YG Acoustics Sonja XV,, Wilson Audio Wamm Master Chronosonic, Raidho D -1.1

metaphacts

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Reviews of all three speakers in the March hi-fi+


http://ebook3000.biz/hi-fi-plus-march-2017-download/


It's hardly a review of the WAMM Master Chronosonic. It's Alan Sircom's description based on the time he was able to spend with it.

"The loudspeaker challenges all your perceptions of what you thought possible from an audio system."

"The problem, stated earlier, is we simply don't have the words for this."

"I was truly humbled in front of these masterpieces, and several months later, I'm still processing the experience."
 

asiufy

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Indeed, while not a full review in his system, Chris Martens puts it in no uncertain terms:

"Put all of these technical and sonic factors together and the YG Acoustics Sonja XV stands as the finest and by far the most accomplished loudspeaker I have yet heard, and by no small margin at that. If your budget and listening space permit, the Sonja XV will serve you as a mighty musical force for good and one that will not easily be equalled, let alone surpassed."

Also interesting is that the cat is out of the bag for the Sonja XV "Junior":

The Sonja XV Junior – A smaller alternative to theSonja XV
The Sonja XV is a big loudspeaker system that performsbest in sizable listening spaces—rooms larger thansome enthusiasts may possess. To address thispotential issue, YG Acoustics can—on a special orderonly basis—build what is in essence a ‘Sonja XV Junior’model that is identical to the full-size Sonja XV in mostrespects, but that foregoes the lower woofer modulesfrom both the standard XV’s main and woofer towers,reducing the total woofer count from four to two perspeaker. Naturally, this change also requires a special,purpose-built crossover network that compensates forthe shorter system’s reduced number of woofers. Theresult is a signi cantly more compact system that—apart from its absolute bass output capabilities—soundsidentical to the full-size Sonja XV and that may better tmid-sized listening rooms.
 

caesar

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Indeed, while not a full review in his system, Chris Martens puts it in no uncertain terms:

"Put all of these technical and sonic factors together and the YG Acoustics Sonja XV stands as the finest and by far the most accomplished loudspeaker I have yet heard, and by no small margin at that. If your budget and listening space permit, the Sonja XV will serve you as a mighty musical force for good and one that will not easily be equalled, let alone surpassed."

Also interesting is that the cat is out of the bag for the Sonja XV "Junior":

The Sonja XV Junior – A smaller alternative to theSonja XV
The Sonja XV is a big loudspeaker system that performsbest in sizable listening spaces—rooms larger thansome enthusiasts may possess. To address thispotential issue, YG Acoustics can—on a special orderonly basis—build what is in essence a ‘Sonja XV Junior’model that is identical to the full-size Sonja XV in mostrespects, but that foregoes the lower woofer modulesfrom both the standard XV’s main and woofer towers,reducing the total woofer count from four to two perspeaker. Naturally, this change also requires a special,purpose-built crossover network that compensates forthe shorter system’s reduced number of woofers. Theresult is a signi cantly more compact system that—apart from its absolute bass output capabilities—soundsidentical to the full-size Sonja XV and that may better tmid-sized listening rooms.

Interesting how Hifi + has YG praised by Martens as "the best", while Sircom is on the Magico is best bandwagon
 

metaphacts

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Indeed, while not a full review in his system, Chris Martens puts it in no uncertain terms:

"Put all of these technical and sonic factors together and the YG Acoustics Sonja XV stands as the finest and by far the most accomplished loudspeaker I have yet heard, and by no small margin at that. If your budget and listening space permit, the Sonja XV will serve you as a mighty musical force for good and one that will not easily be equalled, let alone surpassed."

Also interesting is that the cat is out of the bag for the Sonja XV "Junior":

The Sonja XV Junior – A smaller alternative to theSonja XV
The Sonja XV is a big loudspeaker system that performsbest in sizable listening spaces—rooms larger thansome enthusiasts may possess. To address thispotential issue, YG Acoustics can—on a special orderonly basis—build what is in essence a ‘Sonja XV Junior’model that is identical to the full-size Sonja XV in mostrespects, but that foregoes the lower woofer modulesfrom both the standard XV’s main and woofer towers,reducing the total woofer count from four to two perspeaker. Naturally, this change also requires a special,purpose-built crossover network that compensates forthe shorter system’s reduced number of woofers. Theresult is a signi cantly more compact system that—apart from its absolute bass output capabilities—soundsidentical to the full-size Sonja XV and that may better tmid-sized listening rooms.

Chris Martens has not heard the WAMM Master Chronosonic. He describes what he hears in terms of the speakers with which he has experience.

Alan Sircom describes what he hears at a completely different level and using a different vocabulary. The comparison has ceased to be other speakers.

This is pretty much the same reaction everyone has when faced with the WAMM Master Chronosonic.
 

Elberoth

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As much as I like Alan Sircom and his writing, those kind of 'heard at distributors location ' (Magcio M3) or 'heard at manufacturers location' (WAMM) reviews bring little real value to the readers.
 

Mdp632

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As much as I like Alan Sircom and his writing, those kind of 'heard at distributors location ' (Magcio M3) or 'heard at manufacturers location' (WAMM) reviews bring little real value to the readers.

What's more interesting in comparison is how we always see Wilson paired up with tube amps (VTL) and "Network " speaker cables like Transparent for this reviews.

Guess, Wilson doesn't use Spectral anymore due to the MIT Requirement. After all this speaker (WAMM) has Transparent cable inside of it supposedly? But, what makes the Opus cable different if there are no networks inside the speaker cabinet itself?

However, we see and read about Magico and YG for example using the latest Solid State Electronics from Germany and Switzerland for example. In addition, no network boxes on these speakers for most reviews.

I wonder how many of these "choices' on part of the speaker manufacturer have to do with performance and or really just part of the business.
 

metaphacts

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What's more interesting in comparison is how we always see Wilson paired up with tube amps (VTL) and "Network " speaker cables like Transparent for this reviews.

Guess, Wilson doesn't use Spectral anymore due to the MIT Requirement. After all this speaker (WAMM) has Transparent cable inside of it supposedly? But, what makes the Opus cable different if there are no networks inside the speaker cabinet itself?

However, we see and read about Magico and YG for example using the latest Solid State Electronics from Germany and Switzerland for example. In addition, no network boxes on these speakers for most reviews.

I wonder how many of these "choices' on part of the speaker manufacturer have to do with performance and or really just part of the business.


All Wilson loudspeakers use Transparent raw cable internally and have for many years. Spectral Amps continue to be used at Wilson as well. They, among others, get quite a workout in the development of speaker designs.

Alan listened with D'Agostino Momentums and Siegfrieds. He reported that in the same sentence in his article. Most who have listened to the WAMM have listened on the solid state M400s.

Just curious. Is there a reason you capitalize solid state but not tube?
 

Mdp632

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May 29, 2016
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All Wilson loudspeakers use Transparent raw cable internally and have for many years. Spectral Amps continue to be used at Wilson as well. They, among others, get quite a workout in the development of speaker designs.

Alan listened with D'Agostino Momentums and Siegfrieds. He reported that in the same sentence in his article. Most who have listened to the WAMM have listened on the solid state M400s.

Just curious. Is there a reason you capitalize solid state but not tube?

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Nope, just typing fast I guess.
 

metaphacts

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As much as I like Alan Sircom and his writing, those kind of 'heard at distributors location ' (Magcio M3) or 'heard at manufacturers location' (WAMM) reviews bring little real value to the readers.

Evidently the people who publish them seem to believe (you would think backed by metrics) that readers actually do value these types of articles as they continue to publish them.
 

asiufy

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I don't have a problem with those articles. In the internet is rife with those "drive-bys", people's impressions of other people' systems and setups, so why can't the reviewer post a similar impression? As long as that condition is clearly stated in the article, I see no problem with it.
 

Elberoth

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Evidently the people who publish them seem to believe (you would think backed by metrics) that readers actually do value these types of articles as they continue to publish them.

Sure, they read is an entertainment of sorts. But entertainment does not equal useful info. I bought the M3 and Alan's review didn't have any real value for me.

Someone from Soundstage (I think it was Doug Schneider) has recently written a long rant about this and I wholeheartly agree.
 

caesar

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I don't have a problem with those articles. In the internet is rife with those "drive-bys", people's impressions of other people' systems and setups, so why can't the reviewer post a similar impression? As long as that condition is clearly stated in the article, I see no problem with it.

All depends if it's a reviewer brand you trust.
 

caesar

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Evidently the people who publish them seem to believe (you would think backed by metrics) that readers actually do value these types of articles as they continue to publish them.

The incentives of most of the reviewers are skewed to benefit themselves and manufacturers, not the fans who are passionate about this hobby.
 

metaphacts

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Sure, they read is an entertainment of sorts. But entertainment does not equal useful info. I bought the M3 and Alan's review didn't have any real value for me.

Someone from Soundstage (I think it was Doug Schneider) has recently written a long rant about this and I wholeheartly agree.

Perhaps what it gave you was an overview of the speaker and the experience Alan had with it. Who buys anything based solely on a review?

Anyone in the press ranting about the press is a bit of pot.kettle.black to me.

Of course as always, ymmv.
 

microstrip

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As much as I like Alan Sircom and his writing, those kind of 'heard at distributors location ' (Magcio M3) or 'heard at manufacturers location' (WAMM) reviews bring little real value to the readers.

I read magazines occasionally mostly for entertainment - although I have been reading less and less since I got good speakers ... :D But if I had spent money in this particular magazine based on its cover I would not be happy after having found that there is no serious - and this just means at less a few pages long so that will supply reading for more than two minutes - review of the WAMM in it.

As you say these listening sessions at the manufacturer or distributor are meaningless in terms of review, but sometimes supply a lot of information about the manufacturer objectives and preferences.
 

metaphacts

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Feb 1, 2011
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Lower Provo River
..But if I had spent money in this particular magazine based on its cover I would not be happy after having found that there is no serious - and this just means at less a few pages long so that will supply reading for more than two minutes - review of the WAMM in it..

FYI, the WAMM article covered the same number of pages (5) as the full Sonja XV review, both one more page than the full Raidho D1.1 review.
 

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