2. speakers
  3. 1136401395

OK WILSON OWNERS. HERE IS YOUR CHALLENGE

It seems thay many of us (including myself) have been a little too caught up in personal attacks/defenses of Wilson speakers. What we really need is an honest first hand assesment of WP 7,Max2,X2 vs high end alternative selling for less-much less. So here is my challenge : I will haul my Wilson Benesch Chimeras ( 20k plain,24k as finished in burled walnut) a reasonable distance from my home near Atlanta to hook up to YOUR system in YOUR room to compare to YOUR wp7,max,x2's. Only caveat is my speakers are less efficient (88 db) so have lots of power for fair comparison. Comparison is for: accuracy , musicality, enjoyment,value and anything else YOU want. Just be willing to be HONEST in your assesment. You have MY word that I will admit it on this forum if I am wrong and will bow down to Wilson if they earn my respect in direct comparison to my beloved WB's. I believe that even in a system optimized for Wilsons you will the beauty of a high end less costly alternative. - Jim
Ag insider logo xs@2xaldavis

Showing 4 responses by khrys

khrys
446 posts
 
Jim, I believe you are sincere but I do not really understand your challenge. First off, the Chimeras do not sell for any less than the W/P7s. Second you say you will perform your comparison even in a system optimized for Wilsons EXCEPTING of course, the amplification. Third it is unlikely that any owner of the highly efficient MAXX 2s or X-2s will accept the challenge because of the amplification issue and the daunting challenge of moving the speakers which are hard to position in the first place and not just because of their weight.

That said I would love to hear a direct comparison between the Chimera and the W/P7s, the two being similarly priced speakers of similar design (the Chimera is Benesch's version of Watt on Puppy). I heard the Chimeras in San Francisco and was impressed. I also thought they were a little bass shy but I'm probably used to the Wilson house sound.

BTW, isn't Benesch Dave's evil doppelganger?;~)
khrys
446 posts
 
Hey Jim. Just wondering if you had any takers of your "challenge". I'd like to know the results, especially against the Maxx II since that's the only speaker that has me thinking about giving up my W/P7s.

I certainly agree that the Chimera and W/P7s sound very different but the former is clearly Benesch's version of the latter: placing a dedicated tweeter-midrange unit (modified Discovery) on top of a dedicated woofer unit(like a puppy); the essence of the W/P design.

The tweeter/midrange of the Chimera uses a 1" tweeter with a 7" midrange loaded @ 4ohms in a dedicated highly inert ported enclosure with no parallel surfaces, of the same internal volume, just like the Wilson Watt.

The bass unit of the Chimera champions Wilson's concept of multiple smaller woofers in a ported reflex design: twin 8" active units vs. four isobarically loaded 7" drivers.

Wilson's rock.
The Chimera is a Euro wannabe.
Aptly named.
khrys
446 posts
 
Westborn, I suspect your tongue is well in cheek and maybe rightly so but I had no intentions of writing any knd of polemic, impressive or hilarious. Jim in his post of 1/07 listed his well thought out reasons as to why he feels the speakers are different, and I countered in my post above with reasons why I feel they are actually somewhat similar. Nothing more. Calling the Chimeras Euro wannabes was a good natured tweek at Jim's description of the Wilson's as "very good traditional kit speakers" which is funny because there is some truth in it! Jim seems like a mature guy with a good sense of humor and I respect his opinion.

I see the Chimera & W/P7 to be markedly different executions of a similar design concept, similarly priced in USD as well that sound very different. And Viva la difference. To each his own.

Jim you say you value accuracy but what does that sound like in a speaker?
khrys
446 posts
 
Oneobgyn, I could not agree with you more. I have found inviting audiophiles into my home to be hugely satisfying; meeting interesting people and picking up some great tips for music I might not have have otherwise considered. I'm in SoCal but travel to the City frequently and would love to hear your system. You'd be preaching to the choir of course.

Jim, I think I have been civil and mature with my posts to you and I am genuinely curious as to what exactly you think "accuracy" sounds like in speakers. Maybe grist for another thread?
More to discover