Field-Coil Speaker Review: the Wolf von Langa SON

[August]

Yes, I only indicated integrated amplifier. In fact I try to keep the system "compact" and easy to use for the rest of the family (but the main concern is compact). I owned in the past Pre + amp (audio note M8 + P4 balanced or others) but I don't have pleasure to see everyday big hifi gear in the living room.

Hi, I have owned Sons for a couple of years now and have tried several amplifiers with them. Pass Labs INT-25 was quite special on them, Ypsilon Phaeton was also special but for me it didn’t do rythm and attack that I know the Sons have in them. I transitioned to Pass XP-12 pre and XA-25, very open and transparent. I currently have a Thrax Ares hooked up since January and have not felt the need to go back to my previous pre/power amps. It does everything the previous combo did and even better bass. The DAC in it is very musical so an all-in-one solution that I had never thought I would take. It kind of made me stop looking for the next upgrade around the corner and just enjoy the music. Honestly I could see the Thrax/WvL Son combo as an end-station they do everything so well. And you only need LS-cables, so actually saves you money on expensive ICs.

I’m still curious as to the Chicago’s or possibly some other speakers for the future so might end up going to Munich this year, but otherwise this system does pretty much tick all the boxes.

 

[ougo]

Hello all,

I received the NAF 845 a few weeks ago now, and it's clearly a good match with the Son. The first listens were a bit lacking in transparency or resolution, but that improved with the change of tubes:
- The 845B tubes were changed to Psvane 845 TII (a big gain in transparency and extension in the high frequencies).
- The JJ ECC83 tubes were replaced with Philips MiniWatt with more smoothness in high frequencies.
- The 5687 tubes are Tung Sol NOS, I can't find my Bendix 6900s.

Right now sound is good and balanced, with the feeling that there still is a little marging to search.

I need to repair my interconnect (audio note Sogon), may be this weekend, which should sound a bit better than current audio note QSSC.

Depending of evolution during next weeks (845 will probably evolve a bit), I will validate the 845 or....

Thanks
Ugo

 

[gestalt]

Hello all,

I received the NAF 845 a few weeks ago now, and it's clearly a good match with the Son. The first listens were a bit lacking in transparency or resolution, but that improved with the change of tubes:
- The 845B tubes were changed to Psvane 845 TII (a big gain in transparency and extension in the high frequencies).
- The JJ ECC83 tubes were replaced with Philips MiniWatt with more smoothness in high frequencies.
- The 5687 tubes are Tung Sol NOS, I can't find my Bendix 6900s.

Right now sound is good and balanced, with the feeling that there still is a little marging to search.

I need to repair my interconnect (audio note Sogon), may be this weekend, which should sound a bit better than current audio note QSSC.

Depending of evolution during next weeks (845 will probably evolve a bit), I will validate the 845 or....

Thanks
Ugo

Can confirm NAF + WVL is great.

 

[ougo]

Just retrieved a pair of telefunken ecc803s… a great great match with the set.

 

[perart1]

Has anyone tried bi-wiring their Son’s? I noticed an improvement when I took this route.

YES YES YES. This really is a must do. I could not quite believe the difference in filling out the midrange and the scale of the presentation. The harmonics were beautiful.

 

[GeauxAudio]

YES YES YES. This really is a must do. I could not quite believe the difference in filling out the midrange and the scale of the presentation. The harmonics were beautiful.

I'm curious what jumpers you were using prior to the bi-wire? The included jumper connectors? Reason I ask is I added some high quality jumpers (Hijiri) and saw a noticeable improvement so I'm curious if the difference is the bi-wire, the quality of the included metal plate jumpers, or if each is a further step?

My speaker cables are Hijiri "entry level" HCS. My jumpers aren't designated as HCS or Million but they are priced at a level that assumes the build is more in line with the Million line.

 

[perart1]

I'm curious what jumpers you were using prior to the bi-wire? The included jumper connectors? Reason I ask is I added some high quality jumpers (Hijiri) and saw a noticeable improvement so I'm curious if the difference is the bi-wire, the quality of the included metal plate jumpers, or if each is a further step?

My speaker cables are Hijiri "entry level" HCS. My jumpers aren't designated as HCS or Million but they are priced at a level that assumes the build is more in line with the Million line.

I was using my Audionote Japan silver speaker cable with the WBT copper jumpers. I bought some top of the range straight wire copper bi wire cable at a good price. Given the difference it made I will probably keep a look out for some kondo copper bi wire cables

Regards Peter

 

[GeauxAudio]

I was using my Audionote Japan silver speaker cable with the WBT copper jumpers. I bought some top of the range straight wire copper bi wire cable at a good price. Given the difference it made I will probably keep a look out for some kondo copper bi wire cables

Regards Peter

Thanks for the response.

A direct comparison between high quality jumpers and bi-wire would be interesting. Unfortunately I don't have a comparable bi-wire to make that comparison.

In case it's of interest, my Hijiri cables are copper. I also use Hijiri for my interconnects.

 

[mtemur]

I'm curious what jumpers you were using prior to the bi-wire? The included jumper connectors? Reason I ask is I added some high quality jumpers (Hijiri) and saw a noticeable improvement so I'm curious if the difference is the bi-wire, the quality of the included metal plate jumpers, or if each is a further step?

My speaker cables are Hijiri "entry level" HCS. My jumpers aren't designated as HCS or Million but they are priced at a level that assumes the build is more in line with the Million line.

I was using my Audionote Japan silver speaker cable with the WBT copper jumpers. I bought some top of the range straight wire copper bi wire cable at a good price. Given the difference it made I will probably keep a look out for some kondo copper bi wire cables

Regards Peter

I’m using Kondo SPs-2.7 silver jumpers to match Kondo silver SPs-2.7 double run speaker cables.

These jumpers replaced the stock Kimber Cable ones and made a huge difference. In the future, I’m planning to switch to a bi-wire configuration—using two single SPs-2.7 speaker cables instead of a one double-run SPs-2.7, just like my friends do. This will eliminate the need for jumpers and provide better control for the amplifier.

 

[perart1]

I’m using Kondo SPs-2.7 silver jumpers to match Kondo silver SPs-2.7 double run speaker cables.
View attachment 155820
These jumpers replaced the stock Kimber Cable ones and made a huge difference. In the future, I’m planning to switch to a bi-wire configuration—using two single SPs-2.7 speaker cables instead of a one double-run SPs-2.7, just like my friends do. This will eliminate the need for jumpers and provide better control for the amplifier.

So have you shotgunned your speakers. If so why?

 

[mtemur]

So have you shotgunned your speakers. If so why?

No, I haven’t bi-amped or bi-wired it yet, if that’s what you’re asking.

 

[jasbirnandra]

How would you say would PILIUM Leonidas integrated be with WVL son

 

[Perfect sense Audio]

How would you say would PILIUM Leonidas integrated be with WVL son

Pilium being one of the most well balanced and natural sounding SS amplifiers on the market does make most loudspeakers sing to their best of their abilities.

This being said, WVL begs for a more puristic approach imo being a very easy load; SET tube amps and/or low power Class A in general.

 

[gleeds]

Pilium being one of the most well balanced and natural sounding SS amplifiers on the market does make most loudspeakers sing to their best of their abilities.

This being said, WVL begs for a more puristic approach imo being a very easy load; SET tube amps and/or low power Class A in general.

Totally agree with Marcus. The Sons beg for 300B's. Even the most refined SS amplifiers are not the way to go to express the joy and beauty that these fantastic speakers will deliver. If you're in the US, reach out to Colin King of Gestalt, the US importer, who has several excellent options for you to consider.
Given their excellence, selling your Pillium. If you do not care for tubes, perhaps a Nelson Pass First Watt or the aforementioned Pass XA-25 would be a good alternative. Sons are also sensitive to proper cabling. Again, Colin is the most experienced and knowledgeable WVL professional I know in this arena.

Good luck.

 

[gestalt]

If you're in the US, reach out to Colin King of Gestalt, the US importer, who has several excellent options for you to consider.

Thanks Gary.

My take on Wolf von Langa amplifier pairings is that all the WVL loudspeakers will let you hear your amplifier. Focus on purity and you'll be very happy.

 

[Bloomie]

These are the SONs in their natural habitat... my home. Excuse the vintage Mission 737, much like the vaunted cobbler, I've run out of room for all my ... and they do look nice. I assure you their pristine white baffles are on display just for show. They are NOT connected at the moment, but fully operational; they can be called into service at a moment's notice.

The current roster of gear supporting the SONs in their worthwhile endeavours:

English Acoustics 41C stereo amplifier (valve)
Trafomatic Aries headphone amplifier (valve) serving duty as a preamplifier.
SVS 3000 Micro subwoofer (in the photo, also, not connected). *It's the cobbler's life for me

FWIW Source Gear:

SW1X DAC II (valve)
SW1X Phono LPU I phono stage (valve)
Magnavox Philips CDB650 CD player
California Audio Labs Sigma DAC (valve)
Denon DP-61F turntable
Denon DL-103 cartridge
Diretta Project (AudioLinux digital endpoint, Pi4 Host, Pi5 Target)

Having visited Colin on 3 separate occasions at shows and having come back on several times at each, I knew I just had to have them at mine. The finish on my pair is so exquisitely matched that I nicknamed them "Hermann" after the noted Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach.

 

[jasbirnandra]

I love the PILIUM Leonidas I do not wish to change that part of the setup but yes speakers are something I am willing to change few speakers on mind are the
Kharma DB9S
Sigma orchestra 2.6
Estelon xb mk2
Giya G2cu
Any suggestions would be really helpful and appreciated.
Ah FYI the rest of the setup is all combax harmonix hijiri million cables
Ideon audio eos stream clock and ion DAC.

 

[Perfect sense Audio]

I love the PILIUM Leonidas I do not wish to change that part of the setup but yes speakers are something I am willing to change few speakers on mind are the
Kharma DB9S
Sigma orchestra 2.6
Estelon xb mk2
Giya G2cu
Any suggestions would be really helpful and appreciated.
Ah FYI the rest of the setup is all combax harmonix hijiri million cables
Ideon audio eos stream clock and ion DAC.

Do you have access to these brands within traveling distance and/or former experience with them?

You won't make the right choice without the chance to experience these speakers IRL.

 

[jasbirnandra]

Honestly I can only audition the kharma and giya

Do you have access to these brands within traveling distance and/or former experience with them?

You won't make the right choice without the chance to experience these speakers IRL.

Honestly I can only audition the kharma and giyag2cu

 

[jasbirnandra]

@Perfect sense Audio you can guide better as you have the PILIUM and can understand the best match thank you
I would be happy if you can recommend any other brand currently I am using audio solution Virtuoso M.