An Excellent Investment

[Charles S]

I just received the TAS that has the 2025 Editor's Choice Awards. The Chronosonic XVX is listed at 381Kjust behind the MBL 101 X-Extreme MKII at 433K. However, add in two Subsonics and you are well above 600K and . My XVX/Thor system comes in at over 500K. The full page photo of the XVX on p.15 takes my breath away. I can scarcely believe that I actually own this speaker. I had the resistors changed out this year. The speaker has performed perfectly. It's footprint in my room is unbelievably slim and the sound it produces must be heard to be believed. I never tire of it. It pours forth beauty. The XVX is IMO simply the finest speaker on the planet. It's resolution is incredible but at the same time, it's almost impossible to make it sound bad. I have spoken to Robert Harley about this unusual quality. He agrees. Lousy recordings sound remarkably good, when they shouldn't. Good recording sound better than they any reason to sound, and superb recordings sound magnificent. Put something on and it sounds really good, period.

The XVX has an ease, exhibits a confidence in itself, that is unique to my experience. It is amazingly musical and it pours forth beauty. Years ago when I bought the speaker, at a greatly reduced price, though still extremely expensive by any standard, I think folks secretly thought I was nuts. I maintained that it was a good investment. I have made a lot of good investments, but my purchase of my XVX around November 2019 has been possibly the best most satisfying investment I have made in my lifetime.

Noticeably missing, was the Magico M7 which surprised me a little. The Sasha V, Alexia V, and Alexx V were there. There Alexx V at 157K is less than half the XVX. Interesting.

Another wonderful surprise has been how easily the McIntosh 3500 handles the XVX. It's a wonderfull combination and it runs off the 2-ohm tap. So I've had my XVX for five years. It has appreciated substantially over five years in value and is the TAS choice for the ultra high end speaker for 2025 and Robert Harley's speaker for now many years. I'd say that all in all I made a pretty good investment back in the Fall of 2019 when I fell in love with the speaker finally purchasing it, and installed first week in January of 2020, numbers 39 and 40.

Best

Charles

Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest

Amps: McIntosh: MC3500MKII (2); MC1.25KW (2); MC2.1KW An
Preamp: C-12000 An
Sources: MCD12000 An; MVP881; MVP851; MR87; Marantz 510LV; Lenovo Yoga laptop
Speakers: Wilson Chronosonic XVX
Sub-Woofer: Wilson Thor’s Hammer; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover
Cables Main System AQ: WEL Signature speaker cables; 24’ balanced IC; balanced 1-meter Dragon IC ; WEL Signature digital, Coffee digital coaxial cables; Diamond optical (2); Diamond USB; Dragon (5 HC, 3 source cords); Thunder & Monsoon power cords
Cables Subwoofer System AQ: Redwood speaker cable; Wolf balanced subwoofer IC; Wind balanced IC to ActivXO; Hurricane HC; Firebird HC; Firebird Source; Dragon HC, power cords
Power Conditioners: AQ Niagara 7000; Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines.
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals; Bassocontinuo McIntosh Ultra Feet; X-material plinth
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD)
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes

 

[Bruce B]

. It's resolution is incredible but at the same time, it's almost impossible to make it sound bad.

Even though the XVX is a remarkable speaker, I don't think I want a speaker that makes everything sound "good". I want a speaker that makes everything sound the way it was recorded..... good or bad....

 

[microstrip]

Even though the XVX is a remarkable speaker, I don't think I want a speaker that makes everything sound "good". I want a speaker that makes everything sound the way it was recorded..... good or bad....

I think Charles S was being hyperbolic in his enthusiasm. But there is a point in his words - using the XLF I was able to find that on average many records sounded a lot a better than I had considered before. When music manages to separate from background artifacts recorded quality becomes better ...

It is my main concern with SoundLab's. Great sounding speakers, but sound annoying, even disturbing, with some recordings that are very acceptable on the ELS63 for example.

I understand a professional has a different perspective.

 

[Charles S]

Microstrip's comment is what I meant. You know it's a lousy recording. You hear every flaw in minute detail. But you like it anyway. The XVX is the only speaker I know of that possesses this quality that renders almost every recording enjoyable. IMO this is the reason that it is over twice the price of the Alexx V and the reason it continues to go up in price. It's a great value at 381K. It really is because you can't put a price on a speaker that possess this quality. It's extremely rare.

 

[Sc00ter]

At that price they’re not something I shall ever experience, but I’m thankful that they do exist in order for someone to enjoy them. The pure pleasure manifested in such products is why the best manufacturers continue pushing the bar higher

 

[Al M.]

I think Charles S was being hyperbolic in his enthusiasm. But there is a point in his words - using the XLF I was able to find that on average many records sounded a lot a better than I had considered before. When music manages to separate from background artifacts recorded quality becomes better ...

Same in my system with much less expensive speakers, but ever improving electronics as well. It becomes harder and harder to find really bad recordings, especially in classical and jazz.

Some DGG recordings come to mind. Previously sounding barely tolerable, now sounding good, very good, even.... some... great (?). I know you had similar experiences.

Similarly, some early Naxos recordings from the late 1980s, e.g., Shostakovich symphonies, used to sound quite horrible or annoying -- raw, colorless and strident in string tone. Now they sound good or very good (?), with nuance in the sound. Total surprise, after decades.

Yes, there are some duds that remain relative duds. Naxos recordings of Haydn string quartets with the Kodaly Quartet, for example (also mostly late 1980s). Somewhat improved in sound quality over the years, but... still nothing to be really enthusiastic about.

 

[thedudeabides]

The XVX is the only speaker I know of that possesses this quality that renders almost every recording enjoyable.

Charles, there are certainly many others for considerably less cost. My Joseph Audio Pulsars is one example and retails for less than $10K. Extremely musical and did many things quite well given my priorities and preferences. Having said that, I'm glad you like your speakers.

 

[Ron Resnick]

add in two Subsonics and you are well above 600K and . My XVX/Thor system comes in at over 500K.

The XVX is IMO simply the finest speaker on the planet.

Why do you think all buyers in this price range do not buy XVX?

Why does anybody buy MBL X-Treme or Magico M7 (or M9) or YG XV (or XV3)?

 

[Charles S]

Ron, I apologize for saying this. You have a way about you by politely correcting a relative novice (me) in a fatherly manner. I will be less hyperbolic in the future.

Respectfully,

Charles