Article: Review | Wilson Audio Chronosonic XVX - Part 1, The Build

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, Allan F said:

Reluctant as I am to say it, IMO this "review" reads far more like an unpaid ad for Wilson Audio than anything else.

No worries Alan. I suppose one could say this about my review of the RAAL-requisite SR1a headphones as well because I absolutely fell in love with them. 
 

I enjoyed reading about Danny’s enjoyment of the XVX. Not everyone will feel this way and that’s what makes the world go round :~)

[Allan F]

37 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

No worries Alan. I suppose one could say this about my review of the RAAL-requisite SR1a headphones as well because I absolutely fell in love with them.

 

IMO, You are being unfair to yourself. Allow me to point out a very significant and fundamental difference between this "Review" (Ad?) and yours of the RAAL headphones. Unlike this "Review:, you raved about the product. You did not, however, endlessly heap superlatives on the manufacturer. Therein, IMO, lies the difference between a reviewer and a fanboy.

[Danny Kaey]

5 hours ago, Allan F said:

 

IMO, You are being unfair to yourself. Allow me to point out a very significant and fundamental difference between this "Review" (Ad?) and yours of the RAAL headphones. Unlike this "Review:, you raved about the product. You did not, however, endlessly heap superlatives on the manufacturer. Therein, IMO, lies the difference between a reviewer and a fanboy.

I am reviewing an experience and since the loudspeakers are inextricably tied to their namesake company and it’s CEO, the superlatives described are within my domain. Your mileage may vary, and therefore your corresponding accolades and admiration. I have been around this industry for 20+ years and have seen companies come and go; Wilson has remained an industry reference you simply can’t deny, no matter your personal subjective experience.

 

That’s all. 😉

[The Computer Audiophile]

The people behind these products are what matters. They design, build, and support them. I’d never buy a great product from a substandard company. In fact, I’ve passed on many. 
 

If money, time, and supporting good companies matters to people, then reviews that discuss the companies should matter. 
 

Anyone want to purchase an LH Labs product? The products seemed great, but the people at the company walked away with millions of customers’ dollars without delivering the products. 
 

Want to purchase an original Wilson WAMM that needs some love? People line up to get these because the factory will turn them into like-new speakers that are as good as the day they left the factory in 1982. 

[PeterG]

6 hours ago, Allan F said:

 

IMO, You are being unfair to yourself. Allow me to point out a very significant and fundamental difference between this "Review" (Ad?) and yours of the RAAL headphones. Unlike this "Review:, you raved about the product. You did not, however, endlessly heap superlatives on the manufacturer. Therein, IMO, lies the difference between a reviewer and a fanboy.

Hmmm...I was only joking when I posted that I was jealous...

[Allan F]

1 hour ago, Danny Kaey said:

I am reviewing an experience and since the loudspeakers are inextricably tied to their namesake company and it’s CEO, the superlatives described are within my domain. Your mileage may vary, and therefore your corresponding accolades and admiration. I have been around this industry for 20+ years and have seen companies come and go; Wilson has remained an industry reference you simply can’t deny, no matter your personal subjective experience.

 

That’s all. 😉

 

That's fine as long as you don't consider a degree of objectivity to be an important characteristic of a review. I have been in this hobby for over 50 years and my experience over that period of time is the source of my viewpoint when it comes to assessing the value of a review.

 

That's all. 🙂

[mav52]

Wow !, $329,000 a pair.  I think I'll pay my home off.  Ah enjoy !

[Danny Kaey]

18 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

The people behind these products are what matters. They design, build, and support them. I’d never buy a great product from a substandard company. In fact, I’ve passed on many. 
 

If money, time, and supporting good companies matters to people, then reviews that discuss the companies should matter.

 

Come to think of it, I think you nailed it Chris - without a doubt, Wilson is a company that stands behind their product 100%, no questions asked. While I personally have never had any issues, I know of issues that happened with others that were all beyond the control of Wilson and in each instance, they stood behind their product 100%. So the "endless" heap of praise I give Wilson is deservedly - and objectively - earned in my opinion. I am not publishing peer reviewed studies in the field of virology (to use a current example), I am publishing an experience driven product review. 

[baconbrain]

This is absolute audiophile insanity and I love it!

 

If the sky was the limit, then I would pull both levers and take the Ferrari in the living room and the Wilsons in the listening den.

 

@Danny KaeyReally appreciate your writing style.

[Danny Kaey]

8 hours ago, baconbrain said:

This is absolute audiophile insanity and I love it!

 

If the sky was the limit, then I would pull both levers and take the Ferrari in the living room and the Wilsons in the listening den.

 

@Danny KaeyReally appreciate your writing style.

 

Awwwww... thank you, I appreciate your kind words! I agree 💯it's pure insanity...... once you listen to music at this level, it takes on an entirely new meaning, physically, emotionally and mentally. Come on by whenever you are in town for a visit! 😀'

 

PS: yes on the Ferrari in the living room!!! Whenever I see someone with that, I'm like, WOW, art collection on a whole new level!!!

[baconbrain]

14 hours ago, Danny Kaey said:

 

Awwwww... thank you, I appreciate your kind words! I agree 💯it's pure insanity...... once you listen to music at this level, it takes on an entirely new meaning, physically, emotionally and mentally. Come on by whenever you are in town for a visit! 😀'

 

PS: yes on the Ferrari in the living room!!! Whenever I see someone with that, I'm like, WOW, art collection on a whole new level!!!

Completely agree! High End Technology, and the Craftsmanship of such, can truely be expressions of art in its best form.

 

Have also had the pleasure to listen to a few systems at the level of the Wilsons and „feel“ the pure energy and emotion of music! A different dimension, and sometimes breath taking experience, in itself ...

[Rocco]

Ok - i LOVE your review Danny. I too, have a pair of these mind-blowing speakers. You are right on with your comments.  I have one question, and it's probably a lame question. I am new to this site. 

 

Why are there 3 stars which appear on the review? Your review seems more glowing than a 3-star review.  (everyone familiar with this site probably knows this answer!)

[The Computer Audiophile]

49 minutes ago, Rocco said:

Ok - i LOVE your review Danny. I too, have a pair of these mind-blowing speakers. You are right on with your comments.  I have one question, and it's probably a lame question. I am new to this site. 

 

Why are there 3 stars which appear on the review? Your review seems more glowing than a 3-star review.  (everyone familiar with this site probably knows this answer!)

The star ratings are given by anyone who can see them and are supposed to be a rating of the review. 

[wwc]

On 11/25/2020 at 2:54 PM, NOMBEDES said:

No doubt a wonderful build.

 

However, I have to say it:

 

WAF Score:  O out of 10 (a 10 is given to a speaker that the significant other will admit "looks OK".)

I have often wondered what any Wilson Speaker would sound like in the poor acoustics of a certain bunker in central Berlin circa 1945.   They certainly look like something only a fan of the brutalism school would love.

I agree.   Wilson speakers have always struck me as the product of advanced engineering with crudely sophomoric aesthetics.  

 

The best audio design is where Form and Function are aligned to create something more.  Unfortunately, Wilson is capable of only half the equation.  

[wwc]

On 11/28/2020 at 12:32 PM, Allan F said:

 

IMO, You are being unfair to yourself. Allow me to point out a very significant and fundamental difference between this "Review" (Ad?) and yours of the RAAL headphones. Unlike this "Review:, you raved about the product. You did not, however, endlessly heap superlatives on the manufacturer. Therein, IMO, lies the difference between a reviewer and a fanboy.

I found Danny to make the same error (in my opinion) with his Coffee Talk interview with David Wilson.  Fanboy from start to finish.  I think it's great that he has such admiration for David and Wilson Audio, but it just comes on so thick as to border on idolatry.  Maybe try to "tone it down just a little bit" as David Wilson himself said at the beginning of the interview.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Wow, inside every cloud there’s a black lining I guess. 
 

I’ll never understand such comments and spending one’s valuable time to leave them. 

[Danny Kaey]

23 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Wow, inside every cloud there’s a black lining I guess. 
 

I’ll never understand such comments and spending one’s valuable time to leave them. 

 

exactly my sentiment. 🙄

[wwc]

On 1/2/2021 at 1:13 PM, The Computer Audiophile said:

Wow, inside every cloud there’s a black lining I guess. 
 

I’ll never understand such comments and spending one’s valuable time to leave them. 

I'd encourage you to try to take criticisms of the writing on your site constructively (as they are intended) instead of defensively.  

 

  At more traditional publications, Stereophile for instance, the writing first goes to someone who edits and guides the writer to produce the best work possible. I don't know how it works at Audiophile Style...

 

I think a lot of the material on AS is pretty awesome, btw!

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, wwc said:

I'd encourage you to try to take criticisms of the writing on your site constructively (as they are intended) instead of defensively.  

 

Feedback noted. 

 

 

1 hour ago, wwc said:

At more traditional publications, Stereophile for instance, the writing first goes to someone who edits and guides the writer to produce the best work possible. I don't know how it works at Audiophile Style...

 

I won't delve into how we do things, but I'll say that just because the old guard does it one way, doesn't mean I want to do it that way :~)

 

I prefer to give a lot fo freedom for writers to express themselves creatively. 

 

1 hour ago, wwc said:

I think a lot of the material on AS is pretty awesome, btw!

 

Thanks you very much for this and for contributing. 

[InVinoVeritasty]

I think my jaw broke when it hit the ground.  Incredible!

[RickyV]

14 minutes ago, InVinoVeritasty said:

I think my jaw broke when it hit the ground.  Incredible!

Hi and welcome to AS.

 

I hope it didn’t hurt too much when you broke your jaw but could you tell us what happened? Did you trip or did you slip outside in de snow? 😃

[Danny Kaey]

28 minutes ago, InVinoVeritasty said:

I think my jaw broke when it hit the ground.  Incredible!

Part 2 is coming soon!!! stay tuned and thanks for reading!!! 😀