Article: Introducing the Wilson Audio TuneTot

[loop7]

I'm curious what preamp and amplifier combinations the wealthy consumers will use with the Tots? That is if used for desktop speakers. Maybe a mini D'Agostino setup?

[input username here]

On 5/10/2018 at 9:32 PM, The Computer Audiophile said:

P.S. I'd love a pair on my desk at home. I've always wanted a really high end pair of speakers to use for 10 hours per day. Even though my TAD CR1s are right behind me in my office, I still tend to want sound coming from in front of me. I can imagine pairing the TuneTot with a nice tube amp for a seriously lush and enjoyable sound. Someday :~)

 

 

I sit at my desk 10 hrs a day... and use the Kii THREEs/Kii CONTROL as my desktop monitors.  I know that that extreme near-field placement doesn't allow the THREE's to sound their very best, but I also cannot think of a any other speakers that would sound as good while sitting on a desktop and with only about 6-7 inches clearance to the rear wall.  

[Danny Kaey]

18 hours ago, MarkS said:

While totally unfair of me to say this without a listen, I doubt a Wilson speaker of this size can compete with a Boenickie W5se. 

Completely different application and use case... 

[Danny Kaey]

17 hours ago, loop7 said:

I'm curious what preamp and amplifier combinations the wealthy consumers will use with the Tots? That is if used for desktop speakers. Maybe a mini D'Agostino setup?

There’s a ton of options for sure and you don’t even have to go to full on mega buck.

[The Computer Audiophile]

41 minutes ago, Danny Kaey said:

There’s a ton of options for sure and you don’t even have to go to full on mega buck.

If I every get a pair, I'm going to try my McIntosh MC275 with them. This amp doesn't work on my TAD CR1s, but it may drive the TuneTot at decent volume levels sitting near field. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

On 5/11/2018 at 7:28 PM, Deyorew said:

So is this just Wilson fanboy stuff going on here?

Not sure I follow your comment. If there isn't something radically new, based on your criteria, then it should be classified as fanboy stuff?

 

There are more happy Wilson Audio customers than most high end brands on earth. It may not be for you, but it's for a lot of other people. Classifying this a fanboy stuff is a little strange to me and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 

 

I understand if people think it's expensive or don't like the sound. No worries or arguments from me. But, the other comments are a bit strange to me. 

[botrytis]

5 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Not sure I follow your comment. If there isn't something radically new, based on your criteria, then it should be classified as fanboy stuff?

 

There are more happy Wilson Audio customers than most high end brands on earth. It may not be for you, but it's for a lot of other people. Classifying this a fanboy stuff is a little strange to me and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 

 

I understand if people think it's expensive or don't like the sound. No worries or arguments from me. But, the other comments are a bit strange to me. 

I agree. To me they are just overpriced. I prefer the B&W (not supposed to call them that) D3 models compared to any Wilson's I have heard (I have heard them on the same system). Also, the Wilson's are just ugly.

[Priaptor]

5 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

If I every get a pair, I'm going to try my McIntosh MC275 with them. This amp doesn't work on my TAD CR1s, but it may drive the TuneTot at decent volume levels sitting near field. 

From my perch I was hoping these things were going to be a real “monitor” with a stand option and not some peculiar speaker needing a close rear wall “bookshelf/computer table” solution.

 

Wilson broke their cherry in the monitor market and was one of my favorites years ago, that IMHO, they have never recreated. This would have, IMHO, been one of those products but instead they chose to make some limited 13k solution for something few of us want or can afford. 

 

This is could of been a rebirth of the “WATT” but instead, again IMHO, nothing but a niche product that has almost nothing to do with their origins. 

[MarkS]

10 hours ago, Danny Kaey said:

Completely different application and use case... 

The W5se can also be used as a desktop speaker??

[Danny Kaey]

On 5/11/2018 at 3:40 AM, rickca said:

Yeah I only order high end stuff for the thrill of unboxing.  After that I lose interest.  

hahaha, love it! ????

[Danny Kaey]

On 5/11/2018 at 7:28 PM, Deyorew said:

The photos were fun, but I enjoyed picking out music in them rather than actually looking at the speakers, which honestly is what it felt like the intent was....to showcase a messy listening room as opposed to the speakers under discussion.

 

Curious what you picked up on... also, the living room really isn't messy per se.  I just have a ton of records laying around.  You want messy, look at Atkinson, Fremer et all. ?

[Danny Kaey]

14 hours ago, MarkS said:

The W5se can also be used as a desktop speaker??

never seen them in that setup on either product photography or real world use... 

[Danny Kaey]

On 5/10/2018 at 11:57 PM, matthias said:

IMO, these speakers are ugly like nearly all Wilson speakers and vastly overpriced. The Sabrina is a beauty in comparison.

This article is bland advertising.

 

Matt

Thanks Matt - speakers, due to their nature, are very personable choices - not everyone will like everyone else's choices.  Fortunately, there ought to be a speaker for everyone in today's market place.

 

As to the article being bland advertising... it's a product announcement labeled "Introducing the Wilson Audio TuneTot".  Not sure it would have made sense to talk about 5 other speaker lines in the context of this introductory write up about a very specific speaker.

[matthias]

1 hour ago, Danny Kaey said:

Thanks Matt - speakers, due to their nature, are very personable choices - not everyone will like everyone else's choices.  Fortunately, there ought to be a speaker for everyone in today's market place.

 

As to the article being bland advertising... it's a product announcement labeled "Introducing the Wilson Audio TuneTot".  Not sure it would have made sense to talk about 5 other speaker lines in the context of this introductory write up about a very specific speaker.

 

Thanks Danny, 

the question is, why does this speaker get this special treatment with TWO articles on the front page:

First "Announcing the  Wilson Audio TT", then "Introducing the Wilson Audio TT".

Maybe I missed the disclosure of financial interests.

 

Matt

 

[Deyorew]

Sorry fanboy may have been the wrong term if it’s derogatory. I’m into certain brands as well. It’s just the article was written like there IS something radical about these. Like built in amps accepts streaming from a high end known company. But it’s clear these are entry level Wilson’s that are being pitched as “just throw them on a desk”. Sorry Matt I didn’t mean to disrespect anyone here I honestly thought I was missing something with this new speaker.

[The Computer Audiophile]

6 hours ago, matthias said:

 

Thanks Danny, 

the question is, why does this speaker get this special treatment with TWO articles on the front page:

First "Announcing the  Wilson Audio TT", then "Introducing the Wilson Audio TT".

Maybe I missed the disclosure of financial interests.

 

Matt

 

Once in a while we get to have fun with brands and products that many people like. Wilson elected to work with a very small number of press outlets to provide early samples for evaluation. 

 

The initial announcement that something cool is coming was just a teaser. Those that like what Wilson does thought it was cool and a little exciting. In a world of depressing daily news, it’s kind of fun to build up anticipation about something in this wonderful hobby of ours that brings us so much joy. 

 

[charlesphoto]

Insanity. I have a difficult time explaining to some why my Leica M10 body cost $6995 despite the fact that it’s the ONLY full frame 35mm rangefinder on the market, uses any Leica lens made in the last fifty years, and has loads of sophisticated tech inside and a significant quality build that should last a lifetime. Now how about justifiying a pair of desktop speakers that cost almost twice as much as a top of the line digital camera? Especially when there’s an abundance of choices at much much lesser price points on the market. Forget about it... 

 

That said, go for it if you can’t live without. It’s your wallet, my amusement. I’m sure they’ll sound great, esp with the $2k desk stands! 

 

 

[Ralf11]

you need an M4

[mrvco]

How does a pair of unpowered bookshelf speakers (granted, expensive bookshelf speakers) qualify as a -new- 'complex network or interconnected system'?  I'd have a hard time considering a typical pair of speakers, amplifier and pre-amp an 'ecosystem' except in the most simple and broad sense of the word... maybe.  Do these speakers reintermediate your one-to-one relationship with music by changing the high-end audio paradigm?

[Joebah]

I am going to stick with TaterTots. Maybe with some ketchup.

[w1000i]

Oh,10k for a toytut. I will take TAD Micro Evolution One if a bookshelf is important with cost no object 

[phusis]

Close to $10,000 for this (passive) pair of speakers about the size of shoeboxes, plus added expenses (i.e.: some $3,000) for all the trimmings, not even including amps? Well, indeed, to each their own (sarcasm abound)..

 

I'll counter with advertising for British manufacturer ATC instead: How about a pair of ATC SCM20ASL Pro fully active(!) monitors, for some $6,000/pair? Being that they are active they're at least and effectively half the price of the Wilson's, and sonically an easy (albeit likely a different) equal.

https://www.whathifi.com/atc/scm20asl-pro/review   

[MarkS]

On 5/10/2018 at 9:32 PM, The Computer Audiophile said:

I've always wanted a really high end pair of speakers to use for 10 hours per day. Even though my TAD CR1s are right behind me in my office, I still tend to want sound coming from in front of me.

 

 

Boenicke W5SE. Awesome desktop speaker. 

 

Heard the tunetot for 15 minutes this weekend with an $8000 Naim Nova integrated. Looks cool as a system and sounded decent, but I’ll take my little W5SE’s with the Job INT at less than half the cost.  

[skids929]

On 6/17/2018 at 2:38 PM, MarkS said:

 

Boenicke W5SE. Awesome desktop speaker. 

 

Heard the tunetot for 15 minutes this weekend with an $8000 Naim Nova integrated. Looks cool as a system and sounded decent, but I’ll take my little W5SE’s with the Job INT at less than half the cost.  

 

 

I heard the TT with NAIM as well and if I stopped there I would NEVER have bought them. I took a chance and brought my amp (Sugden IA4) to my dealer and what a difference. Even the dealer was shocked. 

 

It's a lesson in the fact that Wilson is literally a reverse microphone and reveals whatever is behind it. You need to choose your gear wisely and listen to amps and dacs before settling on Wilsons. But once you get it right boy do they reward you. Best monitor speakers I've ever heard in my audiophile life, which is about 25 years. 

 

Happy Listening. 

[PeterG]

ROFL...at myself.  I had forgotten this thread of 4 years ago until drawn by skids post a few minutes ago.  In 2018 I was wondering who would drop $10K+ on these when there are so many fine alternatives for less....but...  I've had my TuneTots on stands for a couple of months now.  They are wonderful and worth every penny as stand mounts in a main system.  I think Wilson did themselves a bit of a disservice launching these as desktops, but as someone who does not have WAF for SabrinaX's I am deeply grateful they launched them.