Loudspeakers

The (new) WATT/Puppy’s response [Graph 1, below] has many of the features already seen in the Alexia V [HFN Jan ’23] and Sasha V [HFN Sep ’23] – including the modes associated with the 178mm mid driver at 500Hz-1kHz and step at 3.5kHz once the 25mm CSC tweeter gets into it stride. These modes are also reflected in the CSD waterfall [Graph 2] along with the familiar low-level treble resonance at 14kHz. Nevertheless the overall response of this smaller cabinet is more uniform – errors are reduced by ~1dB over the Sasha V to just ±2.6dB and ±2.7dB, respectively, here – and the pair-matching is a superb 0.25dB (200Hz-20kHz) if we ignore a short-lived departure to 0.6dB at ~3.5kHz. Toeing in by 15° further flattens the presence/treble [grey trace, Graph 1] while the grilles are relatively benign [blue].

The reduced cabinet volume means bass distortion is a little higher (0.5%/100Hz/90dB SPL at 1m versus 0.25% for the Sasha V) and extension slightly reduced. Nevertheless, while the two 203mm pulp woofers have a symmetrical but rather ‘peaky’ response (84Hz here rather than the lower 74Hz of the Sasha V) they are augmented by the much broader 20-80Hz (–3dB) tuning of the rear reflex port to deliver a still impressive, diffraction-corrected 38Hz (–6dB re. 200Hz). Like the Sasha V, the WATT/Puppy is a fairly tough load but the smaller newcomer still bests its bigger sibling with a 1.5dB advantage in sensitivity – 91.8dB vs. 90.3dB/1kHz, smashing its 89dB rating. Wilson’s specified minimum 2.87ohm/86Hz impedance is broadly met at 2.6ohm/97Hz while the modest +25°/–47° phase angles in the bass region contribute to a minimum 1.2ohm EPDR at 77Hz. PM