Wilson Revisits the WAMM

It's close to 55 years since David Wilson built his first loudspeaker, and 34 years since he developed a method to measure time-domain differences. It was also in 1981, the same year that he received a patent for time-domain driver adjustability, that Wilson Audio released the game-changing Wilson Audio Modular Monitor loudspeaker or the WAMM.

In two small, private presentations in the Mirage, Dave Wilson joined several other indispensible members of his team—his son Daryl and wife Sheryl Lee, as well as Peter McGrath and John Giolas—to present a jaw-dropping mock up of the proposed, superhumanly proportioned successor to the original WAMM (currently 82" tall without spikes, approx. 23" wide, and approx. 35" deep).

No photos were allowed, hence the curtain. Each full-range tower will be adaptable to various room sizes and acoustical environments, and to allow micro-tuning in the time domain. Given the excellence of Wilson Audio's current line-up—their speakers were all over the Venetian, as well as in several exhibit suites in the Mirage—the mouth waters.

COMMENTS
iosiP's picture

Or what?

jsh101's picture

Since when is a speaker draped in plastic "jaw-dropping" and "superhumanly proportioned"?

I know smoke and mirrors payola marketing when I see it, made even funnier by the "WAAM" misspelling in the headline.

John Atkinson's picture
jsh101 wrote:
Since when is a speaker draped in plastic "jaw-dropping" and "superhumanly proportioned"?

The curtain was drawn back for 10 minutes but no photography was allowed, unfortunately. And none of the journalists present had thought to bring along a sketch artist :-)

jsh101 wrote:
...made even funnier by the "WAAM" misspelling in the headline.

My error, now corrected, thank you.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

jsh101's picture

And none of the journalists present had thought to bring along a sketch artist :-)

Maybe they were thinking payola, not Crayola ;-)

John Atkinson's picture
jsh101 wrote:
Maybe they were thinking payola, not Crayola ;-)

I get weary of trolls like you. But in this case I will let your comment stand because of the humorous rhyme.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

drblank's picture

when a company doesn't allow photographs at a trade show when they are trying to "sell" their latest product? I would think that they would hold a few hours JUST for press to take photos as much as they want to promote the product. It reminds me of the restaurants that have their best dishes not on the menu. I guess someone doesn't understand the term marketing. Hey, let's build the next high end product and not allow anyone to see it. High end audio mfg should do whatever they can to get media attention, it's free advertising.

Oh well, it's not my company, so they can do what they think is best.

Jason Victor Serinus's picture

Didn't you see the word "mock-up?" It was a non-functioning, mechanically empty prototype of a speaker whose visuals may change. And it was ostensibly roped off because, had anyone leaned against it, it might have fallen apart. Not that the curtain and rope didn't add to the theatricality of the occasion...

drblank's picture

Oh God, it sounds like Wilson might be doing what the car mfg do when they show concept cars we'll never get to drive.

If someone told me that they were just mock ups and they aren't working, I probably wouldn't even bother to attend the "event". Sorry Wilson, bring speakers that we can listen to at trade shows. That's kind of the whole point of them. I know Magico was dragging around that huge system and not plugging it in for a while and it got a lot of media attention, but I think companies really need to only bring what they can plug in and turn on and get people excited about.

Jason Victor Serinus's picture

Dave Wilson's presentation took place only twice during CES, and attendance was limited to 12 people per presentation. I don't believe there were any blanks on the guest list.

From my perspective, Wilson Audio has succeeded in doing what it set out to do. A report made it into Stereophile and other media, and news of the event seems to have traveled as far as Troll Land.

Anton's picture

Place pinkie finger near corner of mouth and repeat after me, "One million dollars."

Anon2's picture

I am nowhere near Wilson's purchasing demographic. I have attended product demos presented by the superb Peter McGrath, though.

While I know Wilson likes to build the anticipation with their product launches--a'la the original Infiniti ads--the products, when launched, deliver.

Besides, as the article states, people at CES had other Wilson products to hear at the show.

I can't afford Wilsons. However, my humble appraisal is that they are a distinguished company in the loudspeaker business. They take pains to study and to take materials science to the next level in their products, particularly in their enclosures. The results speak for themselves.

If I could afford Wilson speakers the outlay, while great, would be one whose value proposition I would not question.

sunnyhtms@gmail.com's picture

Very eloquently stated. Wilson Audio Specialties has a way of introducing standard-setting products and very efficiently getting them to our store. The new speaker is David Wilson’s "Labor of Love,” the ultimate expression of a passion that has grown through years of understanding, research, and implementation.

This showing was meant to communicate his history and desires, and show us a product that is in the design phase. The proposed WAMM offspring is an expression of what Dave would want in his home. Not an easy task.

What I got out of this showing was honesty, integrity, and a desire and commitment to make musical speakers. This same commitment is reflected in the new Sabrina, as well as in the XLF and unannounced products soon to come.

Sunil Merchant.
Sunny Components Inc.

corrective_unconscious's picture

Why is this poster permitted to just coincidentally give his company's url?

John Atkinson's picture
corrective_unco... wrote:
Why is this poster permitted to just coincidentally give his company's url?

We insist that people in the audio industry include their affiliation when they post to our site.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

corrective_unconscious's picture

The url is what I was commenting on.

The industry affiliation remains in the form of the company or a company name....

wade's picture

Why would Dave Wilson bring what sounds like about a ton of nonworking prototype speakers to the show when he can present a lightweight mock-up to give us an idea of what he's working on? Admittedly, Dave is an enthusiastic marketer, but his products do seem to meet or exceed expectations.

volvic's picture

Two things popped into my head when I read this.....no three. I wouldn't question Wilson Audio's intentions at all, it is a solid company and over the years have heard their "smaller" speakers and remain very impressed. Second, Wilson Audio paid for the room they can do whatever they want and third, wish more manufacturers could bring their prototypes to shows love looking into a company's future and insight.

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