Seems to me that one of the reasons Alexandria really stands head and shoulders above most speakers - in the Wilson line and from competitors - is because it makes music sound so three dimensional. That 3-d effect fools you into thinking you are there at the show, even with a sub-par recording.
As an Alexandria owner, I don't think you need to have a speaker at that price point or even near it to get that 3D, like I'm there feeling. It's all about setup, source components and room, imo. Higher end speakers typically do a better job with the illusion.
I've heard them do it very, very well indeed. I've also heard them under optimized. I'm with Christian on this one. Like any other loudspeaker with high resolution and wide bandwidth, set up will make or break. Fortunately for X-2 owners, dealer set up is mandatory if bought brand new and the manual is very good if you get it used.
As an Alexandria owner, I don't think you need to have a speaker at that price point or even near it to get that 3D, like I'm there feeling. It's all about setup, source components and room, imo. Higher end speakers typically do a better job with the illusion.
Being an Alexandria owner for all of two months now what makes the X2 Series 2 special is the ability to recreate the sense of scale in music. I find this a trait of other large speakers including MBL's, Aida's, Focal EM's, etc.
I think the term "sense of scale" and the ability to play back recordings with large dynamic swings effortlessly go hand in hand. Larger speaker systems have an inherent advantage over their smaller brethern with regards to being able to accomodate those dynamic swings and moving lots of air in the room and pressurizing it when called for. I think that sense of scale is what gets us closer to instruments sounding 'real.'
I think the term "sense of scale" and the ability to play back recordings with large dynamic swings effortlessly go hand in hand. Larger speaker systems have an inherent advantage over their smaller brethern with regards to being able to accomodate those dynamic swings and moving lots of air in the room and pressurizing it when called for. I think that sense of scale is what gets us closer to instruments sounding 'real.'
But this goes the other way too. I don't like large speakers systems that make solo artists sound like they are 10' tall and 5' wide. I don't want to hear a 15' wide piano either! That's just not realistic!
But this goes the other way too. I don't like large speakers systems that make solo artists sound like they are 10' tall and 5' wide. I don't want to hear a 15' wide piano either! That's just not realistic!
IIRC, this was discussed on the Wilson website. Now I can't honestly remember Lloyd if this might have been a comparison of the X-2 series l vs the X-2 Series ll.
My good buddy Frantz can hopefully chime in as he heard both those iterations at my house and it was the first comment he made re the reality of the sound stage and size of instruments
But this goes the other way too. I don't like large speakers systems that make solo artists sound like they are 10' tall and 5' wide. I don't want to hear a 15' wide piano either! That's just not realistic!
That is one uncanny thing about the X-2 they can sound as "small" as necessary. Images morph according to the pieces or the venue, if well recorded.. N o overblown images the way some big speakers tend to do.. They can as small and delicate as any mini-monitor .. On big piece they go big large and majestic ... They are among the very few big speakers I know that mange this. NAother point I think is worth mentioning is their uncanny imaging, as precise as a mni-monitor and they disappear in a room ...I am not a Wilson fan but these are likely the only Wilson speaker I could easily live with a long time ...
As for tri-dimensionality they do the trick but as Myles mentioned so do countless of mini-monitors and .. I would add, many speakers...
But this goes the other way too. I don't like large speakers systems that make solo artists sound like they are 10' tall and 5' wide. I don't want to hear a 15' wide piano either! That's just not realistic!
But this goes the other way too. I don't like large speakers systems that make solo artists sound like they are 10' tall and 5' wide. I don't want to hear a 15' wide piano either! That's just not realistic!
