Wilson Audio Unveils Stunning New Flagship Speaker

Mike said:
I think this is wrong on so many levels. Magico did not set the price benchmark. Others did. Prices for MBL are NOT going up a lot. Literally unchanged. I have the price sheet. MBL’s new team is top top top notch! Real professionals. Really dedicated to success and continuing to build a great brand. My team and I met with the new MBL Management team at axpona for over an hour. We were all super impressed. Dedicated, committed, supportive professionals is how I would describe the new team. Our interactions so far on several sales has been excellent.
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Maybe in your part of the world. . But not in my part of the world. The distributor sent out a notice that MBL will significantly increase after 1 May and ask potential customers to order before that. I count myself very lucky. I got my 101X two years ago around EUR 200k. And then MBL increased 101X to EUR 330k one year later. Not too sure how much they will increase the price on 101X.
 
Adyc said:
Maybe in your part of the world. . But not in my part of the world. The distributor sent out a notice that MBL will significantly increase after 1 May and ask potential customers to order before that. I count myself very lucky. I got my 101X two years ago around EUR 200k. And then MBL increased 101X to EUR 330k one year later. Not too sure how much they will increase the price on 101X.
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That will be very interesting to see. But here in the US, nearly zero. Maybe Euro pricing was too low?
 
BendingWave said:
at least that is more inte

Many companies came well before Magico in making these high six figure and seven figure speakers.
In fact his is Wilsons second time in this rare air as the WAMM was in this area a few years back.

It would be very interesting if anyone could actually describe the sonic differences between any of these Mega buck products.
The hype is very real and there are a few out there in this million dollar a pair area, Magico was not the first BTW and if you go to Munich now Vienna there are rooms full of these products.

YG
Marten
Aeris Cerat
Goldmund
ESD acoustics - China
Cessaro
all over 1 million dollars
and then there are many more over 500k. Too many to list
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FWIW, from my perspective it ceased being about sound long before these price levels were reached.

It was finally made clear to me by a very wise friend a few years ago when we were talking generally about such extreme luxury products: “They want it BECAUSE it’s expensive.” Very few can afford such extravagance, so it makes them members of a pretty exclusive club.
 
2FarGone said:
FWIW, from my perspective it ceased being about sound long before these price levels were reached.

It was finally made clear to me by a very wise friend a few years ago when we were talking generally about such extreme luxury products: “They want it BECAUSE it’s expensive.” Very few can afford such extravagance, so it makes them members of a pretty exclusive club.
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I think this is true with anything price high end.

I'd love to own a Rolex some day. It's not about keeping time - my Grand Seiko does that fine. It's about the feeling like "I finally made it".

I think with some people it's done with cars.

I'm not defending it, just observing I think each hobby has its uber high end.
 
Michaels HiFi said:
I think this is true with anything price high end.

I'd love to own a Rolex some day. It's not about keeping time - my Grand Seiko does that fine. It's about the feeling like "I finally made it".

I think with some people it's done with cars.

I'm not defending it, just observing I think each hobby has its uber high end.
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Before my wife & son conspired to put an Apple watch on me, I was wearing a Timex. 😏

It’s interesting to me how extravagance can seem so reasonable in our chosen field of insanity, but appear so outrageous in the other guy’s field of interest.
 
BendingWave said:
at least that is more inte

Many companies came well before Magico in making these high six figure and seven figure speakers.
In fact his is Wilsons second time in this rare air as the WAMM was in this area a few years back.

It would be very interesting if anyone could actually describe the sonic differences between any of these Mega buck products.
The hype is very real and there are a few out there in this million dollar a pair area, Magico was not the first BTW and if you go to Munich now Vienna there are rooms full of these products.

YG
Marten
Aeris Cerat
Goldmund
ESD acoustics - China
Cessaro
all over 1 million dollars
and then there are many more over 500k. Too many to list
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I have learned that one man's insanity is another man's normality. Without getting into politics, but to use a political analogy, the concept of "rich" when determining who and what to tax. It always starts with the ultra-rich, that top 1% of the top 1% BUT ultimately devolves to the "top" 49% who have more than the bottom 51%.

I hate to tell some here, the vast majority of the world think even those of us who spend "just" 2,000 dollars on a pair of speakers, are out of our minds. Try telling your typical neighbor, that a pair of speakers at $15,000 is "inexpensive".

It is all relative and good for those who have earned it and have the means to buy it. From my perch, the more $ spent by those who have it, on speakers or any other products, no matter what I think, the more those in the free market are made healthy. Is it nuts to spend 800K for a pair of speakers? What is the alternative? Confiscate it for the purposes of taxation or income redistribution so those in DC, or other locations here in the US or anywhere, can flush it down the toilet on fraud/abuse and waste.

For those who have it good for you and enjoy it.
 
MontanaJoe said:
As some of you know, I’m not a fan of “hyperbole” when it pertains to audio.

I’m no fan of blows the doors off, blows it away, by far the best, I had 10 audiophiles and they unanimously agreed, not even close, etc etc

The reality of high end audio these days, is most equipment is so good, that you could enjoy just about any thing.

The headline of my post comes from an email I got from The Absolute Sound. The article reads like a sycophantic overzealous advertisement, that would be over the top if Wilson released it but it’s from Harley, who will tell you he has no bias, no financial interest and uses his editorial soapbox of his magazine to claim as much DESPITE the obvious.

Look, Wilson is a great product, I’ve owned their products in the past, really enjoyed them but, “Stunning”, breaking new ground, etc etc when he hasn’t spent any legitimate time with it BUT has no qualms about singing all their praise hardly supports his inane and unsubstantiated perspective of no bias.

Back to the “stunning”. I understand beauty is in the eye of the beholder and many would probably think my system, speakers, choice of rug, chair etc aren’t “Stunning” and I get it, and why I would never be so dense to use the term in describing what I own, BUT,
ANYONE who has seen this new Wilson in pictures, almost unanimously would never describe it as “Stunning”. More like The Alien, popping out of Harley’s belly would be more appropriate.
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I couldn't have these; they would frighten my grandkids.


wilson-audio-autobiography-loudspeaker-crowned-rose.jpg
 
I haven't heard these speakers so I have no idea whether they are the best thing since 7up or just run of the mill, multiple six figure speakers. Gear at this level is interesting, but relevant to me (and probably 99.9% of other consumers of audio equipment) only to the extent it produces trickle down technology that might benefit less costly equipment. That happens-the very significant DCS Apex improvements resulted from the Varese research and, of course, the highly regarded Wadax Studio Player is derivative of the reference products, for example.

Wilson is free to build these speakers and consumers are free to buy them-or not. If there are enough buyers, its a success, if not, that's the market. Not for me to criticize how other people spend their money or to pretend I know what motivates their buying decision-how could I know what's in their mind when I don't even no who they are?

Audiophiles often have an unusual interest in how other people spend their money. Seems more the case than with other interests in which I'm involved, which is interesting. If the buyers can afford it and these speakers-or others priced beyond what I'm willing to pay, suits their purposes, good for them, not my business.
 
Kramer64 said:
Audiophiles often have an unusual interest in how other people spend their money. Seems more the case than with other interests in which I'm involved, which is interesting.
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I agree with your observation. I don't usually see Nissan owner triggered over someone buying a Ferrari, or watch people triggered over someone buying a Rolex.

In the photography world is it fiercely brand-fanatical, but it's over brands in general and not how much people spend on a camera or lens.
 
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