Wilmslow Audio

[Filterlab]

As I get closer to the next upgrade stage in my Hi-Fi journey (pending the increase in musicality that the bespoke balanced valve buffer that David is building me will undoubtedly produce), I’m looking at larger, and more capable / revealing / musical speakers - not that there’s anything really ‘wrong’ with my B&W 683s, they are spectacular given their price, but a little more involvement would be nice as they do seem rather ‘polite’ if that’s the correct term.

Scanning the used speakers market at around the £3,000-£3,500 mark, I stumbled upon the Prestige model (https://www.wilmslowaudio.co.uk/prestige-1697-p.asp) from Wilmslow Audio. A very nice looking speaker with great specs and a seemingly positive review from a user on their website.

Now I’m not averse to carpentry and DIY, in fact I love it. I particularly enjoy buying something flat-packed and improving on it as I build. So this made me wonder if DIY speakers might be worth a shot.

Comments on this particular model mention a little cabinet resonance from some folk (which should be relatively straight forward to cure at the build stage) and also improving the crossover components. Given the wealth of ‘Hi-Fi’ electronic components out there, and the fact I repair computers for a living, I’m also confident this should be relatively straight forward.

So, your thoughts and experience please gents, with Wilmslow Audio speakers in general and your DIY knowledge.

Worth a shot to get a superior speaker, or buy a used pair that are built by companies who specialise?

[walpurgis]

Shades of Avalon there :).

Some very good drive units employed. Those bass drivers alone would cost the average bloke a week's pay.

[Haselsh1]

Only my personal opinion of course but I think it is the only way to truly get exactly what you want.

[Filterlab]

Shades of Avalon there :).

Some very good drive units employed. Those bass drivers alone would cost the average bloke a week's pay.

Yes, my thoughts exactly - both on the similarity to Avalons, and those mighty 12" bass drivers.


Only my personal opinion of course but I think it is the only way to truly get exactly what you want.

Again, that's what I had in mind. I find speakers the trickiest thing to swap in a system as the change in sound can either make or break the culmination of all the other components, whereas swapping boxes results (generally, if done carefully) in a quality increase only, or at worst a slight change in presentation.

____

Have either of you chaps successfully built your own speakers?

[walpurgis]

Have either of you chaps successfully built your own speakers?

Probably fifty odd pairs of all sorts of design and size, including custom big Tannoy enclosures, 1/4 wave transmission lines and large folded horns, etc. Not built anything for years though, but I have recently stocked up on components for a project using only vintage parts, there'll be none of yer mucky ferrofluid in these babies :).

(I did sometimes build to sell and also took on bespoke orders at one stage)

[Pharos]

You are of course relying on the integrity of the designer, and I note no levels given for the frequency response range.
My experiences of Wilmslow have all been good.

[Filterlab]

Probably fifty odd pairs of all sorts of design and size...

Blimey! That's some good going. You're the man in the know then. :)


You are of course relying on the integrity of the designer, and I note no levels given for the frequency response range.
My experiences of Wilmslow have all been good.

Nice to hear that your experiences of WA are good. I'll email them and see if I can get a full spec sheet. I already have a BK Double Gem sub and Emotosound Super Tweeters (exceptional additions in both cases and can be tailored to match with ease), but it'd be interesting to know the in-room responses.

[Macca]

I've heard the Prestige at Wilmslow Audio back when they actually were located in Wilmslow. A bloke came in who had just built the kit and wanted to compare his build with the demo version in the store. I tagged along on the demo.

They were very good indeed, I wouldn't have any qualms about buying them if I had the competence to build them.

[Filterlab]

I've heard the Prestige at Wilmslow Audio back when they actually were located in Wilmslow. A bloke came in who had just built the kit and wanted to compare his build with the demo version in the store. I tagged along on the demo.

They were very good indeed, I wouldn't have any qualms about buying them if I had the competence to build them.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm definitely even more tempted than I was an hour ago. :lol:

[AD Audio]

Hi Rob,
I bought and built and later sold some Prestiges. These were the model with the famed ATC mids. They were an easy build and sounded very indeed. Also easy to drive with valve or ss. The cabs could do with a bit of reinforcement.
Do ask any more qs you have. Wilmslow service was a bit patchy eg a capacitor unsoldered on the crossover and after a 3 month wait they accidentally cancelled my mid range order
David

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

[Filterlab]

Hi David,

Thanks for the info mate. I would certainly be ensuring bracing was good on the way through the build, nice to hear that they sound good. I'd probably upgrade the crossover components where suitable.

[ovlov854]

Hi Rob
I had and enjoyed a pair of WA Home Studio Monitors for many year on the end of SS and valve gear but with a bespoke cabinet and stand

https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?60298-F-S-Custom-Built-Home-Studio-Monitor-with-matching-stands

My only criticism was that when they went back for a complete crossover upgrade it took rather a long time...............:(

[irb]

I'm wondering, from your original post, if you're open to the thought of other kit options, besides the Wilmslow Prestige? I have nothing against Wilmslow incidentally - it's just that there are other interesting options out there.

For example there are Troels Gravesen's designs. At the price of the Prestige you could build something like the ATS-4. (See here (http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/ATS-4.htm)for the design and here (http://www.jantzen-audio.com/ats-4/)for the kit.) No cabinets (or even flat-packs) are available, mind you.

Another kit that intrigues me, at a lower price level, is the Philharmonic BMR monitor designed by Dennis Murphy. There's some info about it here (http://www.philharmonicaudio.com/). It would mean buying a kit of drivers/crossover from the US, and building a cabinet from scratch.

If none of that appeals, or you've already settled on the Prestige please ignore this post. :)

[Filterlab]

Wow, those are very nice. Unfortunately I simply don’t have the tools to build from scratch. They are jolly handsome though!

[337alant]

I also wanted to build a pair of prestige speakers so I went and demoed them, what I didnt realise is how big they are and that was a show stopper for me they were way to big for my room
The one that interests me the most is the Encore and I enquired about them with Wilmslow but they say it can take up to 3 months to get the drivers ?

I am rebuilding the crossover on a pair of SM110s atm and it took them 3 weeks just to answer an email from me after repeated calls so nothing happens quickly at Wilmslow now
I am still using the classique kit with the soft dome tweeter option and I love them

Alan

[jahsavage]

As an alternative I suggest you save the existing cross overs and build a new set using quality parts from HiFi Collective.
I'm not suggesting this approach will be cheap but it will be a voyage of discovery which will hopefully deliever the sound you want.

[jahsavage]

Hi Rob

You can start off by first photographing your cross over to help identify the parts, next disconnect a signal path capacitor and dangle some crocodile wires so you can easily experiment with substituting the capacitor.
Check out the capacitor you have disconnected and purchase a better quality one, you will be amazed at the difference you can get by just changing one component.

Regards
Paul

[losepete]

Hi Rob

As you say "not that there’s anything really ‘wrong’ with my B&W 683s, they are spectacular given their price, but a little more involvement would be nice as they do seem rather ‘polite’" I am just wondering if it is worth your while to experiment with different cabling, both speakers and interconnects, to see if you can achieve a "better sound" without the expense of changing speakers.

I am not familiar with the B&W 683 so had a quick Google where I found these setup tips on What HiFi? - see https://www.whathifi.com/bw/683-s2/review

B&W has supplied plinths to fit the bottom of the speakers for health and safety reasons, in case they topple.
However, we think the speakers sound better with the plinths off. Timing is tighter and fine detail is more apparent.
We’d also recommend biwiring the speakers and standing them in generous space, with a little toeing in to solidify stereo imaging.


That leads me to suggest looking at alternative plinth material, maybe granite or slate, as well as cabling.

The Prestige speakers do look nice though.

Just some thoughts...

[Filterlab]

Thanks for your replies. I've actually sold the 683s and replaced them with the (frankly marvellous) Revier Edingdales, which will be staying with me for many moons as they'll easily cater for vast front-end upgrades for years.

Would have been nice to do a build myself, but when I sat and thought about it, I barely have enough time to listen let alone build stuff. :lol:

The 683s worked well, but the Edingdales are in a different league altogether. I had the 683s off their plinths already and tried biwiring, but that made them worse in fact so I reverted to one run plus jumpers of the same pedigree. To be honest they were just outclassed by the front end and amplification and were far better suited to my old Arcam DAC and amp than the ruthless Leema / Bel Canto combination.