Wilson Benesch presented the much lauded A.C.T.C60 throughout the show. On the back of a strong review in Stereo and third place in the all time magazine rankings, the A.C.T.C60 was a popular choice for audiophiles around the show. In support Wilson Benesch displayed the Odyssey Range. Now approaching its 10th-year in production the range remains as popular as ever, indeed the flagship Chimera placed a high 6th in the aforementioned Stereo Magazine ranking; a testament to the strength of the technologies that Wilson Benesch have engineered.

Also on display and very much at the center of attention for our visitors was the first two products in the new Geometry Series. The floor standing Vector and the stand mounted Vertex, complete with the new Tactic II drive unit and Wilson Benesch’s first tweeter, the Semisphere. The Geometry Series is a technological advance in loudspeaker design. Built with no internal bracing and from extremely rigid, mutually damping alloys and advanced composites. In terms of signal to noise ratio the Geometry Series is at the front of the field.

Of course with any Hi-Fi show, a number of important people make the show what it is. First of all we would like to extend our gratitude to all the attendees of the show and our customers who we are always thrilled to meet. A special thank you to our partners at the show, Audionet, who provided amplification for our presentation. Another important element must be recognised in our German distribution company Taurus high-end. Finally it was a pleasure to meet our key business partners from around the globe and wish them all the success with the Wilson Benesch brand.

Here to share are our little experiences of the weekend.

Wilson Benesch A.C.T. C60 LE Receives another review.

Download the full unedited PDF from our Reviews page.

“people from the industry or even audio engineers; they all pay homage to a seemingly inconspicuous loudspeaker from British suppliers – Wilson Benesch”

Read the whole review.  English translation of the A.C.T. C.60 L.E. is now available.

Written by one of Germany’s leading audio critics, Mathias Bode of the influential German Journal, STEREO.

Download the full translated PDF from our Reviews page.

You might also be interested to read the findings of the Journal of Neurophysiology. One of a number of papers on perception of high frequency sound that can be found Journal of Neurophysiology.

Stereo also recently announced updated rankings for all speakers reviewed in the magazine. Wilson Benesch are delighted to announce that in the performance category the A.C.T. C60 placed 3rd overall in the rankings with a 97% score. Further to this the Chimera with 96%, placed 6th overall. Clearly we are delighted with the results. At the end of the year the Odyssey Range will reach its 10th-year, but continues to have a strong market presence. A testament to the strength of the technologies harnessed by Wilson Benesch, which are common across the Odyssey Range from Chimera to Arc.

Set in the grounds of the historic 19th-century Staniastate country estate. The building, which is now occupied by an architectural firm, provided a beautiful backdrop to a presentation of Wilson Benesch products.

Please see the slideshow below, provided by Audio Excellence.

Netherlands
Audio Excellence
Looierij 11
4762 Am Zevenbergen
Holland
Tel: +31 168 335180
Fax: +31 168 335973
e: info@audioexcellence.nl
w: www.wilsonbenesch.nl

Download the full unedited PDF from our Reviews page.

The measure of charisma, intensity, edge-sharp illustration, delivered with absolute precision, is fascinating. How does the Wilson Benesch A.C.T C60 deliver all this? Uncompromising technology and processing from Wilson Benesch midrange to the ultrasonic Murata “sphere” Super Tweeter.

Hesitate at your peril, for you will miss one of the most exciting loudspeakers of recent years. With the A.C.T. C60, the British manufacturer Wilson Benesch sets new standards!

Note:
Craig Milnes, Wilson Benesch Design Director has long held the view that transient response is a critical concern in high performance audio reproduction. It has been the hallmark of all Wilson Benesch designs to date. This design goal has given rise to a number of unique development paths that clearly define Wilson Benesch loudspeakers and set them apart from every other loudspeaker in the world. Amongst some of the more notable innovations would be the Clamshell Isobaric or Composite Drive Unit that first appeared in the Bishop. In the Chimera (which superseded the Bishop) it can be seen to deliver the fastest low frequency response of any full frequency loudspeaker system in the world. In the Discovery, another unique design in itself, the Clamshell Isobaric can be seen to produce the most impressive low frequency extension from a relatively tiny enclosure. Moreover, the patented design, the Torus Infrasonic Generator that came out of another Government funded research project is also completely original. It is a design that demonstrates not only how the company is prepared to reject the status quo, but more importantly, prepared to take high risk innovative leaps forward.

The same enthusiasm for new technologies that answer problems can be seen in the case of the Patented Murata piezo device. Following certain adaptions, this component was adopted by Wilson Benesch in 2006 and incorporated into Wilson Benesch designs as the Sphere. The Sphere not only demonstrates the importance of sound above 20KHz but also demonstrates that uncontrolled resonant energy above 20KHz should not be ignored. Sound above 20KHz is clearly perceptible, probably by unknown mechanisms that are currently outside our present understanding of human auditory perception.

Wide bandwidth sound is an important agenda that has been made relevant by new technologies that show that when reproduced in a controlled way, can make a significant contribution to the recreation of high quality sound reproduction. The contribution to the overall performance made by the Sphere is clearly demonstrated and often referred to by Matthias Bode in his review on the A.C.T. C60 Limted Edition.

The Sphere (The gold plated ceramic dome above the tweeter ) lays claim to providing a transient response that is the nearest thing possible to instantaneous. Its response capabilities are several orders of magnitude superior to any technology that relies upon a coil within a magnetic field. The Sphere may be exotic and expensive but it achieves what was previously impossible.

MADFORMUSIC SAS
Toniolo Dimitri
Proudly Presents

Salvatore Accardo

Venue Rome

On Demonstration

ACT 0,5 TONEARM, DISCOVERY, TORUS

For further details see Poster, refer to web site or email Dimitri at Mad For Music directly.

www.grangaladellaltafedelta.com
www.madformusic.it
info@madformusic.it

The directors would like to thank first of all Tim Jordan of Jordan Acoustics for making this event possible. Secondly thanks go to Ken Ishiwata for providing such an unequivocal case for wide band width sound reproduction. A big thank you to the Chester Group for organising such a fantastic event and finally to all the people who attended.

Courtesy of Jordan Acoustics and MARANTZ.
Ground Floor Syndicate Room 11

Having won critical acclaim in Hong Kong, the legend that is Ken Ishiwata will be baptising attendees by immersing them in the ultimate in Wide Bandwidth, High Resolution SACD based sound at this years show.

MARANTZ Source and amplification will deliver to Trinity satellites and Torus producing a near ideal combination, with a bandwidth from 18 to 100 KHz Surround Sound.

Please note: This is a closed room event and seats are strictly limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment by emailing timj@jordanacoustics.co.uk or by calling 0800 121 477.

Both Directors will be attending this event and look forward to seeing you.

In addition to basic information there is a huge amount of detail on the many options that are possible with this versatile design.

Illustrations are used wherever possible to explain everything from the basic connections to the possibilities of single or multiple set ups, hints and tips for optimising the system and much, much more.

This is a large PDF file, so please be patient when downloading.

Please click here to download the Torus manual

The Trinity marks a further departure from the conventional loudspeaker design. The key objectives were to achieve the most natural sound with the lowest possible noise floor. Close attention has been paid to phase, uncontrolled resonance and bandwidth, with point source characteristics being the guiding principle.

This landmark design sets the agenda in the pursuit of high definition, wide bandwidth sound reproduction. It pays homage to the capability of Vinyl source material, as well as the greater bandwidth capability of SACD and DVD Audio formats.

The Trinity can be used on its own, or in combination with the Torus system to achieve the ultimate in terms of high quality, wide bandwidth, high definition sound.

What a system like the Torus and Trinity deliver is balance, seamless extension at both frequency extremes that embraces and enhances the midband, creating a coherent whole that makes greater sense of the musical performance – and gives greater access to it.

Roy Gregory, HiFi+ Magazine, 2008

FINISHES

MANUAL

WIDE BANDWIDTH BROCHURE

SPECIFICATIONS

WHITE PAPER

The A.C.T. C60 is a celebration of the original A.C.T. design, that preceded it fifteen years ago. The design documents a development path that is a logical sequence of steps towards the unobtainable – perfection.

The C60 is also a benchmark for the companies extensive manufacturing capability, and can be seen as a masterclass in modern engineering. The design elements are the end result of years of work and incorporate a broad range of exclusive technologies. The design represents a significant new chapter of development that is, as you would expect completely unique.

The A.C.T. C60 can lay claim to the best signal to noise ratio of all the Wilson Benesch loudspeakers and it follows that you, as the listener will be in the privileged position of enjoying the nearest thing to the ideal transducer. This is attributable to the relatively small cabinet architecture and the advanced materials technologies from which it has been assembled.

The measure of charisma, intensity, edge-sharp illustration, delivered with absolute precision, is fascinating. How does the Wilson Benesch A.C.T C60 deliver all this? Uncompromising technology and processing from Wilson Benesch midrange to the ultrasonic Murata “sphere” Super Tweeter.

Matthais Bode, Stereo Magazine, 2010, Germany

The A.C.T. design has evolved over 15 years to its current version and is testimony to the passionate pursuit of technological excellence that the brand is known and admired for throughout the world. The original design collected a number of awards in the first year and its successor was awarded 1st place in the prestigious Stereoplay Grand Prix in Japan.

When combined with the Torus, the A.C.T. C60 system is quite formidable, one that will sincerely reproduce the ambisonics of the church and the transient response of timpani like no other loudspeaker.

Hesitate at your peril, for you will miss one of the most exciting loudspeakers of recent years. With the A.C.T. C60, the British manufacturer Wilson Benesch sets new standards!

Matthais Bode, Stereo Magazine, 2010, Germany

FINISHES

MANUAL

WIDE BANDWIDTH BROCHURE

SPECIFICATIONS

WHITE PAPER

The A.C.T. C60 Limited Edition from Wilson Benesch, where passion and technology meet. Designed without compromise this unique 61 pair Limited Edition puts the listener in the front row like no loudspeaker product before it.

The A.C.T. C.60 Limited Edition is a pure thoroughbred. Building upon the C60, the LE design offers the Wilson Benesch owner the ultimate in prestige. Each pair meticulously built by hand, finished in one of our LE finishes, complete with a LE Serial Plate.

A culmination of all our research, the evolution of the A.C.T. lineage continues. The original A.C.T One showed the world a fresh approach to loudspeaker development revolutionising both design and manufacturing techniques with the C60 we stride ahead once more transporting the music lover in to the heart of the recording; you hear only what the artist intended, nothing superfluous is added and no detail is lost.

When combined with the Torus, the A.C.T. C60 system is quite formidable, one that will sincerely reproduce the ambisonics of the church and the transient response of timpani like no other loudspeaker.

Right now are you considering buying a new car? Perhaps a nice Mercedes Benz C Class, VW Passat or a noble BMW 5-Series? Forget it! My advice would be to consider a car that costs a fraction of the amount. Why? Because you will need the money for a pair of speakers that are driving everybody crazy at the moment! Be it your colleges from work, audiophiles from the heart of the HiFi industry, even an Acoustic Engineer. The point remains, they all pay homage to the speaker of British manufacturer Wilson Benesch, the A.C.T. C 60 Limited Edition.

Matthais Bode, Stereo Magazine, 2010, Germany

FINISHES

MANUAL

WIDE BANDWIDTH BROCHURE

SPECIFICATIONS

WHITE PAPER

The Torus is a paradigm shift in our expectations of low frequency sound. Recognised as one of the most important developments in High End audio, it has been bestowed with awards from across the world year on year.

In every way it is another Landmark design that has huge potential for further development for the company. The versatility of the design lends itself to a wide variety of systems where dynamic control and critical frequency response are key parameters.

One of the most exciting facets of this design is just how alive the primary loudspeakers become when the Torus is added to the equation.

The Torus Infrasonic Generator is completely original in thought and execution and manufactured by Wilson Benesch in Sheffield. The finest materials in the world have been designed into this product, materials technologies that you will not find in any other audio product.

Strokes of genius are rare in any field, but I think Milnes’ Torus qualifies

Jonathon Valin, The Absolute Sounds, 2007

To date, all audio designers attempting to create low frequency sound have produced a variable of the ubiquitous Subwoofer. In reality, the only option available to the consumer, has been to opt for brand A’s version of the collection of parts, as opposed to brand B’s version. As competition has grown, the variables have changed. Bigger amplifiers to drive more in-efficient woofers or different cabinet materials, essentially they have remained the same.

After three years of research and development, the Torus System can be seen to offer a significant departure from the Subwoofer solution for developing infrasonic sound. This product is so different, that it clearly demonstrates the fundamental flaws in the design of the Subwoofer and provides a real alternative for Music and Cinema effects.

adding the Torus transforms the timing and integration of the instruments. The picked melody is more fluid, quicker and more sinuous, the snare more snappy and insistent, the space around the instruments much more apparent, with walls and a floor. Suddenly the music takes on a feeling of underlying urgency that dovetails perfectly with the lyrics.

Roy Gregory, HiFi+ Magazine, 2008

Awards

‘HI-FI+ PRODUCT OF THE YEAR’, Hi-Fi+ Magazine, 2008 (UK)
‘PLATZ HIGHLIGHTS 2007′, Stereoplay Magazine, 2007 (GERMANY)
‘BEST BUY’, Hi-Fi Choice Magazine, 2007 (UK)
‘PRODUCT OF THE YEAR’, The Absolute Sound Magazine, 2006 (USA)
Technology Award ‘HIGHLY COMMENDED’, What Hi-Fi Magazine, 2006 (UK)
***** Review, What Hi-Fi Magazine, 2006 (UK)