Article: Wilson Audio Alexia V Full Review

[The Computer Audiophile]

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[Danny Kaey]

Magic!

[AudioDoctor]

wow!

[The Computer Audiophile]

6 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said:

wow!

Apropos description :~)

[Account Closed]

Great review! But, a word of caution, be careful with that volume control if you want to be reviewing anything audio in ten years from now or maybe even less. Mother nature will get us all in time but no sense giving her a boost. I learned the hard way. Managed a rock band, flew airplanes (all types, all loud) and too many hours with the volume control at way too high a setting. My high frequency hearing is shot and I have some loss in my left ear (probably airplanes) but at least I can still enjoy my system in retirement. Rock on, but tread lightly. 

[Surge]

I fully know it’s not about graphs and data when evaluating speakers, but the frequency response chart is a mess for the Alexia V! More than 20dB off! And the high end is a disaster. 
what’s going on? Is your room sh!t or the speakers, or both?

 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan; but this response chart is horrendous. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, Surge said:

I fully know it’s not about graphs and data when evaluating speakers, but the frequency response chart is a mess for the Alexia V! More than 20dB off! And the high end is a disaster. 
what’s going on? Is your room sh!t or the speakers, or both?

 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan; but this response chart is horrendous. 

With all do respect, you’re not looking at what you think you’re looking at. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

This is my in room response before and after correction. Measurements taken at the listening position. 
 

This is extremely different from a technical speaker measurement in an anechoic chamber at 1 meter from the speaker. 
 

My corrected response is near perfect, given how human hearing works. The in room response, is pretty normal. 
 

[cjf]

Congrats on the new speakers. I have no doubts they sound as wonderful as they look.

 

The silver color is very nice and it appears that you slipped in a new matching center channel too. Good stuff 👍

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, cjf said:

Congrats on the new speakers. I have no doubts they sound as wonderful as they look.

 

The silver color is very nice and it appears that you slipped in a new matching center channel too. Good stuff 👍

Good eye :~)

[DigiPete]

Congrats Chris, I'm glad you are happy.
THAT is a major commitment!

And I'm thrilled that you have discovered the thrill of multi channel.
Perhaps we can now, through your enthusiasm, finally lure more people to the dark side. 😉
 

[The Computer Audiophile]

5 minutes ago, DigiPete said:

Congrats Chris, I'm glad you are happy.
THAT is a major commitment!

And I'm thrilled that you have discovered the thrill of multi channel.
Perhaps we can now, through your enthusiasm, finally lure more people to the dark side. 😉
 

I believe in multichannel so much, that there’s no stopping me now 😁

[DigiPete]

It's just so infuriating and frustrating that it's gotta be so expensive and/or finicky to get decent sound in Atmos.

We should hack cheap regular Atmos pre's - just sniff the I2S and convert to AES and S/PDIF.
I wonder how many would be interested in joining a project and churn out some PCB's with 16 channels of conversion.

I could get an Emotiva BasX MC1 (13.2 Channel) and do a prove of concept with available stereo boards
It's not rocket science!
Hmmmm - me and my projects 🙄
 

[The Computer Audiophile]

14 minutes ago, DigiPete said:

It's just so infuriating and frustrating that it's gotta be so expensive and/or finicky to get decent sound in Atmos.

We should hack cheap regular Atmos pre's - just sniff the I2S and convert to AES and S/PDIF.
I wonder how many would be interested in joining a project and churn out some PCB's with 16 channels of conversion.

I could get an Emotiva BasX MC1 (13.2 Channel) and do a prove of concept with available stereo boards
It's not rocket science!
Hmmmm - me and my projects 🙄
 

There are plenty of manufacturers who could do this, but my guess is they have no clue Atmos music is even a thing. 

[KDinsmore]

Sweet..............

 

[DigiPete]

Atmos brands have no clue about sound quality
Audiophile brands have no clue about Atmos 
Pro brands expects you to by a Dolby unit

We gotta HACK IT. 🤬

[Deyorew]

So you replaced your 3 year old speakers with the same model revision for $80,000?

 

That’s a bit of a head scratcher to me.

this website continues to go into the stratosphere of equipment choices.

Are people with your scenario really thinking.. oh yeah I should make the upgrade too?

$80,000 could have been a nice analogue rig addition and a whole collection of media bringing you a lot more choices around mastering of albums.

 

I think this website is not for me anymore, I’m still back in the computer audiophile world of a computer in my listening room with usb to a simple dac all for under $2,000 and it sounds fantastic.

 

we are in super mega yacht territory these days.

 

as a long time follower it’s hard to get excited about these articles Chris.

[The Computer Audiophile]

7 minutes ago, Deyorew said:

So you replaced your 3 year old speakers with the same model revision for $80,000?

 

That’s a bit of a head scratcher to me.

this website continues to go into the stratosphere of equipment choices.

Are people with your scenario really thinking.. oh yeah I should make the upgrade too?

$80,000 could have been a nice analogue rig addition and a whole collection of media bringing you a lot more choices around mastering of albums.

 

I think this website is not for me anymore, I’m still back in the computer audiophile world of a computer in my listening room with usb to a simple dac all for under $2,000 and it sounds fantastic.

 

we are in super mega yacht territory these days.

 

as a long time follower it’s hard to get excited about these articles Chris.

I certainly understand your sentiment and know it can be easy to get wrapped up in items like this, and quickly spiral one’s thinking into “this isn’t for me anymore” territory. I’ve been there. Many of us have been there. 
 

Fortunately, it only takes a flick or two of the mouse / swipe of the finger to see many articles here about getting the most for the minimum, buying used gear, and using DSP to increase performance far greater than any piece of hardware, for pennies on the dollar. 
 

As a younger audiophile fresh out of college in 1998, a Wilson based system was only a dream for me. I had pages ripped from magazines, in a folder, where I assembled my aspirational audio system, on paper.  I did what I could to make this dream come true, and to increase my enjoyment of this wonderful hobby and take my favorite music to heights I could’ve never imagined.
 

While not for everyone, because nothing is, I’m proud of what I’ve put together and I enjoy sharing the journey with this community. 
 

I hope you’ll reconsider your views on the site because we have much more in common than a few articles may indicate. 
 

Thanks for contributing to the community since August of 2009. 

[firedog]

4 hours ago, Deyorew said:

So you replaced your 3 year old speakers with the same model revision for $80,000?

 

That’s a bit of a head scratcher to me.

this website continues to go into the stratosphere of equipment choices.

Are people with your scenario really thinking.. oh yeah I should make the upgrade too?

$80,000 could have been a nice analogue rig addition and a whole collection of media bringing you a lot more choices around mastering of albums.

 

I think this website is not for me anymore, I’m still back in the computer audiophile world of a computer in my listening room with usb to a simple dac all for under $2,000 and it sounds fantastic.

 

we are in super mega yacht territory these days.

 

as a long time follower it’s hard to get excited about these articles Chris.

I find it interesting even though I'll never do such a system. 

There are also reviews and discussions here of equipment costing only hundreds. Maybe Chris should do one or two more of those, but I don't think the site is only for people spending Mega bucks.

Hope you stay.

[AnotherSpin]

5 hours ago, Deyorew said:

So you replaced your 3 year old speakers with the same model revision for $80,000?

 

That’s a bit of a head scratcher to me.

this website continues to go into the stratosphere of equipment choices.

Are people with your scenario really thinking.. oh yeah I should make the upgrade too?

$80,000 could have been a nice analogue rig addition and a whole collection of media bringing you a lot more choices around mastering of albums.

 

I think this website is not for me anymore, I’m still back in the computer audiophile world of a computer in my listening room with usb to a simple dac all for under $2,000 and it sounds fantastic.

 

we are in super mega yacht territory these days.

 

as a long time follower it’s hard to get excited about these articles Chris.

 

Shift the focus of your attention from knowable objects to knowing subject, or your self, and you'll be fine. All objects in you knowing are known equally and cost the same.

[fredg_31]

Lucky man.

 

I understand now why you chose a grey center channel!

[Wine Doctor]

Congratulations on your new speakers and an excellent review.  I share your sentiments about Wilson Audio speakers.

 

I also share your appreciation of immersible formats.  Now that you have completed your review of the Alexia V, it is the time to prod Native DSD to start releasing downloadable material in AURO 3D and Dolby Atlas and to encourage The Spirit of Turtle to up its releases of immersive material. 

[scintilla]

You  describe that half time shuffle like a drummer, Chris.  Since I can play that shuffle, including the difficultly placed high-hat x-o-x accent, I appreciate your knowledge.  Two things come to mind: Firstly, when Page was working on the last remasters a number of years ago, an isolated drum track for Fool was posted on Youtube by a "James P" and it is great fun to listen to because of course you can hear everything Bonzo was playing but got obscured in the mixdown master. Secondly, the late, great Jeff Porcaro made a number of teaching vids and his breakdown of how he came up with the Rosanna shuffle, also a half-time triplet figure, is worth watching as well.  Jeff stole the basic feel from Fool and added the Bo Diddley beat for the bass drum part.  Brilliant and in keeping with good artists copy, while great artists steal... Naturally, I started with learning the Rosanna shuffle and graduated to Fool in the Rain, working backwards up the ladder. Cheers and happy listening!

[PYP]

Nice review.  Very telling that it is mostly about the music you enjoy.  Sure, the technology gets us there, but the destination is being entranced by great music and sharing it with our loved ones.  I'm interested in what your daughter wants to listen to on the big rig. 😉  

  

[Big Pappa]

Thank you, enjoyed the read this Saturday morning, listening to my Alexias which are doing the Otari reel to reel justice....and the expanding music of The Marshal Tucker Band, all perfect for a Saturday morning.   While my system can do high volume and keep its composure, I believe its best moments are often when asked to fill the listener at lower volume levels.  Thank you again, blessings all.