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Demo'd the Wilson 8's today

post #1 of 51
10/28/06 at 2:17pm
Thread Starter 
Had a chance to sit and listen carefully to the new Watt Puppy 8's.. I own the WP 7's and a pair of Sophia's (V1)..I also owned the WP 6 and traded them in for the 7's.

This was the first time I left the dealer not feeling that it sounded better than my listening room.

IMO the 7's sound better and not just a little bit.

I even compared the 8's to much less expensive speakers which comfirmed to me there is just something not quite 'right' about the 8's.

We know they were made lighter for environmental reasons in Europe...So the lead was a mistake in the first place? THe 8's are just now 'better'? Why?

I am amazed how disappointed I was in them and the idea that they are more money than the 7's is mindblowing..

Needless to say, I won't be 'upgrading' to the 8's and in fact am even happier with my WP7's!

Now that's progress...
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post #2 of 51
10/28/06 at 2:19pm
Thread Starter 
Other equipment in the demo...SME turntable, Shindo preamp, CJ Premier Amp, Ayre amps, DCS stack....

Tried all combinations of gear to see if that were the 'reason' the 8's just did not do it for me...nothing made much difference at all..
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post #3 of 51
10/28/06 at 2:34pm
IMO makes absolute no sense to switch from WP 7 to WP 8 as it is merely a lateral move BUT now have a listen to the MAXX ll for a jaw dropping experience
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post #4 of 51
10/28/06 at 4:02pm
time and time again, new releases from companies will not yield an absolute improvement over discontinued products. change in materials, manufacture, etc. often are the reasons companies will release a new model in their lineup, many many times being either inferior to less priced models or simply not worth "trading up" or "upgrading". many are caught up that new stuff muct be better, but that is definately not always the case. companies are here to make money and many times must change components they use simply because costs become too high, poor availablility or simply very long wait time to get the parts in. if your happy with your speakers, stick with them and try upgrading your front end. in the end, all companies want to push new products whether they are better than previous generation or not is a personal thing.
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post #5 of 51
10/28/06 at 4:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by oneobgyn View Post

IMO makes absolute no sense to switch from WP 7 to WP 8 as it is merely a lateral move BUT now have a listen to the MAXX ll for a jaw dropping experience


Without a doubt the Maxx II's are just incredible and a total worthwhile 'upgrade'...I want them!

I am still shocked how disappointed I was with the WP8's today...Maybe there is something to that 'lead' after all...
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post #6 of 51
10/28/06 at 4:49pm
don't throw the baby out yet... don't forget that the room was just as important to your listening experience as the WP8's. Maybe it was a lousy room.
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post #7 of 51
10/28/06 at 4:50pm
Maybe--but I agree...not worth the uppgrade


Get the MAXX ll
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post #8 of 51
10/28/06 at 6:14pm
Hi

Not from a Wilson fan.. but WIlson usually does not make lateral moves.... The WP7 had all the hallmarks the old "WIlson Sound" including its inaccuracies... The Sophia II while ultimately a less satisfying speaker is closer to the path to accuracy taken by Wilson first on the X-2 , then on the MAXX-2 and finally the Sophia... I would bet ( and I am not a gambler) that the WP8 is superior to the WP7 in every aspects. Is it a worthwhile upgrade? I will leave this question to the (numerous) Wilson fans on this board..

How old were the speakers.?. I know that for many, ,speaker break-in does not make sense but I have witnessed it countless of times so... also at these levels little things (cables in particular) make a huge difference.. simply putting together components of great quality does not guarantee excellence in sound reproduction...Proper set-up and chemistry...

I still would take a VR5 over the WP7 , I have not heard the WP 8 yet.
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post #9 of 51
10/28/06 at 6:15pm
Our Az Audio Video Club had a demo last month of the new Wilson 8s. Frankly, I really liked the 7s, the 8s also did nothing for me. I guess lead sounds good!!!
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post #10 of 51
10/28/06 at 9:51pm
Thread Starter 
These speakers were broken in properly...To be honest, I would not be surprised if something is not right with this pair.....There was no way they are better than the 7's...I don't think anyone would disagree...I have a feeling something is just not right with this pair...If not, then anyone considering the 8's is really nuts....haha...

Franz, we were using all top end cables all the way around...to silly to even consider...there was no way any cable or even any component would have that much of a difference in today's test...Tried three amps...It's the lead...and the crossover I suspect...whatever it is, I am really glad I have my WP7's...and look forward to someday getting the Maxx II...
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post #11 of 51
10/28/06 at 9:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruzonsky View Post

Our Az Audio Video Club had a demo last month of the new Wilson 8s. Frankly, I really liked the 7s, the 8s also did nothing for me. I guess lead sounds good!!!

It's really nuts that Wilson had to change the cabinet to meet Euro lead requirements and is selling this as a supposedly better speaker! How on earth can they justify a $6K price increase...If the 8's I heard today are not defective, Wilson has a problem here...
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post #12 of 51
10/28/06 at 11:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tzucc View Post

don't throw the baby out yet... don't forget that the room was just as important to your listening experience as the WP8's. Maybe it was a lousy room.

Beautiful new room at high end audio dealer, been in business for many years...room is paneled in strategic spots...everything about the room is pretty fine...

As I keep posting,,,I (and the dealer), want to believe there is something wrong wiht this pair of Wilson 8's..

speaker placement, cables, component changes all tried...
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post #13 of 51
10/29/06 at 7:54am
Quote:


I am really glad I have my WP7's...and look forward to someday getting the Maxx II...

Now you're talking

My son went from WP 7's to the MAXX ll and the improvement was amazing
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post #14 of 51
10/29/06 at 7:57am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by oneobgyn View Post

Now you're talking

My son went from WP 7's to the MAXX ll and the improvement was amazing


I'm working on it....meanwhile I feel like I got a free upgrade as I never expected my 7's to sound so much better than the 8's...in fairness though, I do do have a Watchdog....but even still....this ain't no upgrade!
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post #15 of 51
10/29/06 at 10:45am
My son has Maxx ll's also with a Watchdog
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post #16 of 51
10/29/06 at 10:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by oneobgyn View Post

My son has Maxx ll's also with a Watchdog

I wanna be adopted by OB!!!@@@
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post #17 of 51
10/29/06 at 11:00am
Thread Starter 
I am really curious to read reviews or demo's of the 8's...anyone know of any?
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post #18 of 51
10/29/06 at 12:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruzonsky View Post

I wanna be adopted by OB!!!@@@


I can't afford you Ha@@!!!
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post #19 of 51
11/21/06 at 9:03pm
Thread Starter 
Wanted to post update on the demo I had of the WP8...The first demo was terribly disappointing...the dealer and I thought that perhaps the speakers were defective...He got a brand new pair and I spent an hour listening to them on Sunday..

I just don't get this speaker...They sound good I guess but not nearly as good as my WP7's...

I can't imagine anyone liking them better. We tried many a couple of different amps and preamps..

On another note, the dealer came to my house and spent a couple of hours tweaking my WP7's and the watchdog...incredible difference...I had no idea the set up of that subwoofer could effect the sound so much as far as phase and eq settings..

I am thrilled with my set up and not considering the Maxxes for now as there is a lot to be enjopyed from what I have....New shindo preamp coming within a week or so to replace the CJ preamp and Lamm phono stage...more on that later..

Anyone like the WP8? and I don't mean on paper!
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post #20 of 51
11/21/06 at 9:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by oneobgyn View Post

Maybe--but I agree...not worth the uppgrade


Get the MAXX ll

Or Xd!!!!!!!!


hahahahahah
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post #21 of 51
11/21/06 at 10:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by oneobgyn View Post

My son has Maxx ll's also with a Watchdog

Watchdog is the best ever...and I really believe you 'need' it....never selling it....
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post #22 of 51
11/22/06 at 6:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by controlit View Post

Watchdog is the best ever...and I really believe you 'need' it....never selling it....


Perhaps good but certainly not the best ever. Matches well with the WP and MAXX. You need to have a listen to the Wilson XS
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post #23 of 51
11/22/06 at 7:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bruzonsky View Post

I guess lead sounds good!!!

And tastes even better!

Controlit, why not get the dealer to let you audition the set at home? There are too many variables between their showroom and your home to do any more than a casual evaluation.
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post #24 of 51
11/22/06 at 7:34am
Why would he do that if he's happy with the W/P7s? That's a lot of work to try to be unhappy and lay out $10K-$15K for an upgrade which, really isn't going to be much more than a minor step (unless the W/P 7 was really badly engineered). Really, we don't upgrade people to the new version of anything, we say "either go up a whole level or just be happy, it's just not worth it for either of us to do minor updates" (unless there's some problem the new model specifically addresses).

Have more fun, buy more music!
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post #25 of 51
11/22/06 at 7:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alimentall View Post

Why would he do that if he's happy with the W/P7s? That's a lot of work to try to be unhappy and lay out $10K-$15K for an upgrade which, really isn't going to be much more than a minor step (unless the W/P 7 was really badly engineered). Really, we don't upgrade people to the new version of anything, we say "either go up a whole level or just be happy, it's just not worth it for either of us to do minor updates" (unless there's some problem the new model specifically addresses).

Have more fun, buy more music!


Hmmm John...I must be getting too old and grey because this is the first time that I have ever agreed with you.
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post #26 of 51
11/22/06 at 7:50am
Senility!!!!
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post #27 of 51
11/22/06 at 7:52am
ob, why are you sitting here agreeing with alimentall when you could be doing something far more enjoyable... drifting in your new amg??
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post #28 of 51
11/22/06 at 8:10am
Ah, I remember the good old days when "drifting" was called "sliding off the road"
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post #29 of 51
11/22/06 at 10:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alimentall View Post

Senility!!!!

Ahh..I knew there was an explanation.
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post #30 of 51
11/22/06 at 10:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by oneobgyn View Post

Ahh..I knew there was an explanation.

OB,

Remember, as you age; your memory is the 2nd thing to go.

The 1st is ...ah....oh....um.... I FORGOT!!!
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AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › Ultra Hi-End HT Gear ($20,000+) › Demo'd the Wilson 8's today