A really great speaker, one of my fav.

[Florian]

If anyone on here is looking for a speaker that just makes good music and is pretty affordable check this out. This is one of my fav. box speaker!

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1135020910

[kexodusc]

Nice speaker, but how much does he want for the Macs in the background???

4" thick MDF baffle? I'd hate negotiate the shipping for that one....talk about damping.
Those things are bullet-proof!!!

Impressive specs for a 10" woofer in a sealed cabinet. Very impressive!

[topspeed]

Nice speaker, but how much does he want for the Macs in the background???

$2695. Check the seller's "other items."

This guy is either a dealer or crazy. The amount of equipment is mind boggling. I can recognize Mac, Pass, and McCormack. The black pre's with the silver nobs might be Primare or Hovland, but it's too blurry to tell. All incredible stuff, nonetheless.

I've always wanted to audition Hale's, but they are hard to find in the states.

[Florian]

The Hales T3's were the first speaker that i really liked. The even beat the Wilson Watt Puppys in my book. The T8's are still on my wish list of speakers to own. Unfortunatly Hales no longer exists, so these are pretty rare.

Flo

[topspeed]

Which W/P's did you hear, Flo? The WP7's blew me away and many have said they sound much more musical than the previous gen's, which were apparently too analytical.

[Florian]

Well it was 5 years ago, so whichever model was "in" at that time i guess.

-Flo

[RGA]

Nice speaker, but how much does he want for the Macs in the background???

4" thick MDF baffle? I'd hate negotiate the shipping for that one....talk about damping.
Those things are bullet-proof!!!

Impressive specs for a 10" woofer in a sealed cabinet. Very impressive!

Sound Plus on Broadway carried hales I heard there top of the line speakers and a another model which was around $7,000.00Cad connected to a $90,000.00 front end Of big Krell and the Linn CD 12 which is a $30,000.00Cad CD player. The Hales were pretty good but I preferred much cheaper speakers the dealer carried. Hales folded and that same dealer is now carrying Wilson and Dynaudio. The Sophia is a nice speaker but at $16k I often wonder why Wilson is the go to speaker when people compare -- probably due to price and the fact that Stereophile loves them for some unknown reason. I'm not surprised they went under - and I won't be when consumers figure out Wilson.

[topspeed]

I often wonder why Wilson is the go to speaker when people compare -- probably due to price and the fact that Stereophile loves them for some unknown reason.

Or, God forbid, it could be they actually like their sound . Respect isn't given, it's earned. Just because you don't, doesn't mean other people agree with you.

I'm not surprised they went under - and I won't be when consumers figure out Wilson.

What an asinine statement. Which consumers would that be? The ones that have made the W/P the most popular hi-end speaker in the last 25 years? Don't forget, Dave Wilson has been successfully building speakers for decades now. He may not have the financial reserves of Peter, but he likely has a larger client base. Of couse, the very nature of the hi-end is so fly-by-night as it is, I wouldn't be surprised to see the majority of purveyors play Casper .

[Florian]

Hey Topspeed your forgetting something! It cost Peter 50$ to build those IKEA speakers and he find people that buy them for 4000$.....its no wonder he stays in bizz

Companys that close are all bad. Genesis has been bankrupt 3 times, Pipedreams are no longer, neither is Hales and Infinity only made it cause they stopped building world class speakers. Apogee died because they just sucked, you didnt know? And Wilson will die soon too, since they AudioNote is kicking it up a notch by using hotglue instead of a sticking system

-Flo

[RGA]

Or, God forbid, it could be they actually like their sound . Respect isn't given, it's earned. Just because you don't, doesn't mean other people agree with you.
What an asinine statement. Which consumers would that be? The ones that have made the W/P the most popular hi-end speaker in the last 25 years? Don't forget, Dave Wilson has been successfully building speakers for decades now. He may not have the financial reserves of Peter, but he likely has a larger client base. Of couse, the very nature of the hi-end is so fly-by-night as it is, I wouldn't be surprised to see the majority of purveyors play Casper .

I know an Ex Wilson owner (and what he replaced them with) and I've directly heard the Sophia -- have you? The Sophia is a good speaker but at $16k connected to a $50k front end in a professionally set-up room that was strictly made for the Wilsons. It was far from a speaker that made me think I was not listening to a speaker and it was not free of problems. For what it's worth at least the Hales were not as overpriced. Umm what statistical evidence do you have that Wilson is the most popular speaker in the high End -- High End is a lame word that means high priced most of the time. Financial reserves are created by selling thousands of speakers and products and saving money by not "thanking reviewers" with advertising revenue to keep them in a job. I don't see what they have to do with my comments on two speaker companies. I heard Hales well before the main speakers I have and that was what I felt about them way back then. The Sophia I worte and reviwed here and liked but they don;t have the bass depth I am use to nor the integration and "as one" to the sounds of instruments that I would like. It's the price I balk at and wonder if there are shoppers buying on price and prestige than on merit. The Gershman X1/Sub 1 is IMO a similar sounding but better IMO better sounding option than the Sophia for about $11k less money. But if it's about prestige and gotta have it because a mag says so and I need to be somebody important through what I buy then hey spend the $11k extra - what do I care.

[theaudiohobby]

I know an Ex Wilson owner (and what he replaced them with) and I've directly heard the Sophia -- have you? The Sophia is a good speaker but at $16k connected to a $50k front end in a professionally set-up room that was strictly made for the Wilsons. It was far from a speaker that made me think I was not listening to a speaker and it was not free of problems.

You do not like the speaker...or is the AN 20K speaker you speak fondly of, perfect?

But if it's about prestige and gotta have it because a mag says so and I need to be somebody important through what I buy then hey spend the $11k extra - what do I care.

From someone who trumpets the virtues of speakers costing USD85K (all silver AN-E) 18K DACs (DAC 5 blah blah blah ) and 78K power amplifiers (Ongaku) this is rich.

[topspeed]

I know an Ex Wilson owner (and what he replaced them with) and I've directly heard the Sophia -- have you?

No. I've listened to the WP7's.

For what it's worth at least the Hales were not as overpriced.

My problem with your post wasn't your opinion of the Hales. As I stated, I've never heard any Hales so I have no opinion of them. The implication from your post in question was that people only like Wilson speakers because they blindly follow Stereophile and TAS. You added to that by opining that once these supposed blind-sheep consumers "figures out" Wilson, they too will go out of business. "Figure out" what? Methinks you consider your own opinion too highly...

Umm what statistical evidence do you have that Wilson is the most popular speaker in the high End

I remember this from the Robert Harley's review of the WP7. I'm too lazy to look up which issue it was. If it's that important to you, do a google.

Financial reserves are created by selling thousands of speakers and products and saving money by not "thanking reviewers" with advertising revenue to keep them in a job.

As you're into statistics, I'll gladly wait for your links proving this assertation.

t's the price I balk at and wonder if there are shoppers buying on price and prestige than on merit.

These are luxury goods, so naturally prestige factors into the equation. However, the tone of your post was that the Wilson's are more marketing than substance, and that is simply wrong. If you don't like their speakers, fine. Your statement, "I'm not surprised they went under - and I won't be when consumers figure out Wilson" is essentially calling out everyone that does. In fact, you're insulting them.

[Geoffcin]

If anyone on here is looking for a speaker that just makes good music and is pretty affordable check this out. This is one of my fav. box speaker!

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1135020910

Original boxes and manuals too.

The guy's got a sweet setup!