Alexandria XLF: Idealism and Technology

Dave is an idealist, but he is also a disciplined empiricist. Dave the idealist insists that no detail is too small to be scrutinized. Dave the empiricist knows that it's all too easy to be seduced by the technological promise of a given part. See how these two defining characteristics played out in Wilson's new flagship loudspeaker. 

XLF Port Technology

It’s relatively easy to achieve flat frequency response in an anechoic chamber. But, in the real world, the sound of loudspeakers is highly dependent on the room they’re in. Room-induced bass non-linearities are problems that have generated lots of solutions. One of the most common is active equalization, often processed in the digital domain. The downside is that insertion of an electronic equalizer into the audio signal produces deleterious audible effects in the rest of the frequency spectrum.

Developing the Convergent Synergy Tweeter

Tweeter technology evolved in the first decade of the new century, with new designs using exotic materials such as diamond and beryllium. Proponents of these designs extolled their ultra-wide bandwidth, in some cases extending to beyond 50 kHz. The engineering rationale was that pushing the tweeter’s resonant frequency (or break-up mode) well above the audible spectrum would produce greater linearity within the audible range.

Awards

Outstanding Performance
2012
Product of the Year
2012
Speaker System of the Year
2012
Cost no Object - Loudspeaker of the Year
2012
Joint Loudspeakers of the Year
2013
Stereophile Recommended Components 2017
Stereophile
2017
Recommended Components 2017
2017
Buyers Guide 2018
2017
HIGH-END AUDIO BUYERS GUIDE 2019 | ISSUE 288
2018
the absolute sound 2018 High-End Audio Buyer's Guide
the absolute sound
2018
Recommended Components - Fall Edition
2018
2018 Recommended Components
2018
TAS 2019 Editors' Choice Awards
the absolute sound
2019
the absolute sound 2019 High-End Buyer's Guide
the absolute sound
2019
2020 Editors' Choice Awards
The Absolute Sound
2020
2021 TAS Editors' Choice Awards
the absolute sound
2021

Alexandria XLF Technical Specifications

Released: 2012   
Retired: 2020

Drivers

Woofer
One 13 inch, (33.0 cm)
Woofer
One 15 inch, (38.2 cm)
Midrange
Two 7 inch (17.78 cm)
Tweeter
One 1 inch silk dome (2.54 cm)
Rear Firing Tweeter
One 1 inch silk dome (2.54 cm)

Enclosures & Materials

Woofer Enclosure
XLF port, adjustable rear or front firing
Midrange Enclosure
Rear Ported
Tweeter Enclosure
Sealed

Measurements

Sensitivity
93.5 dB @ 1W @ 1 meter @1 kHz
Nominal Impedance
4 ohms, 3 ohms minimal
Minimum Amplifier Power
7 watts per channel
Frequency Response
19.5 Hz – 33 kHz +/- 3 dB Room Average Response [RAR]

Overall Dimensions

Height
70 1/4 inches, (178.44 cm)
Width
19 13/16 inches, (50.38 cm)
Depth
27 7/8 inches, (70.80 cm)
System Weight Per Channel
655 lbs each (297 kg)
Total System Shipping Weight (approx.)
1910 lbs pair (866 kg)