Wilson WP7 vs JM Lab Alto BE vs Avalon Eidolon

I have heard the WP7's and the Eidolon's. I have not heard the JM Lab Alto BE's though.

That being said, the Eidolon is one of the finest speakers I have every heard. A friend has some and has a similar set up to your own. He has the same turntable, and runs all tubes as well (ARC Ref. 1 preamp and VTL MB-450 monoblocks) and he uses a Koetus Urushi with a Aesthetix Rhea phono preamp. It is the finest stereo I have heard in my life. (This probably includes stereo dealers and stereo shows, since he has a fairly large dedicated room for his stereo.)

The Eidolons have the rare ability to just disappear from the soundstage. Mid-range and treble are great. The bass is very, very good (it goes down flat to a little below 30hz), but does not go quite down to 20hz. (Plenty deep for most people as only the very largest of rooms can really handle deep bass without sounding boomy.) As far as looks go, it is awesome looking, especially with one of the "fancy finishes", like the bird's eye maple.

The WP7 is a good speaker and it excels at accuracy. It soundstages well, just not as well as the Eidolon, IMHO. Its looks are ok, but not really in the same class as the Eidolons. (But then again, what is?)

I would definitely pick the Eidolons before the WP7 myself. I like the WP7, but love the Eidolons.

My two cents worth anyway/

The WP7 will go lower and will have tighter bass with your tubes because with the purchase of WP7's you will get an extra set of ports for using tube equipment (works with less damping) The transparent cabling Synergy is excellent (just check my system out.. also if you are in Phoenix you are welcome to give it a listen) The WP7's are also more efficent at 92-93db to 1 watt. The CJ warmth will be a perfect match with the WP7's.

Kurt Tank- If you didn't hear the WP7's image then they weren't setup correctly. Eidolons in the curly burl are FINE!

I've heard Eidolons before they are more layed back than the Wilson and less energy with tubes.

There is a Wilson dealer in Dallas (Krystal Clear) that has the VTL 7.5 preamp, VTL 450's and WP7's hooked up with transparent cabling and they actually spent time setting up the system... it sounds amazing (but I still prefer my Lamm's) If you take a pair home to demo, make the dealer set them up and leave you the manual (so you can verify that he did it correctly (Less than half the wilson dealers I have visited have their Wilsons dialed in to image correctly).

I chose the WP7's because I was a Planar/Electrostat fan and I use to play the double bass and the WP7's got that perfectly! but with dynamics, depth and volume! (I didn't have room for soundlabs or want to buy that type of high watt tube amplification)

Enjoy- your at a level where it's hard to be disappointed.

You indicate you get an extra set of ports for using with tube eqyuipment. Could you expand on what that actually means?.
Not sure if the WP7 has extra phyisical ports or additional material to stuff into the ports.

thanks for your help

Shane

The ports in the WP's mid tweeter (the WATT part) section are removable aluminum collars. One is tuned for a high power ss amp, the other is for tube amps with a lower damping factor. The result is, you can tailor the sound somewhat to the type of amp you use.

The whole process takes about 1 minute for each speaker. Just several hex screws to remove. Wilson supplies all the tools and ports when you aquire the speakers. Nothing to buy.

Well I have had a listen to each of the speakers trying to justify the huge cost increase over the mahlers.

Can't really comment on the Avalon Diamond as I only heard it quickly in the store and it sounded a little reserved and laid back to me.

The Alto's are luvly speakers. Believe the hype, the tweeter is so clean and extended that it does make all others seem dirty and etched (after breakin that is).
The bottom end was quite extended, but seemed to be slightly smaller in scale than the mahlers. I am sure the Nova's would be perfect, but they are very expensive.
The mid range is nice and slightly laid back. This does not make my alternative and pop music sound quite as forward as they should be - but the speaker may only be exposing the character of my cj amps. I could play the JM's loud to 97db plus with no stress of treble distortion.
I wish the same level of instructions that came with the WP7's came with the Alto's as I am sure I did not set them up to their best before I had to send them back.

Setting up the WP7's was a joy. the setup manual and the way the Wilson's are put together down to the spikes are very very good and easy to understand.
Pity I have not had the same level of enjoyment listening to them. the sound was very transparent and quite good but in my room they just seem to be a bit too bright when I turn up the volume too much. Left to right soundstaging was breathtaking - almost unreal.

I bought a Rives test CD and it does show my room ( with the WP7's) has spikes of 7 to 10 db higher at 639hz, 1600,3150kz, 6300kz which with the Wilson makes for overall fatiguing sound. I think if I ever want to use Wilson I will have to fix my room first in the mid range and upper frequencies.

Bottom line. I want a speaker that has the coherence and smoothness as the treble in the JM Be Alto's. So I will try to listen to the JM Alto's again, but after I try to fix my room up in the midrange.

Any idea's guys

cheers shane