Now how does a $2000 speaker setup sound with the same size and number of drivers compare to the Wilson? That would be a more fair comparison than a relatively portable Sonos speaker.
I could create a stereo listening experience for $2k that would blow you away. The Wilson's are 100% not worth the cost. They're gorgeous and a statement piece. Truly beautiful but wholly unnecessary to accurately reproduce music.
As a recovering audiophile, one thing is that no matter how good your set up becomes, you'll get used to it within a few months. Then it's time to go to the bank for the next big thing, which surprise suprise, you'll get used to as well. In the end you'll end up more time setting up your gear and reading and researching about the gears than actually listening to music. All i want to say is, enjoy your music. It's doesn't matter if it's coming out of a 10£ earbuds or a 100000£ speaker system.
It depends upon you; for me the better the sound, the deeper the physiological impact. I enjoy a song on an ordinary system, where on a good one it becomes a full emotional experience.
Once your gear hits a certain level, a lot comes down to preference, I guess? It's generally cheaper to achieve the same sound quality with headphones, than with speakers. And the right dsp goes a long way in getting the most out of your system.
The thing about high-end audio systems is the difference in sound separation, staging and clarity between a $500 and a $2,000 system is far greater then the difference between a $2,000 system and a $50,000 system. The difference is even more subtle as you go up in price. Many would not be able to tell the difference between a $50,000 system and the $350,000 system demonstrated in this video. Bottom line is if you CAN tell the difference and care, and have the resources, then a six-figure audio system is worth it.
That's right! The same applies to headphones...it is very hard to hear a lot of differences between a $ 1,000 headphone and a $ 5,000 headphone, if you haven't a hearing ability, which is way above average..
its the same as wine or other things which require appreciation. if you buy the $1000 wine without many years of experience, you wont even understand it.
I’ve been building a hifi room for four years. The pay off is everything when you adore music like I do. I’m $30,000 in so far. Worth every dollar and more.
The irony is, you'd be hard pressed to find a mastering studio with a pair of speakers worth more than $50,000, and that's already rarefied air. Above that, you're getting into the extremely rare occurrence. Obviously the room itself will be worth a lot of money as well
@@MyFatherLoves Mastering studio speakers are often intended for a completely different purpose and studios wouldn't necessarily spend that kind of money for monitors.
Audiophile here. Yes, I see you joke lol ...I think everyone that's involved in this hobby is that understands completely that this isn't a financial investment. But I would say that it is an emotional investment. The main driving force is that we genuinely love music, and when you can create a system that propels you into the music, *that* is what makes it worth it. If you've ever had that tingly feeling when listening to exceptional music, it's that much better whenever you're playing it on a really good system.
Not so much with Wilson Audio, but some brands like Bowers and Wilkins loudspeakers have historically held a value greater than the vast majority of consumer products. For example the Nautilus 805 sold for $2000/pair in 1999, yet a used pair sells for roughly the same amount in 2024. Its not limited to just that one model either.
The thing that annoys me so much about this video is that it frames it as if you either buy a Sonos (or other) streaming speaker OR an unbelievably expensive stereo setup. There are amp and speaker sets at the same price of the Sonos that sound soooo much better than the Sonos. Do yourself the favor and go to a store that sells both and I am sure that you will pick a cheap stereo system, because it makes do much more out of the music you feed it...
True that. There are also many used products that cost less than Sonos but sound far superior. I have a pair of vintage B&W DM4s I picked up at a yard sale 20 years ago for $70. The clarity and natural tonality are much closer to the Wilson than the Sonos.
In some cases I do agree with you. But the Era 300 is kind of unique in its ability to playback atmos content. But for stereo playback, yes. That ability for Atmos gives is such a huge advantage when it comes to sound stage
The best advice for ANYONE into music... and looking for gear .... just needs to understand " Diminishing Returns " There IS a very big difference... but.. it's all a matter ' what level is enough for me ' Listen for references... and spend wisely to get what you can afford.
Name a pair of equal price speakers that would best the Sonos? It doesn't exist. Name a cheaper speaker that would best the Sonos. It also doesn't exist. You're allowed to have an opinion, but factually - you're wrong.
Easy: PSB Alpha AM3, $500 for a pair of very nice powered bookshelf speakers. If you've already got a receiver/amp the P5 is a very nice pair with more oomf since they're larger.
One big point of why people build High-end Audio systems is to be sonically transported to the time and space where a recording happened. When a good speaker system is set up in a properly acoustically treated space, live recording playback should create a realistic illusion of being in the space of the recording. You should audibly "feel" the size of the space and the arrangement or sound stage of musicians in front of you... you can feel the size of music, for example, in a huge church or the intimate space of a tavern etc. I believe that is the biggest point this video missed out on. That is not to say one can't enjoy an orchestral piece through your iPhone speaker... my point is that there are levels to this sh!te (haha) and recreating the visceral experience of what it actually sounds like to be at a concert hall is not easy or cheap. Also, one can spend a fraction of this $370K cost and build a system and a room that can get say 80% "close" to what this system does. In High-end audio getting closer to 100% of what a system like this can do is where things get very expensive like crazy compounding price increases for performance increments of 1% to 5% at a time.
The room acoustics is the most important when you seek hi-end fidelity, start with hire an good room-acustic proffesional and build a good room, then you buy good speakers and amps.
I kind of hate videos like these. Yeah, the huge contrast makes for a flashy demonstration but it totally erases the fact that you can do way better than Sonos at 500 dollars. Sonos is convenient and most people don't want to spend any time connecting components. The small tradeoff in convenience at the 500 dollar point for powered monitors or a small receiver and good bookshelves is well worth it, if audio quality is your primary focus. There's no need to sell organs or refinance your house to get good sound. I've heard Wilson speakers and they are fantastic, but diminishing returns kick in well below their price point too.
You’re missing the fact that wires are obnoxious and very difficult to hide well. And I ain’t about to have wires visible in my audio/office space. Sonos is hella good.
I was thinking the same. Why not put up a pair of 300s so there is a fighting chance to match up the stereo separation? Not that it will hold a candle to the Wilson’s, but it will get a lot closer to a proper AB comparison.
The reviewer is right. Audiophile sound is in the end all about emotion and having a physical connection with the music. All the technology and the money is in service of that.
I bought my first good speaker last year. It's nowhere near those true exceptional speakers. But I chose it in the store because it was the only speaker there that actually made me feel the music. I hesitated spending 2000€ on a speaker. But a year later, I'm sorry I didn't buy the 3500€ "big brother". I sampled the 50.000€ speakers, and that was another step up, but waaaaaaaay above my budget.
You can get an amazing lifelike set of speakers second hand for $ 2,500 or even less. That would eat the SONOS for lunch. FYI Wilson makes amazing speakers for over 90% less than these too.
With 370,000 I could invest in a high dividend ETF and travel every month to go listen to piano concerts in New York at the philharmonic, for the rest of my life.
Yeah but the kinda person who has $370k to drop on this already does those things and much much more. To them it would be like an average person buying both Airpod Max & Bose 700 for $1k.
My Mother and my Aunt played in the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra in 1945-46. My Grandparents were teachers in Colorado and owned a grocery store, theater. They taught both to play the Violin and the Piano starting at the ages of 5 and 6. They had school and house chores. 3 hours a day of music lessons. I think now days that is lost art on raising children. They rest in Sterling, Colorado. My Mom in Tucson Arizona and My Aunt in Golden, Colorado. 🦊
Most of the listeners, should get at least stereo speaker pair. Funny how you never mentioned "stereo" even once, but spoke about micro-adjustments in Willson speakers.
Wilson never used any normal pricing scale. They actually (no kidding) would throw a dart at a chart of prices. They'd then round up the cost to command snob market respect. "Should we charge $93,000? " Nah, round it up to $100,000..." "We don't make speakers for poor people. If you want high fidelity, you have to pay for it." - they've done this since the 80's.
I used to think that this was all marketing BS, but I once visited Chicago to check out the real hi-end, and I got to hear an $87K (in 2009) Vienna Acoustics pair (with some $12K transistor amp), and indeed, I heard for myself that the one thing that these ultra-expensive speakers do well is dynamics. Of course, it is really only symphonic music in which such dynamics is subtle but noticeable, and it requires that the listener must have a frame of reference of a live performance and a recording played through a more reasonable system that costs maybe $5K. That said, whether it is worth $99K to hear that subtle difference is a different issue, LOL.
I have the Wilson Sabrina X which is $24k. Def not cheap, but Wilson doesn’t trickle down their tech, they offer almost of the same tech in all of their lines. Their more expensive speakers have more time correction and can offer more bass. I’ve listened to their $370k and you can get very close for a lot less. Wilson’s requires a perfect setup and very good room treatment. You also need very good amps to push these speakers
@@tofer980 pre owned Sabrina X or tunetot. Hegel or McIntosh amp would be my choice. Spend the rest on a streamer. Worry about the fine tuning upgrades later…nicer cables. Could always look into pre owned gear that goes for half of its original cost.
One thing I have learned working in small studios and moving up to world class, is that no one can describe how good certain speakers sound, you just have to experience it. Try and remember when someone described 4k 3d to you compared to the moment you actually saw it. The first time I listened to Marvin Gaye's let's get it on album on a top tier system it sounded like the band was live in the room. Amazing.
Its was a emotional experience because I widened my eye balls really wide when I said "it was an emotional experience.." and that's definitely what made it more betterer soundy wise.
These are the mid level Wilsons, The top of the line are about $700,000 so the entire system was well over $1M. I listened to Tool for an hour by myself in that room and it was marvelous.
@@aaronrandolph261 No product category defies the rule of diminishing returns. Most would say $20k is the point of diminishing returns for loudspeakers. That's due to inflation. In 2000, when I sold hifi, it was around $8k. We sold Wilson audio and music by Tool and Metallica were commonly played on them.
The best and most remembered system was my first back in 1969. Replacing an old radiogram my mum and dad gave me , to a 401/sme/shure/leak/Goodmans rig, has never been repeated with subsequent systems.
Very well done. Ive had the privilege to demo Wilsons not too long ago and yes, they truly are on a whole other level. No need to close the eyes to suspend disbelief. The asking prices aren't there to just appease the rich, you will hear where each and every dollar went when you power on your rig and play your Wilsons!
And your gullibility. Do they sound amazing? Yes. Are they a total ripoff? Yes. Those drivers are not even their own, i recognize ScanSpeak any time of day.
I think room acoustics is the least understood or appreciated part of the equation for most consumers. Room position and/or treatment is the most inconvenient part of creating quality audio.
Room acoustics is absolutely priority #1 for getting accurate sound. How the speaker is integrated into that room would be priority #2. How the speaker is designed would be priority #3. And then waaayyyyy down at the bottom of the list would be the amplifier and DACs. Put simply, if your DAC and/or your amplification is adding anything to the music, you're not going to hear the music how the artist intended for you to hear it, and that's wrong. All my opinions of course.
Good speaker placement equals a more developed soundstage. A good listening position placement equals a more perceivable enjoyment of the Bass. Hence... speaker positioning, getting the couch off the back wall, room acoustics, then equipment
Very roughly, if we would be standing in a normal sized room, and I were to be talking to you one meter away, you'd be hearing about 50/50 direct sound and room acoustics.
I have heard them at audio shows. They are good, but not the best. They are fun speakers, with strong bass and extended highs, but not the most natural sounding. The Best sound I have heard was the AtmaSphere/Classic Audio Loudspeakers room at a show, trounced Wilson Audio and MBL. Natural, fast, detailed, and able to sound engaging at low volume. Pure Audio Project's speakers w/ 4 woofers and a horn driver were also outstanding, although hard to sya if better than Wilson. I think they were more natural sounding, though, although probably not as flashy at the frequency extremes.
I am particular with what music I’ll listen. This will make me float and send me in deep realm at the same time. I can’t imagine listening a symphony in this expensive and high quality speakers.
If one considered as audiophile and see money as no object, why not. Am semi-audiophile and can hear the big difference between the Sonos and Wilson. Mid-low frequency is just phenomenal on the Wilson VS Sonos is very bright and mono. Its night and day between the two product, but comes at a cost/set up or if one doesn't want to spend so much and want simpler "Plug-n-Play" set up, then Sonos as is. Wilson set is a beauty to behold and a treat to the ear.
"Emotional" "Life" "Soul" etc are words you hear a lot in videos like this. If you are an average man or a sane human being $300 - $2000 setup will be a luxury. You are not gonna miss anything.
If comparing with Sonos, at least give it a chance. Place 4 Sonos One (gen 2's) in four corners and add 2 Sonos Sub Gen 3's at opposite ends. Promise you that you will get a lot more detail and thumping bass, which you would be able to feel.
I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't buy speakers like this if I had the money... Headphones take an amazing place for these making it very personal and intimate experience. I've been fortunate enough to buy Emperyean (open back) by Meze, Radiance by Focal (closed back), LCD-3 by Audeze (open back), NDH-20 by Neumann (closed back), 1990 pro (open back) by Beyerdynamic and finally (my first ever pair in Hifi) HD600 by Sennheiser. My absolute favorite thing is to ask my friends and family what their favorite song is, tell them to sit back and relax and get ready to hear the song like they've never heard it before. Every time elicits an emotional response. There's no talking, only listening. It's really just trying to grasp at your senses as they are overwhelmed in the best way. I love audio, almost nothing makes me happier.
This is actually a very nice summary. I only wish they'd done a nicer job of recording the audio in the room - but it gets the point across either way.
I am an audiophile and used to go to high end audio listening rooms. The best system I ever experienced was Martin & Logan electrostatics with an Entec subwoofer and a Goldmund turntable. Not sure why this piece didn't talk about the source, most audiophiles consider vinyl to be the best source for high-end audio. Interestingly enough, the dealer and I both chose the same test material, White Winds by Andreas Vollenweider, on vinyl of course. It is a flawless recording that demonstrates staging and separation better than any other recording I've ever heard. Currently I own a Linn audio system.
No. You're focusing on the price, while the dimensions and physical spacing of the speakers are so vastly different. Of course a wide true stereo setup will sound better than something that's practically almost mono because everything's cramped in a box. If you'd put average studio monitors next to the big speakers, like Focal Alphas or Yahama HS8, you would have a radically better sound for the same 500 dollars. It wouldn't be as nice as the big boys, obviously, but at least it would be a fair comparison.
Why good speakers cant be sold online is you are unable to experience the quality, without your explanation nobody can judge.....excellent video for audiophiles.
It's always funny when people say things like "It's like you're really there" and then you go to a show and all the speakers used live are just midrange ordinary speakers.
A great video! I think this was well made video that briefs the audio hobby. When you first experience the full tower floorstanding speakers and very well set up hifi system, it changes your world. If you like music, it’s very well worth looking into it. I wish “wired” to cover how each generation think of HiFi audio hobby.
I listened to the Wilson WATT Puppies way back when... they put Yo Yo Ma right into my lap... one of the top 3 speaker experiences of my life... the other top contenders were top of the line Martin Logans, and Klipsch KHorns... all VERY different but VERY good... the Wilsons had tremendous imaging and depth, the ML had AMAZING detail, and the KHorns had amazing realism... mind you all were in different room with different gear and different music... I would have been happy with any of them...
Ahem... Please explain why these would be in any way superior to something like a PreSonus StudioLive 315ai with active cross-overs, coaxial design, balanced inputs, larger bass driver, front-ported, DSP, 2000w and 3-way TRI-AMPLIFIED... For a FRACTION of that ridiculous price?
My $250 (each) Pioneer speakers have exactly the same frequency range (EDIT: actually a wider range, they go 20Hz to 50KHz) Maybe a better comparison could be made.
Binaural microphones to record outside noise at the ear level. That's why he walked around the room, to record how the two speakers change their sound on and off-axis (to either speaker). Edit: clarified text by amending grammar.
@@mateoakira yep, and it's one of the cool recording techniques within the audio hobby that can help demonstrate various effects off sound, remotely! However, this should only be used as a useful tool rather than a 1:1 copy of said effects. Hopefully this info will help others on the explanation of the earphone microphones and binaural recordings!
"The more drivers the more detail you can hear" This is like saying the more tools I get the better I am at crafting. It just isn't true. I have heard two way or even one way full range speakers that sounded terrific. More drivers will not change the fact that the electric signal that drives them is a spectrum of frequences. If one would really want to take full advantage of a maximum amount of drivers, they would have to record every musician in an orchestra separately, then synchonize all the recordings and play them back simultaneously with a full range speaker for each of them. At that point it would probably be easier to just buy the whole orchestra in the first place.
@diver3444 That's the point. They look better. You will find countless speakers in the lowest end market being advertised with buzzwords like "x-way speakers premium" and people are compelled to buy these simply because higher numbers means better in most people's heads. When companies claim this kind of bs on products costing more than a house things stop being funny tho
The number of people able to discern those frequencies is rather small. Many more will actually convince themselves of their own hearing prowess (the rustling of bills must be soothing though).
Enhorabuena! por el video de la comparación más absurda de la historia.... 😠 Ahora podéis hacer otro comparando el sonos con el altavoz de un teléfono móvil....
Buying the $370,000 speakers would be an emotional experience for me too, when my wife divorced me because of it.
@@jopo7996 true but their would be negatives as well
So when do your speakers arrive ?
lol
but now the judge said your wife deserve one of this Wilson speaker lol
Paying this much does not worth, you can have 95% at least with mess than 10% of that money. Hi end is more a luxury than money for audio quality
If you Can aford a 370 $ speaker set ...i doubt she would leave
I'm still on the fence on which one to get
🤣🤣
Honestly, if you just wanna play something quickly on the go, you already have your phone speakers for that. I say go for the Wilsons.
Sell your house and go for Wilsons :)
Lol
LOL
Now how does a $2000 speaker setup sound with the same size and number of drivers compare to the Wilson? That would be a more fair comparison than a relatively portable Sonos speaker.
Cause that was clearly a sonos ad. No one is interested in a fair comparison here
Exactly. 500 dollars is an awful lot for a boombox
I could create a stereo listening experience for $2k that would blow you away. The Wilson's are 100% not worth the cost. They're gorgeous and a statement piece. Truly beautiful but wholly unnecessary to accurately reproduce music.
Exactly. Take a set of $2,000.00 speakers and attach to the same amps driving the 300k speakers. Then see if this guy can hear the difference.
Tbh the Sonos sounded a bit flat and metallic for a 500$ speaker, would love to see a "still affordable" speaker competing
We're in *SERIOUS* mid-life crisis territory here.
It's similar to a Vette vs a Lambo.
Mid-life crisis is a myth, you just ralize that your time here is limited. Once you know, you know.
😂
frfr no cap lmmfao
@@Karto86 oui nö näschink bävd späyce däinn < >
Just bought it after selling the house and adding the entire life savings. It really drowns out the cries of the children due to hunger.
As a recovering audiophile, one thing is that no matter how good your set up becomes, you'll get used to it within a few months. Then it's time to go to the bank for the next big thing, which surprise suprise, you'll get used to as well. In the end you'll end up more time setting up your gear and reading and researching about the gears than actually listening to music.
All i want to say is, enjoy your music. It's doesn't matter if it's coming out of a 10£ earbuds or a 100000£ speaker system.
Thank you. So there is indeed a twinkle of light at the end of the rabbit hole.
It depends upon you; for me the better the sound, the deeper the physiological impact.
I enjoy a song on an ordinary system, where on a good one it becomes a full emotional experience.
been there...
Once your gear hits a certain level, a lot comes down to preference, I guess? It's generally cheaper to achieve the same sound quality with headphones, than with speakers. And the right dsp goes a long way in getting the most out of your system.
All types of addiction have that same similarity... you build tolerance and need a stronger hit.
listening to this on my phone speaker😎
As most people do when watching audio equipment reviews.
And are you happy with the sound?
iPhone speakers are the best in details. 😂😂
where's that "contains an ad" "sponsored content" label
Yup, just a Sonos ad.
Even have a link in the info section
valid
it says in the description: "When you buy something through our retail links, we earn an affiliate commission."
@@juhsticka that's not proper labeling.
The thing about high-end audio systems is the difference in sound separation, staging and clarity between a $500 and a $2,000 system is far greater then the difference between a $2,000 system and a $50,000 system. The difference is even more subtle as you go up in price. Many would not be able to tell the difference between a $50,000 system and the $350,000 system demonstrated in this video.
Bottom line is if you CAN tell the difference and care, and have the resources, then a six-figure audio system is worth it.
That's right! The same applies to headphones...it is very hard to hear a lot of differences between a $ 1,000 headphone and a $ 5,000 headphone, if you haven't a hearing ability, which is way above average..
its the same as wine or other things which require appreciation. if you buy the $1000 wine without many years of experience, you wont even understand it.
@@xfloodcasual8124 Just so 😎
The $350,000+ is not for the system it is only for the speakers which are passive!
Same for many things, diminishing returns.
I’ve been building a hifi room for four years. The pay off is everything when you adore music like I do. I’m $30,000 in so far. Worth every dollar and more.
Make a video on it, I love hifi
The irony is, you'd be hard pressed to find a mastering studio with a pair of speakers worth more than $50,000, and that's already rarefied air. Above that, you're getting into the extremely rare occurrence. Obviously the room itself will be worth a lot of money as well
Indeed. The highest cost studio monitors hover around the $24k region for a pair. Those speakers are the pinnacle. The Wilson?? Eye candy at best.
@@MyFatherLoves Mastering studio speakers are often intended for a completely different purpose and studios wouldn't necessarily spend that kind of money for monitors.
@@VideoArchiveGuy
Well they do
And you'll be surprised how much the acoustic of the room costs.
A flat response is necessary for composing.
@@iamcarl4591 The room treatment is the real value here.
@@_Dav1K Exactly and a pair of 1000-2000USD monitor is quite common
So not a sound investment ?
hehe
Well, at least now I can hear my bank account crying in high fidelity.
Audiophile here. Yes, I see you joke lol ...I think everyone that's involved in this hobby is that understands completely that this isn't a financial investment. But I would say that it is an emotional investment. The main driving force is that we genuinely love music, and when you can create a system that propels you into the music, *that* is what makes it worth it. If you've ever had that tingly feeling when listening to exceptional music, it's that much better whenever you're playing it on a really good system.
Not so much with Wilson Audio, but some brands like Bowers and Wilkins loudspeakers have historically held a value greater than the vast majority of consumer products. For example the Nautilus 805 sold for $2000/pair in 1999, yet a used pair sells for roughly the same amount in 2024. Its not limited to just that one model either.
good job
The thing that annoys me so much about this video is that it frames it as if you either buy a Sonos (or other) streaming speaker OR an unbelievably expensive stereo setup. There are amp and speaker sets at the same price of the Sonos that sound soooo much better than the Sonos. Do yourself the favor and go to a store that sells both and I am sure that you will pick a cheap stereo system, because it makes do much more out of the music you feed it...
True that. There are also many used products that cost less than Sonos but sound far superior. I have a pair of vintage B&W DM4s I picked up at a yard sale 20 years ago for $70. The clarity and natural tonality are much closer to the Wilson than the Sonos.
@@socksumi BUT still a LOOOOONG way to go! Comparing used versus new and passive vs. active is not fair...
Indeed sonos is a lifestyle speaker, not a hifi speaker
In some cases I do agree with you. But the Era 300 is kind of unique in its ability to playback atmos content. But for stereo playback, yes. That ability for Atmos gives is such a huge advantage when it comes to sound stage
frfr no cap
The best advice for ANYONE into music... and looking for gear .... just needs to understand " Diminishing Returns "
There IS a very big difference... but.. it's all a matter ' what level is enough for me '
Listen for references... and spend wisely to get what you can afford.
Now compare that Sonos to a cheaper pair of bookshelf speakers or even one's that are the same price. I think it would still get absolutely destroyed.
I have a sonos one in my bathroom. They are one notch above Bose in terms of thump and sizzle. Even my old NHT C3 blow them into the dirt.
Name a pair of equal price speakers that would best the Sonos? It doesn't exist.
Name a cheaper speaker that would best the Sonos. It also doesn't exist.
You're allowed to have an opinion, but factually - you're wrong.
Easy: PSB Alpha AM3, $500 for a pair of very nice powered bookshelf speakers.
If you've already got a receiver/amp the P5 is a very nice pair with more oomf since they're larger.
@royarguello8509 is this donald trump?
True. Sonos is mono so basically like you are deaf on one ear
listening to a million dollar setup is a life changing experience. i literally cried.
One big point of why people build High-end Audio systems is to be sonically transported to the time and space where a recording happened. When a good speaker system is set up in a properly acoustically treated space, live recording playback should create a realistic illusion of being in the space of the recording.
You should audibly "feel" the size of the space and the arrangement or sound stage of musicians in front of you... you can feel the size of music, for example, in a huge church or the intimate space of a tavern etc.
I believe that is the biggest point this video missed out on. That is not to say one can't enjoy an orchestral piece through your iPhone speaker... my point is that there are levels to this sh!te (haha) and recreating the visceral experience of what it actually sounds like to be at a concert hall is not easy or cheap.
Also, one can spend a fraction of this $370K cost and build a system and a room that can get say 80% "close" to what this system does. In High-end audio getting closer to 100% of what a system like this can do is where things get very expensive like crazy compounding price increases for performance increments of 1% to 5% at a time.
The room acoustics is the most important when you seek hi-end fidelity, start with hire an good room-acustic proffesional and build a good room, then you buy good speakers and amps.
Exactly.
I kind of hate videos like these. Yeah, the huge contrast makes for a flashy demonstration but it totally erases the fact that you can do way better than Sonos at 500 dollars. Sonos is convenient and most people don't want to spend any time connecting components. The small tradeoff in convenience at the 500 dollar point for powered monitors or a small receiver and good bookshelves is well worth it, if audio quality is your primary focus. There's no need to sell organs or refinance your house to get good sound.
I've heard Wilson speakers and they are fantastic, but diminishing returns kick in well below their price point too.
It's a Sonos ad
You’re missing the fact that wires are obnoxious and very difficult to hide well. And I ain’t about to have wires visible in my audio/office space.
Sonos is hella good.
Are we watching the same video? Because what you "hate" is not in this video.
Why not a pair of Era 300’s and a Sonos sub? Price and size difference aside, this is not apples to apples.
I was thinking the same. Why not put up a pair of 300s so there is a fighting chance to match up the stereo separation? Not that it will hold a candle to the Wilson’s, but it will get a lot closer to a proper AB comparison.
Buy $320,000 speakers to play 128kbps mp3 files.
😂
HEY YOU CALM DOWN THERE!! ☝🏿
Like casting pearls before swine 😄
😂
It will still sound better than lossless on a Sonos
Listening to this on my phone speaker
Them 20Hz sounds hitting hard rn
The reviewer is right. Audiophile sound is in the end all about emotion and having a physical connection with the music. All the technology and the money is in service of that.
I bought my first good speaker last year. It's nowhere near those true exceptional speakers. But I chose it in the store because it was the only speaker there that actually made me feel the music. I hesitated spending 2000€ on a speaker. But a year later, I'm sorry I didn't buy the 3500€ "big brother". I sampled the 50.000€ speakers, and that was another step up, but waaaaaaaay above my budget.
You can get an amazing lifelike set of speakers second hand for $ 2,500 or even less. That would eat the SONOS for lunch. FYI Wilson makes amazing speakers for over 90% less than these too.
With 370,000 I could invest in a high dividend ETF and travel every month to go listen to piano concerts in New York at the philharmonic, for the rest of my life.
unless you plan on living less than a year... that could be a nice plan.
otherwise, think twice before you write some nonsense analogy
Yeah but the kinda person who has $370k to drop on this already does those things and much much more. To them it would be like an average person buying both Airpod Max & Bose 700 for $1k.
My Mother and my Aunt played in the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra in 1945-46. My Grandparents were teachers in Colorado and owned a grocery store, theater.
They taught both to play the Violin and the Piano starting at the ages of 5 and 6. They had school and house chores. 3 hours a day of music lessons. I think now days that is lost art on raising children. They rest in Sterling, Colorado. My Mom in Tucson Arizona and My Aunt in Golden, Colorado. 🦊
@@rerikmdork
@@rerikm calm down rerikm, it's just a random youtube comment.
Most of the listeners, should get at least stereo speaker pair. Funny how you never mentioned "stereo" even once, but spoke about micro-adjustments in Willson speakers.
Nice example of price anchoring 😀
Wilson never used any normal pricing scale. They actually (no kidding) would throw a dart at a chart of prices. They'd then round up the cost to command snob market respect. "Should we charge $93,000? " Nah, round it up to $100,000..." "We don't make speakers for poor people. If you want high fidelity, you have to pay for it." - they've done this since the 80's.
Finally a Major-Breakthrough for Loudspeakers !
New Treble Clef Audio TCA-M Active Loudspeakers !
I used to think that this was all marketing BS, but I once visited Chicago to check out the real hi-end, and I got to hear an $87K (in 2009) Vienna Acoustics pair (with some $12K transistor amp), and indeed, I heard for myself that the one thing that these ultra-expensive speakers do well is dynamics. Of course, it is really only symphonic music in which such dynamics is subtle but noticeable, and it requires that the listener must have a frame of reference of a live performance and a recording played through a more reasonable system that costs maybe $5K. That said, whether it is worth $99K to hear that subtle difference is a different issue, LOL.
I have the Wilson Sabrina X which is $24k. Def not cheap, but Wilson doesn’t trickle down their tech, they offer almost of the same tech in all of their lines. Their more expensive speakers have more time correction and can offer more bass. I’ve listened to their $370k and you can get very close for a lot less. Wilson’s requires a perfect setup and very good room treatment. You also need very good amps to push these speakers
I'm wondering what the best audio setup I could get going for around 20k total would be
@@tofer980 pre owned Sabrina X or tunetot. Hegel or McIntosh amp would be my choice. Spend the rest on a streamer. Worry about the fine tuning upgrades later…nicer cables. Could always look into pre owned gear that goes for half of its original cost.
@@StanThePigeon thanks! I'm a complete beginner to speakers cause I'm more of a headphone guy so this is very helpful
@ don’t take my advice until you listen to them.
One thing I have learned working in small studios and moving up to world class, is that no one can describe how good certain speakers sound, you just have to experience it. Try and remember when someone described 4k 3d to you compared to the moment you actually saw it.
The first time I listened to Marvin Gaye's let's get it on album on a top tier system it sounded like the band was live in the room. Amazing.
For that price I'll get a personal orchestra
It's an awful lot of live music trips
Its was a emotional experience because I widened my eye balls really wide when I said "it was an emotional experience.." and that's definitely what made it more betterer soundy wise.
I wonder what Cannibal Corpse sounds like on the Wilsons?
Probably pretty good? Fast drivers are good for fast music. Who would've thunk it...
These are the mid level Wilsons, The top of the line are about $700,000 so the entire system was well over $1M. I listened to Tool for an hour by myself in that room and it was marvelous.
@@brianjacobs967 was it that much better than a killer set of 10k -30k speakers. i bet it did but not 340k more better.
@@aaronrandolph261 No product category defies the rule of diminishing returns. Most would say $20k is the point of diminishing returns for loudspeakers. That's due to inflation. In 2000, when I sold hifi, it was around $8k. We sold Wilson audio and music by Tool and Metallica were commonly played on them.
Like death
What was the musical input? CD? HD stream? Which receiver / amplifier?
So good for podcasts then?
😆
I got a pair of the ERA 300s for 673 shipped around Father’s Day, absolutely love them with my arc and sub.
The best and most remembered system was my first back in 1969. Replacing an old radiogram my mum and dad gave me , to a 401/sme/shure/leak/Goodmans rig, has never been repeated with subsequent systems.
Very well done. Ive had the privilege to demo Wilsons not too long ago and yes, they truly are on a whole other level. No need to close the eyes to suspend disbelief. The asking prices aren't there to just appease the rich, you will hear where each and every dollar went when you power on your rig and play your Wilsons!
And your gullibility. Do they sound amazing? Yes. Are they a total ripoff? Yes. Those drivers are not even their own, i recognize ScanSpeak any time of day.
Had a chance to sample a pair of Vivid Audio G1 Giyas as a part of an audiophile setup. It was unbelievable, definitely a memorable experience
It is an unfair comparisson to use only one sonos, a more reasonable one would be to go with a subwoofer and a sterio pair at least
I wonder how much of the sound quality is down to the cabinet, amplifier, and room acoustics vs the driver itself.
A lot
I think room acoustics is the least understood or appreciated part of the equation for most consumers. Room position and/or treatment is the most inconvenient part of creating quality audio.
Room acoustics is absolutely priority #1 for getting accurate sound. How the speaker is integrated into that room would be priority #2. How the speaker is designed would be priority #3. And then waaayyyyy down at the bottom of the list would be the amplifier and DACs. Put simply, if your DAC and/or your amplification is adding anything to the music, you're not going to hear the music how the artist intended for you to hear it, and that's wrong.
All my opinions of course.
Good speaker placement equals a more developed soundstage.
A good listening position placement equals a more perceivable enjoyment of the Bass.
Hence...
speaker positioning, getting the couch off the back wall, room acoustics, then equipment
Very roughly, if we would be standing in a normal sized room, and I were to be talking to you one meter away, you'd be hearing about 50/50 direct sound and room acoustics.
“How mad do you want to make your neighbors?”
“Yes.”
I m mad since i know my neighbour has a sonos speaker and not a proper audiophile setup
Hearing a Wilson Audio in person is a life changing experience. The sound is better than anything you will hear, other than being at a symphony.
I have heard them at audio shows. They are good, but not the best. They are fun speakers, with strong bass and extended highs, but not the most natural sounding. The Best sound I have heard was the AtmaSphere/Classic Audio Loudspeakers room at a show, trounced Wilson Audio and MBL. Natural, fast, detailed, and able to sound engaging at low volume. Pure Audio Project's speakers w/ 4 woofers and a horn driver were also outstanding, although hard to sya if better than Wilson. I think they were more natural sounding, though, although probably not as flashy at the frequency extremes.
I am particular with what music I’ll listen. This will make me float and send me in deep realm at the same time.
I can’t imagine listening a symphony in this expensive and high quality speakers.
Finally! Someone took the time to actually explain it high level. Not just another specs review crap.
If one considered as audiophile and see money as no object, why not. Am semi-audiophile and can hear the big difference between the Sonos and Wilson. Mid-low frequency is just phenomenal on the Wilson VS Sonos is very bright and mono. Its night and day between the two product, but comes at a cost/set up or if one doesn't want to spend so much and want simpler "Plug-n-Play" set up, then Sonos as is.
Wilson set is a beauty to behold and a treat to the ear.
"Emotional" "Life" "Soul" etc are words you hear a lot in videos like this. If you are an average man or a sane human being $300 - $2000 setup will be a luxury. You are not gonna miss anything.
i like how they used analogies that could be understood by many in much simpler terms.
Jiggery Pokery... is now my new favorite (favourite?) british term.
for people who dont listen to music with their gear, but listen to their gear with music
If comparing with Sonos, at least give it a chance. Place 4 Sonos One (gen 2's) in four corners and add 2 Sonos Sub Gen 3's at opposite ends. Promise you that you will get a lot more detail and thumping bass, which you would be able to feel.
This was brilliant. But can we have a follow up on what the pre amp and amps etc do?
Thank you. I really enjoyed your video 💙
Good to see the stack speaker coming back 🤘😎
Worddd
I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't buy speakers like this if I had the money... Headphones take an amazing place for these making it very personal and intimate experience. I've been fortunate enough to buy Emperyean (open back) by Meze, Radiance by Focal (closed back), LCD-3 by Audeze (open back), NDH-20 by Neumann (closed back), 1990 pro (open back) by Beyerdynamic and finally (my first ever pair in Hifi) HD600 by Sennheiser. My absolute favorite thing is to ask my friends and family what their favorite song is, tell them to sit back and relax and get ready to hear the song like they've never heard it before. Every time elicits an emotional response. There's no talking, only listening. It's really just trying to grasp at your senses as they are overwhelmed in the best way. I love audio, almost nothing makes me happier.
This is actually a very nice summary. I only wish they'd done a nicer job of recording the audio in the room - but it gets the point across either way.
I am an audiophile and used to go to high end audio listening rooms. The best system I ever experienced was Martin & Logan electrostatics with an Entec subwoofer and a Goldmund turntable.
Not sure why this piece didn't talk about the source, most audiophiles consider vinyl to be the best source for high-end audio. Interestingly enough, the dealer and I both chose the same test material, White Winds by Andreas Vollenweider, on vinyl of course. It is a flawless recording that demonstrates staging and separation better than any other recording I've ever heard.
Currently I own a Linn audio system.
Use two of the Sonos speakers for stereo and the Wilson is done!
Personally, my preference these days, is nice set of headphones 🎧 👌
But I absolutely appreciate these huge set ups.
No. You're focusing on the price, while the dimensions and physical spacing of the speakers are so vastly different. Of course a wide true stereo setup will sound better than something that's practically almost mono because everything's cramped in a box. If you'd put average studio monitors next to the big speakers, like Focal Alphas or Yahama HS8, you would have a radically better sound for the same 500 dollars. It wouldn't be as nice as the big boys, obviously, but at least it would be a fair comparison.
Why good speakers cant be sold online is you are unable to experience the quality, without your explanation nobody can judge.....excellent video for audiophiles.
Great video, but also a missed opportunity: You should have added a sub to the Sonos.
And yet all of the music that come out of any of those speakers was mastered on a completely different set!
The absence of sound is what really makes the $370,000 speaker unique.
1:07 at least put a tv in the middle. it looks psychopathic just staring at nothing
😂😂😂
Braindead.
What a world… you think if someone is not staring at a screen they look crazy.
The speakers looks crazy to!
I don’t really think this is a good comparison. It would have been better to compare the Wilson speakers with speakers costing $5k - $15k.
A hi-fi so amazing that,
It can only be heard by a passing bat.
The Wilson speakers are definitely going in my garage and I'm putting my Chiron and Speed-tail between them.
Sensational video, thanks!
This is a great video!!
At $370k + setup leading to a $1M + price, I think one can have a master musician play the grand piano for you in person at least a few times over😊
Ferrari's v12 engine noise makes me more emotional in this price range
It's always funny when people say things like "It's like you're really there" and then you go to a show and all the speakers used live are just midrange ordinary speakers.
Okay how to these stack up with electrostatic ones?
A great video! I think this was well made video that briefs the audio hobby.
When you first experience the full tower floorstanding speakers and very well set up hifi system, it changes your world.
If you like music, it’s very well worth looking into it.
I wish “wired” to cover how each generation think of HiFi audio hobby.
I listened to the Wilson WATT Puppies way back when... they put Yo Yo Ma right into my lap... one of the top 3 speaker experiences of my life... the other top contenders were top of the line Martin Logans, and Klipsch KHorns... all VERY different but VERY good... the Wilsons had tremendous imaging and depth, the ML had AMAZING detail, and the KHorns had amazing realism... mind you all were in different room with different gear and different music... I would have been happy with any of them...
Sponsored content is my passion
I guess these speakers are for people who want to feel the sound waves and their wallets vibrating simultaneously.
Did you put a sub with the sonos?
I heard Dark Side of the Moon on Wilson WITT speakers, one of the lower end 90s models. They live up to the hype 100%.
How does that compare to the Graham Audio LS5/8 ($15,500 US)?
I wish you would include info on which recordings were featured.
The only place you can see and hear these speakers in London - KJ West One ❤ Was also shot there btw
Ahem... Please explain why these would be in any way superior to something like a PreSonus StudioLive 315ai with active cross-overs, coaxial design, balanced inputs, larger bass driver, front-ported, DSP, 2000w and 3-way TRI-AMPLIFIED... For a FRACTION of that ridiculous price?
100% sure those speakers cost around $2000 to manufacture
My $250 (each) Pioneer speakers have exactly the same frequency range (EDIT: actually a wider range, they go 20Hz to 50KHz)
Maybe a better comparison could be made.
The limiting factor is the original recording quality.
7:00 what is he wearing in his ears while listening to the speakers?
Binaural microphones to record outside noise at the ear level.
That's why he walked around the room, to record how the two speakers change their sound on and off-axis (to either speaker).
Edit: clarified text by amending grammar.
@@TheOneInYellowyou are exactly right! I was there on the room and that how we were doing it
@@mateoakira yep, and it's one of the cool recording techniques within the audio hobby that can help demonstrate various effects off sound, remotely! However, this should only be used as a useful tool rather than a 1:1 copy of said effects.
Hopefully this info will help others on the explanation of the earphone microphones and binaural recordings!
"The more drivers the more detail you can hear"
This is like saying the more tools I get the better I am at crafting.
It just isn't true.
I have heard two way or even one way full range speakers that sounded terrific.
More drivers will not change the fact that the electric signal that drives them is a spectrum of frequences. If one would really want to take full advantage of a maximum amount of drivers, they would have to record every musician in an orchestra separately, then synchonize all the recordings and play them back simultaneously with a full range speaker for each of them.
At that point it would probably be easier to just buy the whole orchestra in the first place.
But they look more impressive😂. Lincoln Walsh blew everybody’ mind when he demonstrated his simple OHM A prototype coherent 1 driver speaker
@diver3444 That's the point. They look better.
You will find countless speakers in the lowest end market being advertised with buzzwords like "x-way speakers premium" and people are compelled to buy these simply because higher numbers means better in most people's heads.
When companies claim this kind of bs on products costing more than a house things stop being funny tho
3:48 $1m...nah, thats a huge exaggeration
for the amount of audio quality needed to get the most out of the wilson speakers you would want at least a mil to drop on the whole setup
This is why i stick with high end headphones and iems 😂
I have listened to these in person they are just magnificent, it literally sounds like you are at a concert but yea 370k is a bit steep
"Take a cymbal crash"... shows images of a hi-hat
The number of people able to discern those frequencies is rather small. Many more will actually convince themselves of their own hearing prowess (the rustling of bills must be soothing though).
Enhorabuena! por el video de la comparación más absurda de la historia.... 😠
Ahora podéis hacer otro comparando el sonos con el altavoz de un teléfono móvil....
They sound incredible through my tiny PC speakers! They must be playing @ 32/384?
If you have the time to reply, I’d love to know if Sonos has fixed the reliability issues with AirPlay.
massive law of diminished returns. You can likely spend 50K for an entire system that would get you 98% there of something that is 500K