one that certainly sticks out in my mind is vibration...the speaker is completely inert in a way i have not experienced before. We had the system playing loudly enough as a (short-term) test and my pants were literally flapping in the wind, and when I touched the side of the woofers, it was still (as in 'off'). Impressive. In my limited experience, this helps concentrate and solidify the signal tremendously, as well as keep transients as sharp and well timed as possible, let alone allow teeny microdetails and nuances through
I have spent a lot of time the last several months working carefully component by component, to use different isolation and mass damping products to create 'isolation sandwiches' for each component in my system. I have now just finished on my X1s...they have Ultra 5s underneath, a 3kg weight inside each bass port and (as of last nite), a Entreq Audio Vibb Eater 6.5kg bag (copper-shot and other metals) on top of the back of the back of the upper models. the level of SOLIDITY of signal without changing any tonal characteristics, as well as the improvement in instrument separation, decay/detail is most gratifying. For the first time yesterday evening, I played Daft Punk (RAM) and heard something in the opening bars from track 3 that immediately gave me a strong glimpse of what I heard in Hong Kong with the Arrakis setup. Quite cool.
Hi MadFloyd...yes for a 'smaller' sum, I got a lot of value. There is a big difference between no isolation and isolation...and the Wilson X1 modules really benefit from the Entreq Vibb. I have opened a new thread ("Entreq Vibb Eaters: Isolation for Wilson X1 Upper Modules") about it for those who have Wilsons with modules. I cannot say they work for others, but I feel that these did something comparable for the X1s Treble/Upper mids to what the Ultra 5s do for my X1s upper bass/lower mids.
Bruce, perhaps this is the wrong thread in which to discuss this, but could you elaborate by explaining what you mean about getting small scale performances correct with these large Wilson speakers, or large speakers in general? I brought up this very subject in another thread when I described my listening impressions of both the Magico Q7 and the Wilson XLF and was immediately criticized. Apparently those speakers do get all scales correct and the set ups I heard must have been flawed. I was explaining that in my experience smaller speakers have portrayed small scale music more accurately that really big speakers have. It's just my experience but a few other members seem to adamantly disagree.
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