nicholas9976 Posted June 18, 2017 Posted June 18, 2017 Item: Wilson Alexandria X2 series 2 speakersPrice Range: NegotiableItem Condition: UsedExtra Info: I am looking to try other high-end used speakers from previous years if the price is competitive (so I don't have too much trouble or lose money if I need to resell them). Specifically I am looking to buy a pair of Wilson Audio Alexandria X-2 series 2 loudspeakers. If you know a set that may be coming up for sale please PM me.
aasza Posted June 18, 2017 Posted June 18, 2017 (edited) Only $80K http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wilson-Audio-Alexandria-X2-speakers-in-excellent-used-condition-/263034498181 Edited June 18, 2017 by aasza
nicholas9976 Posted June 18, 2017 Author Posted June 18, 2017 3 minutes ago, aasza said: Only $80K http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wilson-Audio-Alexandria-X2-speakers-in-excellent-used-condition-/263034498181 Yeah, I saw them. They appear to be Series 1, and I have seen some Series 2 pairs advertised for cheaper than this in the USA. I will definitely consider importing a set if I can't find a Series 2 set here for similar price as overseas.
Guest guru Posted June 18, 2017 Posted June 18, 2017 Definitely x-2 version as per serial number plate let alone the front facing bass port option as the series 1 were only rear ported.
nicholas9976 Posted June 18, 2017 Author Posted June 18, 2017 6 minutes ago, guru said: Definitely x-2 version as per serial number plate let alone the front facing bass port option as the series 1 were only rear ported. Thanks, I stand corrected. Had assumed it must be series 1 as they don't mention series 2 in the ad.
WhakPak Posted June 18, 2017 Posted June 18, 2017 Why buy used Wilson speaker for $80k when you can buy new Magico S7 for the same money?
nicholas9976 Posted June 18, 2017 Author Posted June 18, 2017 20 minutes ago, WhakPak said: Why buy used Wilson speaker for $80k when you can buy new Magico S7 for the same money? Thanks. But I'll only buy used speakers, and ones that are several years old, as will lose less when I need to resell them. I haven't heard either speaker to be honest, at this stage I am going off reviews mainly, and what I can hear from Youtube demos through my high-end headphones (can at least get a feel for the rough sound signature and dynamics, although not soundstage, impact and other things). Both seem awesome speakers. The X2's are substantially more sensitive, bigger and around 2.5 times the weight (for better or worse), and I believe will have a bigger bass and impact overall. However, which is better (for each of us) is almost impossible to tell without listening to them in the same room. There are a lot of excellent speakers around this price range these days, among them the TAD Reference One with a very detailed sound, which I've also been considering. Also various Focal Utopia models which it seems typically have a dynamic, punchy and detailed sound although maybe a bit forward in the treble? Plus other great speakers from Dynaudio, Rockport and Raidho etc don't make the decision any easier. To be honest I'd probably consider any of these second-hand at a good price where I won't lose much money if I need to sell them on.
audio_file Posted June 19, 2017 Posted June 19, 2017 9 hours ago, nicholas9976 said: and I believe will have a bigger bass and impact overall I think if your room is too small those Wilsons might hit so hard they could stop your heart!
audio_file Posted June 19, 2017 Posted June 19, 2017 9 hours ago, nicholas9976 said: and I believe will have a bigger bass and impact overall I think if your room is too small those Wilsons might hit so hard they could stop your heart!
TerryO Posted June 19, 2017 Posted June 19, 2017 Hard to imagine even high end headphones will give you a reasonably accurate representation of what any speaker actually sounds like when YouTube is the source. cheers Terry 2
nicholas9976 Posted June 19, 2017 Author Posted June 19, 2017 (edited) 18 minutes ago, TerryO said: Hard to imagine even high end headphones will give you a reasonably accurate representation of what any speaker actually sounds like when YouTube is the source. cheers Terry If you have a set of high-end headphones, see the SNA posting someone did recently about acoustical treatment videos on Youtube, you can hear the difference easily. It's not "reasonably accurate" but it is surprisingly useful. I thought it wouldn't be useful either when another SNA member mentioned it to me, but I'm a convert after listening to heaps of them and hearing the differences. Just one example, this Korean channel has heaps of the best speakers playing in the same rooms: https://www.youtube.com/user/pcfihome/videos it's easiest to compare the ones that are playing the same song. Again, you need high-end headphones (not earphones) to do this usefully. Edited June 19, 2017 by nicholas9976 typo 1
aertex Posted June 19, 2017 Posted June 19, 2017 TerryO, when the nearest Alexandia X2 are thousands of km away (that one could reasonably get a listen to), and there are only subjective written words in reviews/opinions etc.....and when you have heard enough gear to be in a position to reasonably audio-extrapolate and fill in the gaps.....Youtube or other reasonably well recorded audio visual postings can be quite beneficial. You can see and hear quite a lot. Nick is not unwise in approaching a difficult assessment this way...and on the flip side what are the reasonable real world better alternatives?? Makes sense to me 1
aertex Posted June 19, 2017 Posted June 19, 2017 Nick, I suggest you use hifishark to search listings world wide for a particluar brand or model-both current and sold listings. Maybe you know that already? Hifishark found me 2 quite uncommon item listings just recently which I would never have found without it. Happy hunting Alan
nicholas9976 Posted June 19, 2017 Author Posted June 19, 2017 7 minutes ago, aertex said: Nick, I suggest you use hifishark to search listings world wide for a particluar brand or model-both current and sold listings. Maybe you know that already? Hifishark found me 2 quite uncommon item listings just recently which I would never have found without it. Happy hunting Alan Yep, have been checking that. It's getting the stuff shipped back to Australia at reasonable cost that's the tricky part. I wish I had your shipping connections here in Queensland.
aertex Posted June 19, 2017 Posted June 19, 2017 I am sure there will be a QLD alternative. I can suggest doing a bit of digging around questioning the modified/custom/hot rodders (traders/retailers and hot rod forums) in QLD as they regularly bring in gear from USA (mainly) and know where to go. It might take some effort but it will find something-or maybe call Leel Lester at Import Perfection here in WA and she may know who is in QLD...she may even ship into QLD??? Or you could ship in into Fremantle and then across the Nullabor by local shipper. As I said, I am happy to assist if need be Alan
nicholas9976 Posted June 19, 2017 Author Posted June 19, 2017 36 minutes ago, aertex said: TerryO, when the nearest Alexandia X2 are thousands of km away (that one could reasonably get a listen to), and there are only subjective written words in reviews/opinions etc.....and when you have heard enough gear to be in a position to reasonably audio-extrapolate and fill in the gaps.....Youtube or other reasonably well recorded audio visual postings can be quite beneficial. You can see and hear quite a lot. Nick is not unwise in approaching a difficult assessment this way...and on the flip side what are the reasonable real world better alternatives?? Makes sense to me It's a bit like sex - the mechanics of it may sound dubious at first... but don't knock it until you try it! (in this case on high-end headphones, with HD quality Youtube videos, recorded using a good microphone, ideally speakers in the same room, ideally playing the same song). Oh, and from this ad/thread someone in Brisbane contacted me via PM that has the X2 speakers, so I may get to hear them live after all, which is obviously superior in some ways. Awesome SNA community delivers again! 1
aertex Posted June 19, 2017 Posted June 19, 2017 (edited) I bought this "part" Packard coupe body in on a pallet just a few years ago for around $400 all up no more to pay (LA to Freemantle).......yes an I know.....why you ask??? Very reasonable question too Edited June 19, 2017 by aertex more info 1
aertex Posted June 19, 2017 Posted June 19, 2017 3 minutes ago, nicholas9976 said: Oh, and from this ad/thread someone in Brisbane contacted me via PM that has the X2 speakers, so I may get to hear them live after all, which is obviously superior in some ways. Awesome SNA community delivers again! yes, YouTube is good, but cant beat the real thing! Bloody well go for it. I think you could be very impressed with that sort of experience
WhakPak Posted June 19, 2017 Posted June 19, 2017 18 hours ago, nicholas9976 said: ...To be honest I'd probably consider any of these second-hand at a good price where I won't lose much money if I need to sell them on. To be honest, if you've got $80k to spend on speakers, I'd be buying new S7 over anything in the Wilson stable (and I say that as an owner of Wilson and Magico). Whilst I understand your desire to buy used, so you can flip them later without a capital loss, buying a new speaker for the same money in the knowledge that they are pristine from the factory, with warranty and dealer support, and a speaker that you are quite likely to keep for many years, would be my choice. Buying used you are exposed to inheriting a problem, or developing a problem for which an expensive out-of-warranty repair might be required. $80k on new Magico wins hands down on $80k for used Wilson.
nicholas9976 Posted June 19, 2017 Author Posted June 19, 2017 52 minutes ago, WhakPak said: To be honest, if you've got $80k to spend on speakers, I'd be buying new S7 over anything in the Wilson stable (and I say that as an owner of Wilson and Magico). Whilst I understand your desire to buy used, so you can flip them later without a capital loss, buying a new speaker for the same money in the knowledge that they are pristine from the factory, with warranty and dealer support, and a speaker that you are quite likely to keep for many years, would be my choice. Buying used you are exposed to inheriting a problem, or developing a problem for which an expensive out-of-warranty repair might be required. $80k on new Magico wins hands down on $80k for used Wilson. Thanks. What version of Magico and Wilson did you own? I have heard there is a significant difference between the various Wilson models. Choosing between different speakers and whether new/used can both be a matter of personal preference.
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted June 19, 2017 Volunteer Posted June 19, 2017 49 minutes ago, nicholas9976 said: Thanks. What version of Magico and Wilson did you own? I have heard there is a significant difference between the various Wilson models. Choosing between different speakers and whether new/used can both be a matter of personal preference. Ok so maybe this is a dumb question but I would have assumed that as speakers go up in price, their compromises reduce. Wouldnt this tend to make their differences reduce too ?
nicholas9976 Posted June 19, 2017 Author Posted June 19, 2017 8 minutes ago, Sir Sanders Zingmore said: Ok so maybe this is a dumb question but I would have assumed that as speakers go up in price, their compromises reduce. Wouldnt this tend to make their differences reduce too ? Not necessarily if you consider all the different technologies out there. Planars, hybrids like Martin Logan and Raidho, horns, MBL radialstralers, etc. Even just considering regular "cone speakers" there are very detailed sounds like TAD Reference Ones to more "musical" sounds e.g. maybe Dynaudio, more dynamic sounding e.g. maybe Focal, and more powerful bass speakers that sound big etc. All very nice flavours, but somewhat different nonetheless. I think it comes down to personal preference. To be honest I could probably like each of them for different reasons (e.g. detail of the TADs, musicality of the Dynaudios, dynamism of the Focals, and powerful bass of the Wilsons, etc each has their particular strengths but they all sound good no doubt). Just IMHO. 1
WhakPak Posted June 19, 2017 Posted June 19, 2017 1 hour ago, nicholas9976 said: Thanks. What version of Magico and Wilson did you own? I have heard there is a significant difference between the various Wilson models. Whatever Wilson speaker you choose there is associated with all of them what's called "the Wilson sound". You won't find any Magico speaker sounding like any Wilson speaker. That's not a detraction away from Wilson, because they are a quality speaker. It's due to the fundamental design differences between Magico and Wilson. All current Magico enclosures are made from aluminium and are sealed, all Wilson speakers are made from composite plastics and are ported. For me, I prefer the resolution and accuracy of the Magico. 2
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted June 19, 2017 Volunteer Posted June 19, 2017 32 minutes ago, nicholas9976 said: All very nice flavours, but somewhat different nonetheless. I think it comes down to personal preference. To be honest I could probably like each of them for different reasons (e.g. detail of the TADs, musicality of the Dynaudios, dynamism of the Focals, and powerful bass of the Wilsons, etc each has their particular strengths but they all sound good no doubt). Just IMHO That's a good point, perhaps at that level it's just different flavours of "good"
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