Buying the $370,000 speakers would be an emotional experience for me too, when my wife divorced me because of it.

Now how does a $2000 speaker setup sound with the same size and number of drivers compare to the Wilson? That would be a more fair comparison than a relatively portable Sonos speaker.

I'm still on the fence on which one to get

listening to this on my phone speaker😎

We're in *SERIOUS* mid-life crisis territory here.

As a recovering audiophile, one thing is that no matter how good your set up becomes, you'll get used to it within a few months. Then it's time to go to the bank for the next big thing, which surprise suprise, you'll get used to as well. In the end you'll end up more time setting up your gear and reading and researching about the gears than actually listening to music. All i want to say is, enjoy your music. It's doesn't matter if it's coming out of a 10£ earbuds or a 100000£ speaker system.

The irony is, you'd be hard pressed to find a mastering studio with a pair of speakers worth more than $50,000, and that's already rarefied air. Above that, you're getting into the extremely rare occurrence. Obviously the room itself will be worth a lot of money as well

where's that "contains an ad" "sponsored content" label

The thing that annoys me so much about this video is that it frames it as if you either buy a Sonos (or other) streaming speaker OR an unbelievably expensive stereo setup. There are amp and speaker sets at the same price of the Sonos that sound soooo much better than the Sonos. Do yourself the favor and go to a store that sells both and I am sure that you will pick a cheap stereo system, because it makes do much more out of the music you feed it...

The reviewer is right. Audiophile sound is in the end all about emotion and having a physical connection with the music. All the technology and the money is in service of that.

So not a sound investment ?

Now compare that Sonos to a cheaper pair of bookshelf speakers or even one's that are the same price. I think it would still get absolutely destroyed.

Buy $320,000 speakers to play 128kbps mp3 files.

I wonder what Cannibal Corpse sounds like on the Wilsons?

Very well done. Ive had the privilege to demo Wilsons not too long ago and yes, they truly are on a whole other level. No need to close the eyes to suspend disbelief. The asking prices aren't there to just appease the rich, you will hear where each and every dollar went when you power on your rig and play your Wilsons!

So good for podcasts then?

I kind of hate videos like these. Yeah, the huge contrast makes for a flashy demonstration but it totally erases the fact that you can do way better than Sonos at 500 dollars. Sonos is convenient and most people don't want to spend any time connecting components. The small tradeoff in convenience at the 500 dollar point for powered monitors or a small receiver and good bookshelves is well worth it, if audio quality is your primary focus. There's no need to sell organs or refinance your house to get good sound. I've heard Wilson speakers and they are fantastic, but diminishing returns kick in well below their price point too.

Listening to this on my phone speaker

For that price I'll get a personal orchestra

The thing about high-end audio systems is the difference in sound separation, staging and clarity between a $500 and a $2,000 system is far greater then the difference between a $2,000 system and a $50,000 system. The difference is even more subtle as you go up in price. Many would not be able to tell the difference between a $50,000 system and the $350,000 system demonstrated in this video. Bottom line is if you CAN tell the difference and care, and have the resources, then a six-figure audio system is worth it.

I have the Wilson Sabrina X which is $24k. Def not cheap, but Wilson doesn’t trickle down their tech, they offer almost of the same tech in all of their lines. Their more expensive speakers have more time correction and can offer more bass. I’ve listened to their $370k and you can get very close for a lot less. Wilson’s requires a perfect setup and very good room treatment. You also need very good amps to push these speakers

Nice example of price anchoring 😀

I used to think that this was all marketing BS, but I once visited Chicago to check out the real hi-end, and I got to hear an $87K (in 2009) Vienna Acoustics pair (with some $12K transistor amp), and indeed, I heard for myself that the one thing that these ultra-expensive speakers do well is dynamics. Of course, it is really only symphonic music in which such dynamics is subtle but noticeable, and it requires that the listener must have a frame of reference of a live performance and a recording played through a more reasonable system that costs maybe $5K. That said, whether it is worth $99K to hear that subtle difference is a different issue, LOL.

I don’t really think this is a good comparison. It would have been better to compare the Wilson speakers with speakers costing $5k - $15k.

I’ve been building a hifi room for four years. The pay off is everything when you adore music like I do. I’m $30,000 in so far. Worth every dollar and more.

“How mad do you want to make your neighbors?” “Yes.”

With 370,000 I could invest in a high dividend ETF and travel every month to go listen to piano concerts in New York at the philharmonic, for the rest of my life.

One thing I have learned working in small studios and moving up to world class, is that no one can describe how good certain speakers sound, you just have to experience it. Try and remember when someone described 4k 3d to you compared to the moment you actually saw it. The first time I listened to Marvin Gaye's let's get it on album on a top tier system it sounded like the band was live in the room. Amazing.

One big point of why people build High-end Audio systems is to be sonically transported to the time and space where a recording happened. When a good speaker system is set up in a properly acoustically treated space, live recording playback should create a realistic illusion of being in the space of the recording. You should audibly "feel" the size of the space and the arrangement or sound stage of musicians in front of you... you can feel the size of music, for example, in a huge church or the intimate space of a tavern etc. I believe that is the biggest point this video missed out on. That is not to say one can't enjoy an orchestral piece through your iPhone speaker... my point is that there are levels to this sh!te (haha) and recreating the visceral experience of what it actually sounds like to be at a concert hall is not easy or cheap. Also, one can spend a fraction of this $370K cost and build a system and a room that can get say 80% "close" to what this system does. In High-end audio getting closer to 100% of what a system like this can do is where things get very expensive like crazy compounding price increases for performance increments of 1% to 5% at a time.

Why not a pair of Era 300’s and a Sonos sub? Price and size difference aside, this is not apples to apples.

I am an audiophile and used to go to high end audio listening rooms. The best system I ever experienced was Martin & Logan electrostatics with an Entec subwoofer and a Goldmund turntable. Not sure why this piece didn't talk about the source, most audiophiles consider vinyl to be the best source for high-end audio. Interestingly enough, the dealer and I both chose the same test material, White Winds by Andreas Vollenweider, on vinyl of course. It is a flawless recording that demonstrates staging and separation better than any other recording I've ever heard. Currently I own a Linn audio system.

This was brilliant. But can we have a follow up on what the pre amp and amps etc do?

Most of the listeners, should get at least stereo speaker pair. Funny how you never mentioned "stereo" even once, but spoke about micro-adjustments in Willson speakers.

Personally, my preference these days, is nice set of headphones 🎧 👌 But I absolutely appreciate these huge set ups.

A hi-fi so amazing that, It can only be heard by a passing bat.

I guess these speakers are for people who want to feel the sound waves and their wallets vibrating simultaneously.

If one considered as audiophile and see money as no object, why not. Am semi-audiophile and can hear the big difference between the Sonos and Wilson. Mid-low frequency is just phenomenal on the Wilson VS Sonos is very bright and mono. Its night and day between the two product, but comes at a cost/set up or if one doesn't want to spend so much and want simpler "Plug-n-Play" set up, then Sonos as is. Wilson set is a beauty to behold and a treat to the ear.

for people who dont listen to music with their gear, but listen to their gear with music

Just bought it after selling the house and adding the entire life savings. It really drowns out the cries of the children due to hunger.

I wonder how much of the sound quality is down to the cabinet, amplifier, and room acoustics vs the driver itself.

Missed opportunity to say "Wilson Chronosonic XVX recommended" instead of "Headphones recommended"

I got a pair of the ERA 300s for 673 shipped around Father’s Day, absolutely love them with my arc and sub.

I suppose I need to introduce myself.. I'm Erik and I am a soundaholic. I just got into the middle life crisis. Nice to meet all of you!

The Wilson speakers are definitely going in my garage and I'm putting my Chiron and Speed-tail between them.

The best advice for ANYONE into music... and looking for gear .... just needs to understand " Diminishing Returns " There IS a very big difference... but.. it's all a matter ' what level is enough for me ' Listen for references... and spend wisely to get what you can afford.

Making a video about the equipments used to record the audio probably makes more sense lol

It is an unfair comparisson to use only one sonos, a more reasonable one would be to go with a subwoofer and a sterio pair at least

Why I'm not an audiophile. Spending that much money for an illusion I can only enjoy in one spot is insanity to me.

Weird. These $370,000 speakers sound like my cheap headphones.

Listening to this on my cheapo $20 computer speakers

Use two of the Sonos speakers for stereo and the Wilson is done!

My sister has Sonos too!

No. You're focusing on the price, while the dimensions and physical spacing of the speakers are so vastly different. Of course a wide true stereo setup will sound better than something that's practically almost mono because everything's cramped in a box. If you'd put average studio monitors next to the big speakers, like Focal Alphas or Yahama HS8, you would have a radically better sound for the same 500 dollars. It wouldn't be as nice as the big boys, obviously, but at least it would be a fair comparison.

If comparing with Sonos, at least give it a chance. Place 4 Sonos One (gen 2's) in four corners and add 2 Sonos Sub Gen 3's at opposite ends. Promise you that you will get a lot more detail and thumping bass, which you would be able to feel.

If you have the money why not. I searched for 30 years and for me I get this feeling with my Lipinski Sound speakers. In the end sound is personal, but it does needs to be as close to the real thing as possible.

The only place you can see and hear these speakers in London - KJ West One ❤ Was also shot there btw

What was the musical input? CD? HD stream? Which receiver / amplifier?

funny how some dont realise its a sonos ad and they prolly arranged the whole thing g...(well people who saying compare to a $2-5k similar size floor standing drivers)

This was such a fun video to shoot. Got to play Many Men by 50 cent on a million pounds sound system

I'm finding out what 300,000$ speakers sound like with my air pods 🫠

$370,000 speakers: Normal people: 😀😘😍🥰😂🤩😎 Deaf people: 💀

Now compare the $500 Sonos vs a $300 pair of speakers with a $200 amplifier. The only benefit of the Sonos is it's simplicity.

Don't forget the cost of sound dampening the listening room itself.

Bro forgot to include the price of the treated room that these speakers demand to be in

i like how they used analogies that could be understood by many in much simpler terms.

For us KZfaq watchers, one word: better.

"Emotional" "Life" "Soul" etc are words you hear a lot in videos like this. If you are an average man or a sane human being $300 - $2000 setup will be a luxury. You are not gonna miss anything.

Show me the Costco option (four figures) not six

Sponsored content is my passion

For that piano song, at this point the $370,000 speakers are bottlenecked by the quality of mics used for the recordings. And subjectvity on how piano recordings should sound

6:15 the fanciest way to say: "the tweeter sits on a rail, so you can adjust the distance. Because physics"

LIstening to WILSON and SONOS on my laptop speakers, both sound great, can barely tell the difference😀

I know someone who spent $500k on a speaker system, and yeah, it sounds "great," but it doesn't sound "better" than most ~$2k systems I've heard. It just sounds "different."

I would like to see a comparison with the Panasonic 9000.

A great video! I think this was well made video that briefs the audio hobby. When you first experience the full tower floorstanding speakers and very well set up hifi system, it changes your world. If you like music, it’s very well worth looking into it. I wish “wired” to cover how each generation think of HiFi audio hobby.

hahah watched this whole thing to realize this is a Sonos ad

This is a great video!!

Listening Britney Spears songs w this speaker🔥🔥

No tubes? Seven drivers? Why they ugly too

"The more drivers, the more detail you can hear" lmao

I would like to hear Venetian Snares on that rig.

Bro is really trying to convince himself $370,000 speakers was a worth it purchase.

"The more drivers, the more detail you can hear" .. Not always true. Electrostatic speakers (or hybrids like Martin Logans) can cover plenty of audio territory with one driver and have even more detail than nearly all dynamic cone speakers.

Let’s be clear, it’s not _strictly_ required to spend another ~$630k on the rest of the system to make the Wilsons sound great. You could drive them with a 100W stereo amplifier or even a full receiver using normal speaker cables and they would sound just fine. It’s just that it might feel like buying a Ferrari while living in a trailer park. But it could be done. 😊

When comparing a $370k+ audio system to a $500 one, there are clear differences in performance and experience. These differences are relative, much like with watches, wine, houses, or cars. Some might dismiss high-end products because they haven't experienced them, similar to how someone who only drives a regular car might never understand the thrill and experience of driving a Ferrari. Without firsthand experience, opinions are often shaped by cognitive biases and personal perspectives. Additionally, value is subjective; many people prioritize savings or seek the best options within a certain price range or lifestyle. Conversely, those who have experienced high-end products and value the enhancements find the differences worthwhile. Ultimately, it's not about good versus bad, but about understanding how our perspectives, values, and cognitive biases influence our view of luxury purchases.

The most detailed snake oil ad I've seen.

With such a system you also need a proper (and of course expensive) treated room. Won't be listening to these speakers with an open window next to a construction site :D

"and you are listening to them both through your laptop"

7:00 what is he wearing in his ears while listening to the speakers?

This sounds like a big ad sponsor.

First of all let’s at least at least have two Sonos Era 300s in stereo paired for this comparison 😅 Still apples to orange comparison but I’m impressed an Era 300 here in this talk.

'And ultimately all the money that's gone in the Chronosonic is there to make you feel something'. Really? An equipment that makes sound activating your ears and your listening sense makes you feel know?

listening this on my $30 speakers

There are a many fallacies in this review. More drivers absolutely does not mean more detail. Lol. More drivers give louder sound and wider frequency response, but at the expense of detail and coherence. The crucial part of a speaker is not just the drivers, but also the crossover. Many speaker designers would argue crossover is the heart of any speaker. If you can get away with no crossover or fewest possible number of components, then the better. Heavy dense cabinets are not necessarily better. They can over-dampen the sound into lifelessness. Some speaker companies utilize certain cabinet vibrations to complement the overall sound.

My $250 (each) Pioneer speakers have exactly the same frequency range (EDIT: actually a wider range, they go 20Hz to 50KHz) Maybe a better comparison could be made.

People have experienced the magic of music for centuries without needing the modernization of technology to improve it. Technology has made music more accessible rather than sound so much cleaner than half a century ago

A relaxed sound

Now compare them to the best $37,000 speakers in a blind test. Still out of reach of normal humans but also a tenth of the price!

This is an ad

Please clean your camera sensor first next time!