After too many years spent in storage, finally got round to having the X1 series ii's expertly recommissioned and set up (with thanks to Robert & Norma) in my main system replacing Trios. It had taken a long time to hone and feel at ease with the sound of horns and similarly the return journey to DR speakers was equally challenging - (I found) the Trios were a tough act to follow.

The X1's sounded bright, aggressive, sterile, amusical, at best PA like - just loud and plain nasty. F*%$^@g hopeless I thought, closed the door on my music room and made enquires to move them on. A few months later I switched pieces around and started to play them a final time... (before the sale advert). Many months and scores of cd's later my ears adjusted and the X1's are indeed an intense experience. These are not speakers to sit down and relax to, they are full on (played low or high) and their musical message is clear to me and succinct: 'now pay attention, you have no idea what we are capable of'.

Fifteen years on the X1's remain an education.

Not for every(wo)man, but recommended for those that are serious about their music; X1's are presently being sold for scrap value on the used market, an absolute steal for those that have an open mind. Incredible to think that there were only four hundred odd pairs created. Enjoy, fw

I have listened to the Wilson Grand Slams going back many years at this point. I have owned excellent speakers from many fine manufacturers - 3 different pair of Wilsons, B&W, Totem, Von Schweikert and several others. I currently own Watt Puppy's that I feel are the best value speaker I have ever owned. Every other speaker I have owned I was able to find other speakers that I like better (for the same price) or as much for less money. The B&W, while being pretty good speakers, in no way compare to many other brands/models in most every regard. They are popular speakers because there are a lot of dealers, not because they have the best performance. Though they are not bad by any definition.

I have been in this hobby since 1980 when I spent every penny of my paper route money on either audio equipment or records/music/concerts. I have never heard a better speaker than the X-1 Grand Slams, bar none. I would love to own a pair of these speakers that are bettered only now by the X-2 Wilsons. I have reached a point in my life, where purchasing a pair of these speakers used puts them into an affordable choice for me. Regardless of my love for music and listening, at my income level, I would have a difficult time justifying the $70K price for any pair of speakers, but A - I am a bit more conservative financially than many and B - I just can't justify saying to my kids that they are going to have to pay for 1-2 years of college themselves so that I can have new speakers. I have no problems with others buying these and even more expensive speakers for whatever reason (but hopefully because they appreciate the performance). It is only through full price customers that allows people like me to purchase some of the best equipment for much more reasonable prices.

I love these speakers and until I can find another pair of speakers that can even come close to these at the price I can buy these used (or that list new for this price - $70K), they remain the best speakers (except the X-2) that I have ever heard.

I must admit I've never heard audio reproduced as accurately as from these speakers. Even after my wife accidentally poked a small hole in one of the drivers they sounded fantastic. The only real problem I discovered was after I dropped a glass of beer on top of the left speaker and noticed that some of it leaked into the cabinet. I attempted to remove the liquid by drilling a small hole into the cabinet but this unfortunately made the speaker sound slightly muddy. I then drilled an equal sized hole in the other cabinet to equalize the sound, this worked well. My wife decided to paint the speakers blue and pink which I must admit makes them look as great as they sound. All in all, these are great speakers and werte well worth the price.

IMAGING,PRESENTATION,DYNAMICS,POWERFUL

NOT THE DEEPEST BASS NOTES BUT WAS SATISFYING.

THIS SPEAKER RANKS UP THERE WITH THE BEST.IT HAS ALL THE SOUND QUALITIES THAT ONE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR IN A SPEAKER.MY ONLY COMPLAINT FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD PERSONALLY IS THAT DEEP BASS NOTES AND THAT WAS FILLED IN WITH THE COMPANY'S XS SUBWOOFER.

Similar Products Used:

GERMAN PHYSIKS,NEAR ACOUSTICS,LEGACY FOCUS

everthing

kidding me?

well enough is enough. I've heard tham ' with 2 krell amp's and integra cd and theyre the best. Wonderfull is 2 little. If I could I would have buy Them. The best sound stage ' and I've heard a lot... For quality u have 2 pay , nevertheless they are very pricy speakers but oh gosh ...

Similar Products Used:

kef coda 8 , m&s 908 , 802b&w , linn ninka , klipsh , dali , martin logen and a lot more ...

I am a good friend of the owner of the local audio shop and after a chat about these $150,000 giants, he said he had a treat for me, a demo of these. There were stunning, friging fab! If your dealer has these or any Wilson's get a demo now, you will be knocked to your knee's.
P.S. I am 14 years old. :*)

Sound pretty good

Too room-sensitive

This appears to have become a sort of forum for more or less informed opinions, so I am going to try to shed some unbiased light on the matter, based on my limited experience of these speakers.

Disclaimer - The speakers in question aren't mine, they're my dentist's, which may say something about how much I pay for half an hour of agony every six months or so...


First of all, as a musician and music lover, I want to put these speakers in perspective by noting that their cost compares relatively favorably to that of a good grand piano or a basic line array as used in serious venues.

Nevertheless, to buy these speakers you have to be single (as my dentist is): My house currently contains 4 pianos, 2 of which are leading-brand grands, but despite the fact that my wife is also a musician and passionate music listener, my buying a pair of used JBL L300s (from a dealer, with 5 yr warranty) for the risible sum of $2600, nearly resulted in Armageddon...No matter how much money you have, there will always be a diamond necklace, furcoat, Mercedes or something else your better half wants.

In any case, I had always considered that if home speakers this expensive exist and people actually buy them (as I know thay do), those people must be knowledgeable and feel that the sound justifies the cost.

So imagine my disbelief when hearing a mutual friend's account of my dentist's visit to his home to hear his Infinity Kappa 9s, bought 10 years ago for circa $1200 - Dentist's comment: "I thought that compared to my speakers yours would sound like ****, but they sound just the same".

Here is the classic case of someone with too much money trying to ingratiate himself with a prestigious Hi-Fi dealer to make himself feel better, without knowing enough to realise he's being taken for a ride.

My subsequent visit to hear for myself led me to draw the following conclusions:
Yes, the Wilsons are good, but in a small square room with a low ceiling they are simply a waste of money and say nothing in favour of the dealer who recommended them for use in such a location.
Placed in a more favorable environment, my L300s - whilst being more colored - offer greater focus, a more transparent sound and a far more convincing soundstage from any point in the room.
In the ideal room with full Wilson setup treatment the Wilsons are undoubtably less colored and probably more ACCURATE, but I'll keep my $2600 JBLs thank you very much.

Moral: If you're thinking about spending this much on a pair of speakers, don't be afraid to look unknowledgeable by being humble. Don't feel you have to convince the dealer you're J.D. Rockerfeller by waving your gold credit card in front of his face. Make sure you have heard as many speakers in as many price ranges as possible. Listen to them at home in direct comparison. Stop and think - Am I buying these simply to nurture my ego? If you don't, you may just end up feeling like an idiot.
If you are still convinced you want them, then...Congratulations!

Similar Products Used:

1978 JBL L300 "SUMMIT", Infinity Kappa 9

I have had the privilege of listening to these wonderful speakers on two occasions. While the sound is stunningly neutral in tonal balance and precise in imaging I have to say that there are a good number of other speakers that are much more reasonably priced which offer what is unquestionably comparable performance. With how fantastic affordable speakers from B&W, NHT, and Definitive Technology sound it is outrageous that a company can charge as much as a new home costs for a pair of speakers. When Radio Shack can sell such a great sounding speaker as the LX-8 for $160.00 a pair I cannot see the cost of the X-1 as justifiable. In fact, I would go so far as to call these speakers a sham.

I fail to take Wilson Audio seriously anymore. Why? They are only interested in selling their "not-overpriced" speakers to people with lack of knowledge and too much money. I've listened to these giants on many occasions, with a plethora of familiar discs and electronics. I am consistently repulsed at their distinct lack of sound quality. Credit will be given to their excellent definition, but that's it.
Bass distortion, yes please. Non-Musicality, yes please. Mountainous frequency response, yes please.
Truly one of the most dissapointing loudspeakers I have ever heard, regardless of price.

Nice sounding but not nearly worth the price of $80,000. Listen to an Infinity Overture 3 ($1400)and ask yourself if the Wilson's are 70 times better