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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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. 🦊
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.
"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 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.
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...
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Wilson makes the finest speakers on the planet. Super high quality drivers and second to none finishes. Sonos are terrible speakers, hardly clever. Much like Bose speakers, these things are all marketing.
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.
Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of when Edward Kellogg co-invented the dynamic loudspeaker (the one with a coil that needs current to run through it). No one other than me appears to be too excited by it but I am. I have 10 speakers. I will plan a celebration.
You might imagine volumes on these are low. There's 12 months of R&D, tooling, packaging and marketing costs as well as material costs. I doubt they are making as much as you think.
If you have the money why not. I searched for 30 years and for me I get this feeling with my Lipinski Sound speakers. In the end sound is personal, but it does needs to be as close to the real thing as possible.
Don t expect to hear any better sound quality than what the recording engineer heard when mixing through whatever equipment was used in the studio or mastering room.
But how much music is there that's been recorded with the right microphones to capture that frequency range to even make listening on this rig even relevant? My novice guess is not much.
Would have been a nice test to add a second stereo paired Era 300s with a Gen 3 Sub with Atmos music. You could also toss in the Arc or Beam with a second sub for the fun of it.
Honestly, due to hearing damage (temporary or permanent) I have to wonder how many humans will actually hear what is coming out of the higher performance speakers, regardless of the performance per cost ratio. I remember concerts more depending on who I share them with, not the acoustic performance. I think that may be a factor in my audiophile decisions.
If your pallette, being audio, food, etc, cannot discern something that provides more sensory depth, then by all means get the lesson expensive option. It's about ROI. In this example, the Sonos provides 70% of the performance at less than 1% of the cost.
"The more drivers, the more detail you can hear" .. Not always true. Electrostatic speakers (or hybrids like Martin Logans) can cover plenty of audio territory with one driver and have even more detail than nearly all dynamic cone speakers.
Sorry, but tests like this one are pointless because WE ARE LISTENING TO THE SOUND OF THE RECORDER THAT WAS USED TO RECORD THE SOUND. Good recorder - good sound. Bad recorder - 👎
Are these kind of powerful audio setups, limited to the actual recordings of the songs they play? Like surely the tech in some of these ultra powerful set ups would be technically superior to some actual studio recordings?
You do not need $370K speakers to get better sound than the Sonos Era 300. I have the Sonos Era 300 pair with a Sub Gen 3 setup for casual background music in the dining room and another setup with Monitor Audio bookshelf speakers and and an SVS subwoofer for more serious listening. That I consider on the more expensive side having spent a few thousands on it including streamers, amplifier, preamp, DSP processor, turntable, cables and some acoustic panels. There is a stark difference between the two setups. Heck, Sono's own Five Hifi speakers for $1100 a pair will better the Era 300s. Wilson Audio stuff falls into Audio Art category. It is analogous to someone buying a painting for $1million for example.
When comparing a $370k+ audio system to a $500 one, there are clear differences in performance and experience. These differences are relative, much like with watches, wine, houses, or cars. Some might dismiss high-end products because they haven't experienced them, similar to how someone who only drives a regular car might never understand the thrill and experience of driving a Ferrari. Without firsthand experience, opinions are often shaped by cognitive biases and personal perspectives. Additionally, value is subjective; many people prioritize savings or seek the best options within a certain price range or lifestyle. Conversely, those who have experienced high-end products and value the enhancements find the differences worthwhile. Ultimately, it's not about good versus bad, but about understanding how our perspectives, values, and cognitive biases influence our view of luxury purchases.
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
listening to this on my phone speaker😎
As most people do when watching audio equipment reviews.
And are you happy with the sound?
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 < >
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.
@@VideoArchiveGuy I think it's the quality of mids capturing emotion in vocals, but I don't know besides that
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
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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 to see the stack speaker coming back 🤘😎
Worddd
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Listening to this on my phone speaker
Them 20Hz sounds hitting hard rn
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.
yup, why sonos? garbage
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.
@@tieran9491 Some Definitive Technology bookshelf speakers and a cambridge DAC
This was brilliant. But can we have a follow up on what the pre amp and amps etc do?
Great video, but also a missed opportunity: You should have added a sub to the Sonos.
What was the musical input? CD? HD stream? Which receiver / amplifier?
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.
Why not a pair of Era 300’s and a Sonos sub? Price and size difference aside, this is not apples to apples.
So good for podcasts then?
😆
Use two of the Sonos speakers for stereo and the Wilson is done!
I got a pair of the ERA 300s for 673 shipped around Father’s Day, absolutely love them with my arc and sub.
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.
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.
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.
"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 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.
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...
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.
The Wilson speakers are definitely going in my garage and I'm putting my Chiron and Speed-tail between them.
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).
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.
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.
Thank you. I really enjoyed your video 💙
For that price I'll get a personal orchestra
It's an awful lot of live music trips
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
Personally, my preference these days, is nice set of headphones 🎧 👌
But I absolutely appreciate these huge set ups.
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.
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
i like how they used analogies that could be understood by many in much simpler terms.
The only place you can see and hear these speakers in London - KJ West One ❤ Was also shot there btw
The dCS, CH Precision, D’Agostino, Dartzeel and Transparent cable set up is ultra fi
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.
Sensational video, thanks!
Wilson makes the finest speakers on the planet. Super high quality drivers and second to none finishes. Sonos are terrible speakers, hardly clever. Much like Bose speakers, these things are all marketing.
This was such a fun video to shoot. Got to play Many Men by 50 cent on a million pounds sound system
100% sure those speakers cost around $2000 to manufacture
most recording studio equipment used to capture sound falls way short of the level of expense and quality of equipment someone obtains to play it.
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.
This is a great video!!
Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of when Edward Kellogg co-invented the dynamic loudspeaker (the one with a coil that needs current to run through it). No one other than me appears to be too excited by it but I am. I have 10 speakers. I will plan a celebration.
Who would have thought the bigger speaker thingy that can push n mush way more air creates a more physical experience. Its almost unbelievable!!
Simple question; what is the profit margin on the 370k speakers and the Sonos speakers? It should explain some questions… and yes, I do love music.
You might imagine volumes on these are low. There's 12 months of R&D, tooling, packaging and marketing costs as well as material costs. I doubt they are making as much as you think.
The limiting factor is the original recording quality.
If you have the money why not. I searched for 30 years and for me I get this feeling with my Lipinski Sound speakers. In the end sound is personal, but it does needs to be as close to the real thing as possible.
This is why i stick with high end headphones and iems 😂
Don t expect to hear any better sound quality than what the recording engineer heard when mixing through whatever equipment was used in the studio or mastering room.
My sister has Sonos too!
And here I am going to recycle my Sonos 5
LIstening to WILSON and SONOS on my laptop speakers, both sound great, can barely tell the difference😀
But how much music is there that's been recorded with the right microphones to capture that frequency range to even make listening on this rig even relevant? My novice guess is not much.
Id listen to mono recordings on it
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.
Great video, but think I'll just get 822 Era 300's....
Thinking about stacking them up and climbing a Sonos stalk to the moon.
Would have been a nice test to add a second stereo paired Era 300s with a Gen 3 Sub with Atmos music. You could also toss in the Arc or Beam with a second sub for the fun of it.
Honestly, due to hearing damage (temporary or permanent) I have to wonder how many humans will actually hear what is coming out of the higher performance speakers, regardless of the performance per cost ratio. I remember concerts more depending on who I share them with, not the acoustic performance. I think that may be a factor in my audiophile decisions.
“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
If your pallette, being audio, food, etc, cannot discern something that provides more sensory depth, then by all means get the lesson expensive option. It's about ROI. In this example, the Sonos provides 70% of the performance at less than 1% of the cost.
I kinda think symbols are hardee to get accurate playback more then what you were told but it has more range with all its strings and keys.
Today we are going to compare iPhone with the James Webb space telescope.
Does the 370k bs have Bluetooth connection?
I would like to see a comparison with the Panasonic 9000.
Sponsored content is my passion
"The more drivers, the more detail you can hear" ..
Not always true. Electrostatic speakers (or hybrids like Martin Logans) can cover plenty of audio territory with one driver and have even more detail than nearly all dynamic cone speakers.
I would like to hear Venetian Snares on that rig.
Sorry, but tests like this one are pointless because WE ARE LISTENING TO THE SOUND OF THE RECORDER THAT WAS USED TO RECORD THE SOUND. Good recorder - good sound. Bad recorder - 👎
Making a video about the equipments used to record the audio probably makes more sense lol
Are these kind of powerful audio setups, limited to the actual recordings of the songs they play? Like surely the tech in some of these ultra powerful set ups would be technically superior to some actual studio recordings?
Anytime "emotional" is brought up, you know they selling you your own imagination.
You do not need $370K speakers to get better sound than the Sonos Era 300. I have the Sonos Era 300 pair with a Sub Gen 3 setup for casual background music in the dining room and another setup with Monitor Audio bookshelf speakers and and an SVS subwoofer for more serious listening. That I consider on the more expensive side having spent a few thousands on it including streamers, amplifier, preamp, DSP processor, turntable, cables and some acoustic panels. There is a stark difference between the two setups. Heck, Sono's own Five Hifi speakers for $1100 a pair will better the Era 300s.
Wilson Audio stuff falls into Audio Art category. It is analogous to someone buying a painting for $1million for example.
Love how he clarifies the distinction between speakers and drive units, then refers to drive units as speakers not 30seconds later! 😂
1:07 at least put a tv in the middle. it looks psychopathic just staring at nothing
😂😂😂
Braindead.
A hi-fi so amazing that,
It can only be heard by a passing bat.
When comparing a $370k+ audio system to a $500 one, there are clear differences in performance and experience. These differences are relative, much like with watches, wine, houses, or cars. Some might dismiss high-end products because they haven't experienced them, similar to how someone who only drives a regular car might never understand the thrill and experience of driving a Ferrari. Without firsthand experience, opinions are often shaped by cognitive biases and personal perspectives. Additionally, value is subjective; many people prioritize savings or seek the best options within a certain price range or lifestyle. Conversely, those who have experienced high-end products and value the enhancements find the differences worthwhile. Ultimately, it's not about good versus bad, but about understanding how our perspectives, values, and cognitive biases influence our view of luxury purchases.
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....
Listening to this on my cheapo $20 computer speakers