The Secret Behind American Boutique Sound Maestros Wilson Audio
It was an inchoate pursuit of aural splendor that pushed David (Dave) Wilson in 1974 to forge his company, the globally renowned Wilson Audio Specialties Inc., with a simple philosophy: to build speakers to the best of his ability. Never restricted by arbitrary price points or dealer demands, Wilson hand-built the best speakers from his workshop in Provo, Utah, for the most discriminating audio enthusiasts in the world.
“I really love the sound of certain acoustical musical instruments. I don’t know what it is . . . [I] can’t get enough of it,” the late founder once expressed. “I suppose in the final analysis, it’s a search for beauty, and that was always the motivation for the speakers.”
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Only a handful of companies have ever been able to consistently execute this level of relentless commitment to constant improvement, which Dave coined “Authentic Excellence” as a company mission. After his father’s death, Daryl Wilson expanded the mantra to “Excellence in All Things,” as a further continuation and proclamation of the Wilson ideals.
These philosophies of excellence first manifested in 1981 in the company’s now legendary Wilson Audio Modular Monitor, or WAMM. The latest iteration of that system, dubbed the WAMM Master Chronosonic, demanded five years of research and development. Helmed by David as the lead designer, with Daryl supporting the development efforts, the WAMM Master Chronosonic pushed Wilson’s lofty standards even higher.
What Wilson discovered early on was that the synchronicity of the music’s arrival to the listener’s ear could not only affect clarity and soundstage but also dynamic contrast and timbre. By strictly aligning the signal arrival in time to the listener’s ear, Wilson Audio’s laboratory-grade loudspeakers precisely control voice and timbre, image depth, and more to create a truly three-dimensional, holographic soundstage. An audio specialist who installs systems in seven-figure homes boasts that Wilson Audio speakers are so good, they virtually disappear—as in, you cannot discern from where sounds emanate. Instruments and vocals are so impeccably placed, the sense of lifelike space and depth created by the speakers are unrivaled.
Wilson Audio possesses other superlative qualities like frequency ranges wider than a Utah horizon. Wilson Audio speakers deliver deep controlled bass, clear midrange, and extended high frequencies with integrity unlike any other brand. This allows for a more accurate representation of the original recording. Their clarity is legendary, illuminating nuances in acoustic instruments with dynamic range so wide both bombastic bass lines and ASMR whispers are revealed with meticulous finesse.
Performance of this hyper car–level can be credited to Wilson’s insistence on using only the best parts and materials possible, pioneering the use of Alnico drivers and adjustable baffles to deliver yet-unheard clarity and detail. Packaged in eye-popping architectural designs, with form always following function, Wilson Audio speakers transform your living space into an audio visual oasis where sonic mastery intertwines seamlessly with industrial artistry, elevating the sensory experience on all levels.
Beyond this very specific design philosophy, Wilson Audio is renowned for another critical aspect of halo technology: a commitment to stand behind everything they do. For this, they advise purchasing only through a Wilson Audio authorized dealer. These specialists professionally install the systems, which are highly dependent on careful and technical room integration to optimize their spectacular sound. Moreover, these dealerships follow the founder’s vow to pursue “Excellence in All Things.”
For this function, Wilson Audio aligns with several major authorized dealerships judiciously located across the continental United States to service every corner of America. We highlight four of those dealers here. In the Northeast, Bethesda, Maryland’s JS Audio services the country’s highly populated Eastern Seaboard. “Music shapes our lives, touches us, comforts us, and reaches out to us like an old friend,” JS Audio tells Robb Report. “A chance to decorate your home with the musical grandeur one discovers with the NSO at the Kennedy Center? That is what drives us.”
Meanwhile in the Midwest, Ann Arbor, Michigan’s full-service Paragon Sight & Sound dealership specializes in installing 2-channel audio, home theater, and smart home control systems. Like the others we’re spotlighting, Paragon Sight & Sound focuses on brands that are not only synonymous with excellence, but that are also widely recognized as apex audiovisual performers.
Covering the Pacific Northwest, Seattle’s Definitive has been transforming its clients’ home audio and theater experiences from ordinary to extraordinary for nearly as long as Wilson Audio. Founded in 1975, the Bellevue-area dealership boasts an Experience Center where clients can hear Wilson Audio products at their optimum before purchasing.
Last but not least, LMC Home Entertainment expertly covers America’s Southwest region from their dual showrooms in Arizona’s Scottsdale and Tempe. LMC’s “Legendary Music & Cinema” moniker is more than a name—it’s a passion. The audio/video experts supply the Southwest’s finest collection of world-class components and are proud to feature products designed and manufactured in the United States and Europe.
If you’re searching for the apex sonic delivery system, the boutique specialists at Wilson Audio boast over a half-century of expertise, hand-building all their products in Utah. When you make the decision to go with the finest U.S.-made speakers, do so via one of their authorized dealerships that are uniquely trained to serve customers in this extremely high-end, hi-fi space—ensuring not only expert home installation, but also lifelong after-sale service and support you can trust.
Visit these authorized dealerships
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