TAS Alexia review (December 2013 issue)

[MylesBAstor]

Is it not as simple as more total resistance?

Certainly possible. Those figures aren't at my fingertips.

 

[microstrip]

Variations in volume among different cables is quite common, sometimes even extreme. It does make me wonder then what's going on when I have to increase the volume on the GAT some 20 steps.

Myles,

This is so extraordinary that I am going to ask you more details about the case you refer.
The only explanation I would risk for such a difference is a cable with an internal transformer network reducing about -12 dB, assuming 0.6 db for each step in the GAT.

 

[microstrip]

Perhaps analagous, Wilson almost always shows with VTL but many posters here and elsewhere don't find that pairing as appealing as different ones.

There is not such thing as the best cable for a certain speaker - there is a best cable for a system and listener. In my particular system Transparent Audio MM2's sounds great and better than many others, but I am not looking for the ultimate hyper detail - I look mainly for energy, micro gradations and density, as well as coherence along the full range, as well as correct tonal balance. In these aspects I really appreciate them. I can easily imagine that just changing the source or power cables could reverse my choice.

 

[microstrip]

Just to point that the Wilson Audio Alexia review published in the Stereophile December issue is now accessible at the magazine site: http://www.stereophile.com/content/wilson-audio-specialties-alexia-loudspeaker

 

[ack]

I got the chance to audition this speaker driven by my Spectral system last week, the same system used during Magico, Rockport, MatrinLogan and other speaker auditions in the past; all I am going to say is, what a truly stressful experience that was - it had me dashing out mid-audition, scrambling for chocolate for relief; I found nothing accurate about this speaker, clearly not my cup of tea. Sorry folks.

 

[MylesBAstor]

I got the chance to audition this speaker driven by my Spectral system last week, the same system used during Magico, Rockport, MatrinLogan and other speaker auditions in the past; all I am going to say is, what a truly stressful experience that was - it had me dashing out mid-audition, scrambling for chocolate for relief; I found nothing accurate about this speaker, clearly not my cup of tea. Sorry folks.

Perhaps it's the electronics, not the speakers, esp. considering Russ's experience with his Martin-Logans? If you look at JA's measurements, the Alexias ain't an easy speaker to drive esp. when you look at the phase angles and impedance. I think that's what Bruce has been saying when he ended up using the PASS gear. It's too bad you didn't get to hear them with Nick's amplifiers at RMAF.



"The impedance magnitude stays between 2 and 6 ohms from 12Hz to 4kHz, with a gentle rise above that frequency. The minimum value is 1.96 ohms at 86Hz, and there is a demanding combination of 3.6 ohms and –43° phase angle at 54Hz."

Also, However, "it demands quite a lot of current from the partnering amplifier."

 

[ack]

Perhaps it is the electronics, though current is not an issue with the Spectrals - 90A peak - nor is impedance down to 1ohm; perhaps the MIT cables not being a match for Wilson??? If it is the amps, it would be the first speaker I have heard that the DMA-360 S2s cannot drive. But what I heard was overblown, slow and overly warm bass, slow midrange, what appeared to be a bit of echo in order to give the impression of depth, images not well defined and a bit larger than life, and absolutely nothing true with respect to timbre up and down the spectrum. The room appeared to be well treated. I took the following picture of this dreadful experience.

 

[MadFloyd]

Perhaps it is the electronics, though current is not an issue with the Spectrals - 90A peak - nor is impedance down to 1ohm; perhaps the MIT cables not being a match for Wilson??? If it is the amps, it would be the first speaker I have heard that the DMA-360 S2s cannot drive. But what I heard was overblown, slow and overly warm bass, slow midrange, what appeared to be a bit of echo in order to give the impression of depth, images not well defined and a bit larger than life, and absolutely nothing true with respect to timbre up and down the spectrum. The room appeared to be well treated. I took the following picture of this dreadful experience.

View attachment 12792

I was in this very same room and heard the Alexias with Spectral. I only heard a couple tunes carefully chosen by the dealer but there didn't seem to be anything amiss. I wasn't overly engaged either but certainly nothing that would make me want to run out of there.

 

[MadFloyd]

I got the chance to audition this speaker driven by my Spectral system last week, the same system used during Magico, Rockport, MatrinLogan and other speaker auditions in the past; all I am going to say is, what a truly stressful experience that was - it had me dashing out mid-audition, scrambling for chocolate for relief; I found nothing accurate about this speaker, clearly not my cup of tea. Sorry folks.

In regards to accuracy, I'm sure it's not a very accurate speaker. One former magazine reviewer (who I'm not going to name) recently said:

"The current issue of Stereophile has a review of the Wilson Alexia. In room measurement, 7 dB from 300 Hz up to 2kHz (300 Hz down relatively). Middle C's fundamental 7 dB depressed relative to its 8th harmonic? Pianists with left hand enervated? Cellists out for a Starbuck's break?"

 

[ack]

We probably played different kinds of music - I only brought my usual classical pieces with me. The customer before me was playing some Santana and that sounded very engaging, with the exact same set-up. But it's really too early for me to judge w/o auditioning with different electronics.

 

[asiufy]

ack,

The Magicos spoiled you for good...
My impression of the Alexias matches yours. It's an OK $10k speaker, not $48k.

alexandre

 

[MylesBAstor]

In regards to accuracy, I'm sure it's not a very accurate speaker. One former magazine reviewer (who I'm not going to name) recently said:

"The current issue of Stereophile has a review of the Wilson Alexia. In room measurement, 7 dB from 300 Hz up to 2kHz (300 Hz down relatively). Middle C's fundamental 7 dB depressed relative to its 8th harmonic? Pianists with left hand enervated? Cellists out for a Starbuck's break?"

So I pose this question. Does this so called "expert" think that JA, who is a professional musician --and a damned good one at that--as well as recording engineer, couldn't hear this????

 

[MylesBAstor]

ack,

The Magicos spoiled you for good...
My impression of the Alexias matches yours. It's an OK $10k speaker, not $48k.

alexandre

Alex, I think that these SOTA speakers are very chameleon like. They can sound awful just as easily as they can sound terrific. To wit, I've not yet heard Magicos sound good yet, but obviously you have. I hold out hope that I will eventually hear them in an environment that allows them to bloom. Others haven't heard MsL sound good either. Others haven't heard Wilsons sound good either, etc., etc.

It's all in the setup and equipment selection. And I'm not necessarily sold on how Wilson sets up their speakers. I understand what Dave is trying to achieve, just that it doesn't work for me. I preferred the way I had the W/P set up in my room much better than how Dave recommends. YMMV....

 

[MylesBAstor]

Perhaps it is the electronics, though current is not an issue with the Spectrals - 90A peak - nor is impedance down to 1ohm; perhaps the MIT cables not being a match for Wilson??? If it is the amps, it would be the first speaker I have heard that the DMA-360 S2s cannot drive. But what I heard was overblown, slow and overly warm bass, slow midrange, what appeared to be a bit of echo in order to give the impression of depth, images not well defined and a bit larger than life, and absolutely nothing true with respect to timbre up and down the spectrum. The room appeared to be well treated. I took the following picture of this dreadful experience.

View attachment 12792

Perhaps the Sashas being right next to the Alexias affected the sound?

And for me 2 cents, while I understand what they're trying to achieve with the room Rx, I find that the cure is worse than the disease. Kind of what you describe with also some dynamic compression.

 

[docvale]

Perhaps it is the electronics, though current is not an issue with the Spectrals - 90A peak - nor is impedance down to 1ohm; perhaps the MIT cables not being a match for Wilson??? If it is the amps, it would be the first speaker I have heard that the DMA-360 S2s cannot drive. But what I heard was overblown, slow and overly warm bass, slow midrange, what appeared to be a bit of echo in order to give the impression of depth, images not well defined and a bit larger than life, and absolutely nothing true with respect to timbre up and down the spectrum. The room appeared to be well treated. I took the following picture of this dreadful experience.

View attachment 12792

Is that one of the listening rooms at Innovative AV in NYC?

 

[MylesBAstor]

Is that one of the listening rooms at Innovative AV in NYC?

If so, that might also explain things.

 

[MadFloyd]

If so, that might also explain things.

That's what I assumed and that's where I heard the combo in NYC. The dealer warned that the room was not ideal in many respects and that the speaker would certainly sound better in homes. For that reason I don't think he played anything that would draw attention to bass nodes. I heard piano + sax and it sounded very nice.

 

[Orb]

In regards to accuracy, I'm sure it's not a very accurate speaker. One former magazine reviewer (who I'm not going to name) recently said:

"The current issue of Stereophile has a review of the Wilson Alexia. In room measurement, 7 dB from 300 Hz up to 2kHz (300 Hz down relatively). Middle C's fundamental 7 dB depressed relative to its 8th harmonic? Pianists with left hand enervated? Cellists out for a Starbuck's break?"

Would had helped if they were not going for a sensationalist narrative, because in reality at JA's room it was 4dB down from 300 Hz to 500Hz where flat including then to 1.5KHz, and then the peak trait that started flat from 1.5KHz and peaked at 2KHz with +4dB; to see how much is the room look at other speaker reviews JA has done.

To get a feel for its response in a room, ideally would need several different reviews (different speakers same room) and critically other reviewer's room (for that same speaker model) measurements and see if traits can then be identified along with the quasi-anechoic or more ideally the NRC measurements done in Canada.
That said some speakers will measure better at a specific distance rather than 1m driver measurement due to their design (with regards to quasi/true anechoic measurements).

Just my take anyway.
Cheers
Orb

 

[MylesBAstor]

That's what I assumed and that's where I heard the combo in NYC. The dealer warned that the room was not ideal in many respects and that the speaker would certainly sound better in homes. For that reason I don't think he played anything that would draw attention to bass nodes. I heard piano + sax and it sounded very nice.

Last time I saw Elliot, he told me plans were in store (NPI) to redesign the store and build better listening rooms.

I heard the Sashas in there with the D'Agostino amps and the sound was well......

 

[MylesBAstor]

Would had helped if they were not going for a sensationalist narrative, because in reality at JA's room it was 4dB down from 300 Hz to 500Hz where flat including then to 1.5KHz, and then the peak trait that started flat from 1.5KHz and peaked at 2KHz with +4dB; to see how much is the room look at other speaker reviews JA has done.

To get a feel for its response in a room, ideally would need several different reviews (different speakers same room) and critically other reviewer's room (for that same speaker model) measurements and see if traits can then be identified along with the quasi-anechoic or more ideally the NRC measurements done in Canada.
That said some speakers will measure better at a specific distance rather than 1m driver measurement due to their design.

Just my take anyway.
Cheers
Orb

Now how much of a difference would it make that JA takes into account both direct and reflected sound in his measurements whereas I believe the NRC is in a anaechoic chamber? That in part accounts for the falling FR at high frequencies.