[nathanm]

Have you guys checked out the sweet CES pics at Audiogon?  It's a treat for the 'ol eyes.  Anyway, so I come across this shot of some Wilson speakers:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/ces.pl?&AP_1558_a&RoomView

What in the hell are they thinking with those baffle covers?  I mean, I thought this was supposed to be this world class speaker fit for kings, finished in the finest automobile paint jobs and all that.  But what's with the $2.99 velcro job?  It looks like they picked up a roll of velcro over at Sally's Arts and Crafts Emporium and slapped it on there.  I'll give them credit, they at least graduated from the wretched octagon cutouts, but you're telling me I'm supposed to cough up 40 grand for what looks like an upper class DIY project?  Are embedded magnets too much to ask for a speaker that costs as much as a condo?  

Am I crazy?  Am I asking too much?  Would you seriously be able to yank off the grilles on these babies, look your friends straight in the eye and tell them how much they cost and not expect them to roll on the floor in a fit of laughter?  In a few months you know damn well that velcro's gonna be all gooey and peeling off and looking even more ratty than when you bought 'em.  How they can go to all that painstaking effort cobbling those cabinets and then deface them like that is beyond me. I just don't get it!

Well, it's okay. We've always got the Italian designers to pick up the slack.  These Zingali sculptures are quite an eyeful.  Not a stitch of velcro in sight!

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/ces.pl?&AP_2002_a&RoomView

[Andrikos]

Nathanm,
the "eye-sore" option is $1500.
I wish you could see the std finish!

Them zingalis is nice! What's with the water hose behind them?

[michael w]

nathan old chum you shouldn't judge the finish of the Wilsons by some murky digital pix...

 

IRL they look much, much better.
Finish and construction is easily as good as a Lexus or Audi and makes a Benz or BMW look crappy.

 

The Velcro grilles may look DIY but Wilson reckons they are the least aurally offensive approach.

And I've yet to see any DIY project that comes even close.
Several guys have attempted DIY Wilson clones and eventually gave up as the cost of their efforts came worringly close to a real pair of Wilsons.

 


cheerio

[nathanm]

Huh? Those pics are anything but murky!  Albert Porter managed to fit a dandy wide angle lens into his budget somewhere! For indoor shots, they are very good.

I'm not saying the rest of the speaker isn't stellar, it's the hokey velcro strips on there.  I mean, there should be a higher standard here I think, that's all.  Something with more class, that actually look like somebody put some thought into it.

Besides, if you can afford these things I would suggest that children and cats not even be allowed anywhere near them. Or else, you could have a laser security system that zaps anyone who even points their finger within 24" of the tweeters!  Heck, why are there even grilles in the first place?

If they were so classy why did Stereophile rubber stamp out the velcro for their cover shot? *tsk tsk tsk*

[Sa-dono]

And I've yet to see any DIY project that comes even close.
Several guys have attempted DIY Wilson clones and eventually gave up as the cost of their efforts came worringly close to a real pair of Wilsons

I'm not sure where you've been. I've seen at least one..and I'm sure there are more.

[michael w]

If they were so classy why did Stereophile rubber stamp out the velcro for their cover shot?  *tsk tsk tsk*

Because Stereophile hire crap cover photographers ?
Hi Fi News had no problem with unmolested pictures of naked Wilson System 7's for their cover.

 

[WerTicus]

geezus 40k for a speaker! and oh lo and behold the scan speak midrange driver... worth... (opens electronics cat) $269 aust.

lol diy anyone?


also... michael w.. are you kidding?  try doing something like this

http://home.hetnet.nl/~geenius/Andromeda.html  

for the cost of this speaker you can build 10 vs one wilson

[michael w]

The build and finish of those is distinctly DIY.

Like I said not even close to a Wilson.


cheerio

[WerTicus]

michael the build and finish is totally up to you... its only a design.

tkae the design to an expert crafts man if your not one yourself and give him 5k to make it and your going to get anything you want!

[Mathew_M]

What so special about the Wilson cabinet?  Looks pretty average to me.  

Here's a more aesthetically exotic looking speaker for the same cost as one of the Wilson's speaker spikes:




 

[WerTicus]

yeah and one that uses the same scan speak driver... or maybe the 5" version but no the less the same cost!

[nathanm]

The build and finish of those is distinctly DIY.  Like I said not even close to a Wilson.

Come on now, give the man some credit - those things are amazing!  'DIY' can't be used in a derogatory fashion here - this guy's design  is too hardcore.  Gee's Andromeda speaker differs from the Wilson look in that it's a wooden finish as opposed to mirrored gloss.  If he either painted or used gloss laminate to finish off this speakers they would have that look easily.  Wood suggests a homemade object whereas glossy, plastic or metallic textures suggest a professional object.  It's just a psychological thing.

But in the spirit of the original post, if it were me I would simply omit the grilles entirely - no plastic plugs, no velcro.  In this case I would rather have Gee's design than the velcro strips.  Don't you think there should be something superior to both grille-attachment methods on a speaker commanding a price like that?  That's all I'm saying.

[Carlman]

I think the ring around each of the drivers should be solid, with no screws showing at all.  My B&W minipods had a rubber gasket that complimented the design of the rest of the speaker and hid the front of the basket, the screws, etc.  If they can do it, so can a 40,k speaker.  

A 40,k pair of speakers should consider EVERY single F'ing LAST DETAIL.  The cabinet should look perfect and have a seamless design.  It should be well thought out and have some very cool methods applied that make it work both visually and sonically.  They should make me think, "wow, that was really clever the way they did that"....

Additionally, I'd think the purchase would demand superlative customer service... as in a guy that came over and checked the setup, and to make sure I was happy, etc.  Maybe even brought a bottle of champagne... for real, I'd expect this.  I mean, they're making at least 30-35,k so, why not?

I would think CES would've been reeling in the whales since it was in Las Vegas...  who else buys 40,k speakers?

[WerTicus]

heck if i could put 40k into a speaker i would commission someone like Gee to make me his 'best ever yet'!

i would pay him half now half later