"Highly Regarded?" - In America, perception becomes reality.
Wilson's are mentioned by many magazine reviewers, etc.. sometimes just because of their price and status of being at the top of the audiophile price chain.
Just like ultra priced Krell and Levinson gear, you can find respected reviewers DON'T think that these companies are the "Gestalt of audio". Wilson is in the same boat. It just SEEEEMS that everybody thinks they are great, because when something is written about them, it is usually done by a reviewer who PREFERS them (the same goes for companies like Krell).
(BTW: I'm NOT saying that Wilson, Krell, etc.. is bad, just that there are respected reviewers who do NOT think that they are the "BEST", or "REFERENCE", as compared to everything currently available.)
Something else to consider; If the largest source of income from ultra high end magazines comes from the overpriced ultra hyped high end companies, why would they want to print less than stellar reviews about this gear? NEVER BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU!
Wilson's are mentioned by many magazine reviewers, etc.. sometimes just because of their price and status of being at the top of the audiophile price chain.
Just like ultra priced Krell and Levinson gear, you can find respected reviewers DON'T think that these companies are the "Gestalt of audio". Wilson is in the same boat. It just SEEEEMS that everybody thinks they are great, because when something is written about them, it is usually done by a reviewer who PREFERS them (the same goes for companies like Krell).
(BTW: I'm NOT saying that Wilson, Krell, etc.. is bad, just that there are respected reviewers who do NOT think that they are the "BEST", or "REFERENCE", as compared to everything currently available.)
Something else to consider; If the largest source of income from ultra high end magazines comes from the overpriced ultra hyped high end companies, why would they want to print less than stellar reviews about this gear? NEVER BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU!