Wilson Audio X-1/NY!

VR3 · June 2003

Hey Peeps, Some of you know, some of you dont. If you know probally because I was so excited I had to instant message people without warning and share the news! lol! Well We are leaving for NY tonight, and we will arrive sometime Saturday morning. Then we will leave Sunday morning. Your probally asking what the use of that is. Well My Dad promised me that we could go hear the Wilson X-1s. However, he would only go as far as NY. Well, their NY. So were going. I have to be back by Sunday night because of Driver's Ed. Anways. I will post a full review and pics of course of my adventure!!

VR3 · June 2003

Well, Im back.
Might I say. My driver's ed teacher has told me for the past week people get the right of way allllll the time. Well I have news for him, He needs to go to NY; and stand in the middle of the road and tell me if he gets the right of way. Man I was crossing the street and all the sudden *HONK* and a big ol bus was headed my way. man, I was jettin it. I love the city there tho, no lines to go by, everything is there, and all those dang taxies. MILLIONS of taxies!!! It was awesome! I saw some amazing buildings, went into the MONH. I just saw alot in less than 15 hours. We saw Bruce Almighty at this theatre that could probally seat 20,000+ people. It was huge. Might I say, AWESOME SOUND! and VIDEO! I mean they had to have atleast 10 subwoofer, we sat half way, and it was pounding me in the chest. The sound was awesome. Bruce Almighty is effin hilarious. *and my nipples went to france*. Anyway, you guys are probally reading this to read my review on the Wilson Audio X-1's huh? Well, I guess I could get to it, or I could plainly keep sitting here talking about how much fun New York is. Either way, I will eventually get to it. How about I start it now? ok, I will.

Ok, in alot of my reviews, there is always the but and the except it cant do this and this. Well I have bad news for ya, there are no excepts and buts in this review. This speakers is AWESOME. I cant stretch is out as far as how AWESOME it really is. Maybe I can give you an idea though. LoL!

Looks -

Finish: The finish is nothing like I have ever seen before. The speaker was finished in a high gloss black. It looked amazing, stunning, it was mouth dropping awesome. That is just how amazing this speaker looked. It literally disappeared with the light off, and when the light on it shined like a brand new car. The paint is just a class A work.

Grills: The grills were attached by velcro, but the grill itself were extremely high quality. Nothing cheap about them. The larger grills over the 12 and 15 inch woofers probally weighed 5 pounds. Just by how it sounded when the salesman layed them down. The craftsmanship of the grill material was just amazing looking. It just made Polk grills look like a paper plates.

Drivers: The woofers on this speaker were probally the coolest looking woofers and tweeters I have ever seen. The Midranges had this, hypnotizing, swirly type look to them and I just could not believe how awesome the drivers alone looked. The tweeter alone cost 4,000 bucks. Thats as much as Polk's TOTL, heck - thats more. lol. The Tweeter was honestly the most unusual tweeter I have ever seen. It was a dome tweeter - inverted. It looked so cool. The woofers were awesome looking. They have a clear dot in the center of the dust cap so you can see inside the voice coil I suppose. It makes them look pretty cool. Other than that, the woofer is pretty much plain looking.

Size: This speaker is not joking around. It is by far the most intimidating looking speaker I have come across. It has this look of war. Like it is daring any speaker to come against it. It just looked as if it were staring you in the eye daring you to challenge any speaker against it. The speaker was just huge, probally weighed 500-700 pounds each. They were just huge. You have to see them to believe it.

Sound:

Highs - The highs on this speaker are like NOTHING I have EVER HEARD. CRYSTAL CLEAR. Totally smooth. and NEVER harsh. The hi-hats(sp) on the drums were totally life-like. The cymbals, the snare - it was done - p-e-r-f-e-c-t. The entire high end of this speaker was done with total clarity and realism. This speaker could make even Sean go bonkers. This speaker is nothing short of amazing. It is mouth dropping really.

Mids: The mids on this speaker are CRYSTAL. They have the sense of life in them. It is actually like the singer/guitarist/bassist are all in the room with you. This speaker just totally blew me away. The clarity, the sonic quality of it was just outside this world real. It was actually like a live concert that sounded perfect. A live concert dosnt describe it, it sounded like a sympaphy (sp). It sounded perfect in everything we threw at it.

Bass: I read this in a review once *it was like my clothes walked away from me*. Man I tell ya, for music, this speaker has terendous amounts of bass. Scary bass really, it is TIGHT, ACCURATE, and VERY deep sounding. It was pounding my chest like a bass drum was 2 feet away from me. The only problem, and I guess this is a but and an except. However this is to be expected. It does need a subwoofer for home theatre. It just dosnt provide that SLAM that most HT freaks wants. However for music, for music it was totally amazing. You will be reading, Amazing - Awesome - Crystal Clear all through out this review, so get use to it.

Instruments -

Guitar: The guitar on this speaker was simply unreal. On one song, we could actually hear it out of tune. In another, we could hear the guitarist pluck the strings to hard, miss a string. We could actually hear the pick moving string to string. It did every note, from high E to low E. It did it with perfection and ease. It was actually like the guitarist was sitting RIGHT there in the room with you. I was floored by this, because I love guitar solos and this speaker just layed it down man.

Bassist: This speaker has deep bass. My Dad talked the man to playing the speaker close to concert level. Man the bass guitar is was simply amazing. The strings rolled off so smoothly, not missing a note. If the bassist messed up, it showed it. A truly and deadly honest speaker. The bass guitar was just chest pounding, it was as if the bassist was sitting right there in a chair just taking a hammer and smashing it across your chest. It sounded so natural, so smooth, so full and deep. Words clearly DO NOT describe how it sounded. I could NOT believe it.

Drums: The bass drum just kicked you straight in the head. The snare sounded so natural, so real. It had that ring to it, where it sounded as if the drummer were only a couple feet away playing along to your favorite songs. The cymbals, they roll off with a certain tixture. Like a tang sound, totally natural. The cymbals just sounded so real, so lifelike. No Words can really describe ANY of the things I heard. Im just trying to describe it. Honestly, it was SONICALLY PERFECT.

Sax: This was honestly amazing. I mean you could hear the sax player blowing into the sax. You could hear the texture of a real sax sound. It was unreal. This was the thing that floored me the most. They sounded SO real in this area it wasnt even funny. If you ever hear these speakers, bring a sax recording with you. It is worth the listen. It sounds so real. So lifelike. Its just clearly amazing.

Vocals: Here is where the light shines and it just makes other speakers sound like jensen outdoors. The male vocals have such realism and depth. The texture of the human voice is astounding. The female vocals are excellant, they never perceive to be harsh. This speaker sounds just like as if the singer was right there. You could actually hear the sound roll off the singers tounges. Thats actually how real is sounded. It was just like being right beside the singer, with them singing to you with no microphone or anything. It was simply world stopping, thats just how awesome it sounded. To put this speaker in perspective, we listened to this, then some fabors. This speaker honestly made it sound like a car speakers. Thats how much better it sounded. It literally smashed a pair of 8,000 dollar speakers. It took it with a sledge hammer and drove it 400 feet into the ground. If you ever get a chance to hear them, get a cd with excellant vocals, and take it with you. It is worth listening to fine singing on these speakers. They sound so real, so much depth, texture is involved with the sound. It is honestly world shattering.
(Continued on Next Post)

VR3 · June 2003

Soundstage: This speakers soundstage is by far the best I have heard. It just seperates EVERYTHING. You can honestly pick out everything and anything that is going on on the stage. Its just like it takes this part of the music, this part, etc, and just lays them on the floor and lets them play one by one - then puts them together. That is just how seperated it was. Stuff was behind you, beside you, infront of you, inside you. This speaker was just earth shattering. It positioned everything the way it was meant to be positioned. This speaker was just mouth dropping. It is one of those speakers you have to sit there and listen to for about 5 minutes to actually get use to what you are hearing. That is just how awesome it sounds. It sounds so real, so lifelike, the depth and clarity of it is just undescribable. That is just how awesome the soundstage of this speaker was. It totally smashed the fabors.

Overal -

Sound: This speaker sounds as good as they say it does. It honestly is like a live concert. The bass, the sound, the imaging, the instruments, everything it does is just amazing. I could easily believe it is one of the best speakers in the world. It could play at concert levels and still stay amazingly clean. Even at concert levels it kept its clarity and soundstage. It was NEVER jumbled together or misleading. It was totally true, the bass was tight, and deep - never boomy. The speaker was just everything reviewers have said it to be. It is just so amazing, words alone do not describe just how it sounds. The speakers just dissapear in the room, if the lights were turned off you would ask the manager if they moved a live band in there. That is just how clear and lifelike it sounds.

Looks: This speaker is not justified by pictures. Infact, by pictures I would literally say it is by far the most ugly speaker I have ever come across in my life. The speaker in real life however is totally different in that perspective. The speaker has this design, the finish - so clean looking, almost like a new car that has never been rained on. The grills were all seperate, one for the tweeter. One for top midrange, one for bottum midrange. Then a large grill for the 2 bottum woofers. This design is totally unusual to me yet I loved the way it looked. This kind of design gave it this look like, and your point....is.....? lol! It is just an amazing looking speakers, pictures - words - they are not worthy to describe or show how awesome they look. Seeing them with your own eyes gives them the glory. They are truly amazing looking.

In The End: They were well worth 600 miles of driving to hear and see. They made me leave in awe. They just sound so real, so lifelike. It is just worth to hear them. They make u disgusted by anything else you listen to. A 8,000 a pair Sonus Fabors sounded like a car speaker in comparison. That is just how awesome they sound. They were just worth the ride up there. I suggest everyone to hear them, these speakers would even make scottvamp to shut up :rolleyes:.

Anyways, I enjoyed New York. Man I tell ya, Northern states try to rip you off. There was a toll for every bridge and highway we entered. Also, I dunno whats the deal, but we saw atleast 20+ wrecks also. Some reason the traffic persisted to completely stop - look at the wreck - then go. It was the most annoying thing. New York to MD it was just annoying. Anyways, I have been writing this review for like 2 hours now. I am going to end it. I hope you enjoy it.

dthomps · June 2003

Hey SiD
Good read. One of the best reviews you have written, and it seemed to be for the most part fairly objective. Thanks a lot for that, it shows that you spent some serious time writing that.
I do have one question thuough, what kind of equipment was driving the beasts?
Take it easy bro.
Mike

gidrah · June 2003

http://www.wilsonaudio.com/products/x1/index.html
This is the link incase anybody is wondering what he's talking about.
I've never had the pleasure of hearing them. I wish I had. Did you listen to them at low levels? How long did you listen to them? I've read that after a few hours they get fatiguing. Then again this is most often said by people that would probably consider my rigs to be fatiguing from the start.

One thing that interests me is the high sensitivty and yet the 20w/ch minimum recommendations.

VR3 · June 2003

Mark Levingston, all da way. 300 watt monoblocks. We listened to them from levels of 70db all the way up to 110. They never became harsh.

Dr. Spec · June 2003

Great review, Sid. You join the elite class who has heard the Wilson X1 - I'm jealous.

This is one of the premier speakers in the world. Also noticed the woofs are ported.

Suggestion: In the future, break up your comments into reasonably sized paragraphs. It will make your posts far easier on the eyes and quicker to read/comprehend.

Doc

pjdami · June 2003

Nice review Sid.

Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed review and sharing your experience. Sounds like an awesome demo. At almost $80,000 / pair these speakers better blow away a lot of the competition.

You have an uncanny ability to remember a lot of little details and put them on paper. Totally cool one liners in there too, "these speakers looked like they were ready for war"..... and "the finish was like a brand new car" ... I love that.

Paul

VR3 · June 2003

Sean, He wants the finest of everything. He does plan to buy a pair.

Doc, Ill do some spacing between paragraphs, and thanx everyone for the comments. NY did rock and it is unforgettable.

DarqueKnight · June 2003

Great review sid.

My first trip to NYC was a week spent there in November when I was 17. It was like watching a television show the whole time I was there. I even saw a guy across the street being held up at gunpoint. I was expecting New Yorkers to be extremely rude, but most of the folks I met on that trip and subsequent trips were very friendly.

VR3 · June 2003

Thanx. Yes everyone in NY was very friendly. Just not very patient people. They talk to fast to. I understand why yall think us southerns are stupid. Yall talk so fast - and we have to go HUH! lol! NY is fun!

pjdami · June 2003

They talk to fast to. I understand why yall think us southerns are stupid.

Yes. I went to D.C. last year and when I met some people and told them I was from Louisiana they couldn't believe it. They thought I was from Brooklyn. Us Nawlins folk have a Brooklyn accent for some reason. Baton Rouge where I went to college (LSU in the college baseball world series AGAIN...Woh Hooh!!!) is very country speaking.

No I don't paddle a pirogue (canoe) to work everyday either on a bayou. So forget about that Adam Sandler "Waterboy" movie; a true funny exaggeration of life down here.

And yes, I've met plenty of Yankee folk who are very very nice people too. A bit in a hurry sometimes...but so goes life...

Paul

Tour2ma · June 2003

Well done lil' Bro... very well done indeed.

Can't decide whether I want to call you "Wilson" or "X-1" from now on...

F1nut · June 2003

I vote for "Wilson"

VR3 · June 2003

oo sheat. Wilson. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Thanx tour....lol! thanx alot!! I prefer Vr3MxX-12k3....lol thats purdy cool

F1nut · June 2003

After a short IM with da man, it seems as though the name Mx "Sid" Wilson would be prefered.

VR3 · June 2003

Yall are on crack. All of you.

Im out, gotta catch the snoozer

Tour2ma · June 2003

Fine with me... Wilson sounds too much like a name for a bloody volletball anyway...

How 'bout "mX-1"???

VR3 · June 2003

How about Insomniac mX-1...lol.....cause right now i cant sleep at all

Tour2ma · June 2003

So then it's "ImX-1"??? Aw, eff it... let's stick with Sid...

So school out yet, lil' Bro?

VR3 · June 2003

Yep, its been out since May 23rd. Right now I am in driver's ed class. After driver's ed I am going back to work. If it weren't for driver's ed I would already have another amp. Dangit. Sid is cool with me. Thats my name. Everyone knows me by it, so why not...lol. However I hope everyone knows my name is really Trey and not sid.....lol. *sigh* Hey Tour, check out my new layout on my website, im just bored - I did this last night at like 4 am-5am..lol.. http://www.alektra.com/MyProfile.html

Tour2ma · June 2003

Very nice... Artist, web designer and poet?? Is "The Tunnel" yours? A little dark, but I liked it... then again I was a big Poe fan as well. Also stole your American Eagle pic... very nice.

Ever tackled Robert Burns, the national treasure of Scotland? Bit tough, given that it's about half-English and half-Gaelic, but I think you'd like "The Tam O'Shanter".

Couldn't find your Guest Book this time tho...

VR3 · June 2003

It is right below the navigation. Yes, I wrote the 2 poems. Thanx. Nah, Im not a big fan of big books. LoL, but ill look into it next time I go to a library. Thanx about the eagle picture. I dont like drawing animals, but ive drew quite a few this year for different people.

Tour2ma · June 2003

I say this in all seriousness... Trey, you've got more than a little talent. I'd like to see some more, if you care to e-mail some of the past pieces you've posted.

You might even consider sending some of your poetry to a publication or two. You may not earn enough for the Wilsons, but maybe some new RT12's and an SVS... Think about it...

VR3 · June 2003

Thanx man, I really don't have anymore work on my computer - but I can scan some up for ya. Nah, my poems are a tad to personal for me to publicize. (sp). Thanx though.

HaHa, I feel sorry for you - your bout to see my imagination on paper. @_@. lol! Well, I have a few drawings from where I looked at one thing, then drew it. Then I have my imagination. LoL, Ill scan them up for you after driver's ed.

VR3 · June 2003

I sent ya 3 pics tour. Let me know what ya think. I gotta head to driver's ed. Ill ttul. Thanx for the compliment again!
~Mx~

Tour2ma · June 2003

You've got mail...

VR3 · June 2003

You-ou-ou-u gah-ot mail! lol! AOL on dial up there.

Wilson Audio X-1/NY!

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