Price Paid:  $3600.00

Summary:
Summary:

I don't like referring to myself as an "Audiophile" as I think it's a bit indulgent and self serving but there were only a few choices so I guess I'll go with "Enthusiast." I am though, serious about music, its production and re-production. The best component (speaker, amplifier, phono cartridge, cable etc.) is only as good as it's setup. Setup can include things like speaker placement, interaction between components or even the room itself.

I mention this because I have read many conflicting reviews in these pages and yet understand that any given product is either neutral and free from noticeable artifacts or it somehow changes the musical throughput. And if it does change or distort the signal, it either has to add to / exaggerate it -or- delete / reduce some portion of it. Of these two types of distortion, omission would be preferred over exaggeration to my ears.

Let's get to it . . .

Wilson Audio Specialties has a knack for producing products that are so artifact free that they become somehow holographic in their presentation. Not to imply that they are perfect but that in their respective price ranges they come closer to a live performance than other brands. Even one's whose frequency response or other specifications might be more linear.

I think most "Audiophiles" would agree that they've known of one product or another over the years that had so significantly outperformed others in their class . . . yet if their specs had been the end-all, be-all determining factor of quality, they might never have sold a single unit! Thank God, most understand that the human ear is a much more critical and finely tuned instrument than a MLSSA waterfall graph or oscilloscope.

Strengths:

I purchased a used pair of WATT-Puppy series 3/2 in the early 90's and with them, heard more inner detail, micro dynamics and low level bass extension than I had experienced before or since. I moved twice putting them into three radically different settings, tried different preamps, amplifiers, D/A converters and cables with varying sonic results but always a tall, very wide and deep soundstage. The music was always realistic and enjoyable. In fact, I became accustomed to sitting off axis because I seemed to always be showing off the system to someone, allowing my guest to sit in the sweet spot. And that was the interesting thing; the sweet spot was so wide that I actually could see/hear a slightly different perspective into the soundstage. It was as though I was listening to live music from about 5-6 seats right of center instead of dead on TDC. Every other listening experience that I've ever had (off axis) including friends systems, trade shows and hi fi stores, I've always felt that I needed to move to the center to get an image. Simply not true with the WATT-Puppies!

*I Rated the WATT-Puppies 5 for value compared to others in their class and general price bracket.

*I Rated them a 4 for overall performance strictly due to the fact that they have a couple siblings that are obviously better in many respects and therefore more expensive.

Weaknesses:

None musically but not everyone can afford this level of reproduction

I could go on but I'm going to stop and go listen to some cool jazz instead.

BTW - Just read about some new stuff coming out of New Orleans that sounds really promising! Check 'em out . . . www.threadheadrecords.com - Very cool bunch!

THX, Doc

www.AVIA-Designs.com

ryonemoto

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $20000.00 from San Francisco Stereo

Summary:
This is the first Watt/Puppy system that used polymer material for the woofer cabinet and improvement in the bass is noticeable. When I listen to Audiophile recordings such as Chesky's Ultimate Demonstration disk and their DVD audio test record (sampled at 24bit/96kHz) the palpability is high and you're immedietly drawn to its life like sound stage. There are other speakers such as B&W's 801 has more linear frequency response than the Watt/Puppies but for some reason the sensation that a voice or an instrument is "right there in front of you" is more intense with the Wilsons. The Watt section has a characteristic rise in frequency response around 1.5 kHz that adds slight warmth to voice and piano, Frequencies between 2-3 kHz is somewhat foggy and poorly defined (which I heard was corrected on the System 7). High frequency is little too foward and should ask the factory to lower the tweeter level by 1 dB for more realistic sound. But overall these are one of the finest speakers on this planet and you won't be disappointed with their performances.

Strengths:
Super realistic sound staging. Very high palpability of materials it reproduces. Capability to project life sized sound stage. As some reviewer has stated the system is very forgiving with old and noisy material.

Weaknesses:
Foggyness of sound between 2-3 kHz. Somewhat tinny high frequency ( it sounded this way with various different electronics that drove it so I can only place the blame on Watt's tweeter ). Also the system is very pricy and if you can find a used Watt3/Puppy2 system at around $3000 they probably can do 99% of the job for you.

Similar Products Used:
B&W 801 and 802

Price Paid:  $3500.00 from Private owner - used

Summary:
Quit simple, the best speaker I've ever heard. I've experimented with different speakers for years, and then I ran across a mint used set of Wilson Audio Watt/Puppy 2.1 for $3,500. Since then, I've never looked back. With the right equipment, they sound like no other. I continue to listen to all the new equipment, at all price ranges, and they pale in comparison to the Watt/Puppy's. Not even close. My Wilson's are the only speaker I've ever heard that is truly 3-dimensional. You can pin-point instruments/vocals all over the room - it is truly incredible. The sounds are suspended in space, with much air around them before hearing the other instuments/vocals to the left/right/front/back. In other words, a lot of separation between instrument/vocals. No other speaker I have ever heard, at any price, can do this - A truly 3-dimensional sound stage. I did upgrade the puppy tales (speaker wire connecting the Watts to the Puppys) to a Transparent super. Nice improvement - smoothed out the sound (took the edge off the solid state amp), without losing the precision. I believe the new model Watt/Puppys all use the Transparent wire, but not positive. My buddy has the latest/greatest 7 model. Yes, it is a slight improvement. But, I feel my Wilson's 2.1 can provide 99% of the sound/performance of the latest model. It is hard to improve upon perfection, so that 1% is very hard to come buy, and will cost you - big time. Currently, I am using a high-power Conrad Johnson MF2300 solid state amp, with a tube pre-amp. So far, this has been the best combination for overall performance. I'm sure a high-powered tube amp would sound even better, but solid state is more practical for my use at this time. Someday.... In closing, if you can find a used set (or have the bucks for new pair), you are getting one of the best speakers on the planet. *** My 5 star value rating was for a used set. I think a new set is still a good value, since nothing in this price range can compare, IMO. But, I would have to rate 2 stars since it's hard to justify 20 grand on speakers. But if you got the money....

Strengths:
What's to say? The best sounding speaker made - period. Many copies/fakes, but only one Wilson.

Weaknesses:
1.) You need the right equipment to make them shine. Just give Wilson a call, they will not steer you wrong. 2.) Have to be set up perfectly to obtain perfection. Again, just give Wilson a call. You can diagram your room to scale (with furniture/drapes/etc..., and they will help you position the speakers properly. A quarter inch toe in/toe out will produce a different sweet spot/sound. It will take some time to get them set up properly, but once you do, WOW! 3.) The only true negative I can think of is the foam used on the outer part of the speaker. Over time, it will deteriorate and need replaced.

Similar Products Used:
Bought/sold or heard just about everything.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I recently listened to the WP 6's at Audible Difference in Palo Alto. Blew me the hell away. I have terminated auditions with other high end speakers like Revels and B&W's. The WPs are amazing in the wall of sound that comes at you. Admittedly there was $60k of Mark Lev driving the Pups, but the sound was emotionally moving... perhaps a bit colored in timbre (I played alot of brass intstruments and know precisely what they sound like in real life), but the effortless nature of the soundstage overcame any possible concern about coloration. The bass... amazing response and tightness. I wonder what the Wilson subs would do with the WP's in a proper 5.1 setting??? It must be to die for. I then heard JMLabs Utopia ($14k/pair) and they came pretty close, perhaps not as good low bass response, but then it wasn't Mark Lev driving the JM's. The JMLabs btw make drum kits sound very live. Esp the tom-toms... amazing accuracy. I am going to wait to listen to the WP 7's to see what happens before I write the big check. Finally, I am also considering the PSB Stratus Golds and NHT Evolution, when I wake up and realize I can't spend $15-20K on only two speakers!

Strengths:
Puts the orchestra, jazz ensemble or whatever in front of you. No speaker I have ever heard does what these do in terms of original re-creation of the live performance emotion and impact.

Weaknesses:
Perhaps some coloration of timbre... I felt the trombone and B flat trumpet weren't quite perfect. Then again, who gives a s***... I'll take the emotion these puppies deliver and trade on the bit for bit accuracy.

Price Paid:  $2750.00 from Used

Summary:
Once upon a time I was one of the many who dismiss Wilson speakers as over-priced amusical toys for rich boys. Then I saw a used pair of WATT 3/Pupp 2s at a dealer for $3,000 and figured I could always sell them for a profit if they sucked.

When they arrived and I set them up my first thought was that I had made a horrible mistake. The bass wasn't very deep, and there is indeed a decided mid-bass bloat at around 120 Hz. After a bit of experiementing, I worked iout that this came from the Puppy crossover and a bit from my room.

Fortunately, the older WATT/Puppies allow you to bypass the Puppy crossover and biamp the speakers. Doing this wrought a drastic improvement and removed the bloat.

Disappointingly (as I was planning on selling them) they sounded better than the Infinity MTS I was using at the time. However, while the quality of the bass was now very good, the quantity was lacking.

So I sold the Puppies and replaced them with a pair of Entec LF20 subwoofers. These are the same frontal dimensions as the Puppy, but twice as deep. They have their own amps and outboard crossover and give genuine 20Hz bass. The sold for $6K a pair new but can be had for about $1500.

The WATT/Entec combo sounds fantastic.

Not long after it was set up I had a pair of the highly regarded Newform R645s through the house. Nice speakers, but I preferred the WATT?Entec combo in most areas.

IMHO, and bought used, the WATT is the best small monitor you can get for sensible money. Combine them with a pair of really good subs and you have magic.

I also had a pair of WATT/Puppy 5.1s which had been upgraded to System 6 in house not so long ago. I preferred the WATT/Entec combo.

Of the other speakers I've owned, the Genesis V was of equivalent quality (and also a bargain at the used prices they go for), but I hate Rosewood so aesthetically they were wrong.

Give them on open-minded try.

Strengths:
Clarity, accuracy, dynamics, value (believe it or not), looks.

Weaknesses:
Mid-bass bloat, lack of deep bass.

Similar Products Used:
WIlson WATT/Puppy 6, Genesis V, Infinity Prelude MTS, Newform R645, Gallo Nucleus Reference, Martin Logan CLS, Sonus Faber Concerto/REL Strata.