Article: Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic - An Audiophile Bucket List Item - Checked

On 8/16/2024 at 6:07 PM, The Computer Audiophile said:

 

“I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.”

 

― Oscar Wilde

A common misconception how this quote should be understood. Oscar Wilde was a man who knew what style and aesthetics mean and would never even go near anything as extremely ugly as these monsters. They may sound better than any other speakers on the market but at the same time they are also the ugliest I have ever seen. (I know, I know, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder...) There is not even an ounce of jealousy in my opinion, but I've never understood how the audiophile community can disregard aesthetics to to the extent that so many seem to do. How can you love beautiful music and at the same time pollute your home with the most hideous “instruments” that are supposed to reproduce it? And no, I have not missed the point that everything should or perhaps even must sound good to enjoy the music experience, but for me personally, the limit goes somewhere with such beauties that Sonus Faber produces with their Homage and Reference series.

1 hour ago, masch said:

I know, I know, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder...

I think you hit the nail on the head with that sentence. 
 

A wonderful thing about our hobby is that we have seemingly endless options for every product. There’s something for everyone’s taste, both audibly and visually. 

1 hour ago, masch said:

I've never understood how the audiophile community can disregard aesthetics to to the extent that so many seem to do

This type of question used to puzzle me as well.  But then I realized that at the very highest end of hifi, the products are not meant for what most of us would describe as a home, or at least a living room.  Size alone disqualifies them--7' speakers, a pair of monoblocks plus pre amp, a turntable that's 2'x2', the Varese stack--and all of it location constrained for listening position and probably requiring dampening.  And of course that listening position may dictate the placement of other furniture.  It may be for your dedicated listening room in your house, but it is not for your "home".

4 hours ago, masch said:

A common misconception how this quote should be understood. Oscar Wilde was a man who knew what style and aesthetics mean and would never even go near anything as extremely ugly as these monsters. They may sound better than any other speakers on the market but at the same time they are also the ugliest I have ever seen. (I know, I know, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder...) There is not even an ounce of jealousy in my opinion, but I've never understood how the audiophile community can disregard aesthetics to to the extent that so many seem to do. How can you love beautiful music and at the same time pollute your home with the most hideous “instruments” that are supposed to reproduce it? And no, I have not missed the point that everything should or perhaps even must sound good to enjoy the music experience, but for me personally, the limit goes somewhere with such beauties that Sonus Faber produces with their Homage and Reference series.

Well that's an interesting counterpoint to those that would have us believe high enders are just in it for the looks!

2 hours ago, PeterG said:

It may be for your dedicated listening room in your house, but it is not for your "home".

A house is not a home without the things (and people) you love. Seriously I love my music room. The living room is open plan and has a big screen TV (not in the music room) and many would not like a TV there but hey it's my home.it reminds me of that Seinfeld (iirc) quote about poor taste of having a TV in the living area and the reply was "but where do you point your furniture?"ha ha. Different strokes.

4 hours ago, Audiophile Neuroscience said:

 

A house is not a home without the things (and people) you love. Seriously I love my music room. The living room is open plan and has a big screen TV (not in the music room) and many would not like a TV there but hey it's my home.it reminds me of that Seinfeld (iirc) quote about poor taste of having a TV in the living area and the reply was "but where do you point your furniture?"ha ha. Different strokes.

 

Excellent!  I probably should have been more careful in my language.  Let's say that certain components pretty much require a room solely dedicated to those components

3 hours ago, PeterG said:

 

  Let's say that certain components pretty much require a room solely dedicated to those components

You sound like my wife 🤣

Seriously, I think for the most part that is correct but it will still come down to taste and De gustibus non est disputandum

On 8/16/2024 at 3:13 PM, Jivatma said:

House or speakers, house or speakers..

you need end game house before end game speakers if for the only reason that you would not ever want to have to move these end game speakers lol.

im sure these sound amazing for Wilson fans. But I have never cared for the Wilson aesthetic. So I wonder if I would be predisposed to not liking their sound as much?
 

i’m kind of curious what level does one own a current pair of speakers where they would actually consider splurging for these? If I won a $400 million lottery, I’m pretty convinced that I wouldn’t spend this much on these and opt for an endgame speaker more like 75 grand.

14 hours ago, Audiophile Neuroscience said:

You sound like my wife 🤣

Ask me how I know...

If not for my wife, I would have Sashas ("They look like McDonalds garbage cans!") or at least Sabrinas ("They look like child coffins!")  in our living room.  Fortunately, the difference between Sabrinas and my TuneTots plus a sub is a first world problem (and my wife is terrific in other ways 😊)

In the eye of the beholder: judicious use of DSP can eliminate passive crossovers and coax realistic, concert-level sound from cabinetry that my spouse will tolerate in the living room. Mine are basic black.