The WATT (Wilson Audio Tiny Tot) was originally Dave Wilson's portable monitor he created for personal use. After experiencing the consequences of having inadequate monitors on site at a recording, Dave later recounted the experience: “The recording was completely unacceptable. It was at that point in time that I realized if I was going to continue recording, continue my efforts to capture the actual sound of the live event, I needed a portable monitor that spoke the same language as the WAMM.” 


As Dave sat on the beach one evening while on vacation, an architecture for a portable loudspeaker began to form in his mind. He traced its shape into the sand. Later, he began drafting these ideas on paper. The design quickly took shape, and more details fell into place. As the trip neared its end, Dave had completed most of the engineering drafts and drawings for his new portable location monitor.  He felt a new sense of purpose, experienced the exhilaration that accompanied a new creative endeavor, and felt an uncanny sense that he was on the verge of something important. He committed to himself—and to Sheryl Lee—to begin constructing prototypes of his location monitor the minute they returned to Novato. 

Dave had no intention of selling the WATT as a commercial product. However, after a CES show, where the WATT's were used to demo a recording, the Wilson Audio exhibit attracted large crowds, and hundreds of attendees saw—and heard—the WATT during the show. Just as was true for Dave and Sheryl Lee a few weeks earlier, the WATT was unlike anything audiophiles had seen or heard. 


Without intending to do so, Dave had designed a product that engendered strong aspirational desire. While his WAMM demonstrations produced a similar feeling for many listeners, the feasibility of actually purchasing a pair was often well beyond the means of the potential buyer. The WATT was affordable in this context. 

WATT Series 1 Technical Specifications

Released: 1986   
Retired: 1989

Drivers

Tweeter
1 -1 inch Fiberglass Inverted Dome
Midrange
1 - 6.5 inch

Enclosures & Materials

Mass Damped Acrylic Polymer

Measurements

Impedance
Nominal 4ohm (.5 to 1 ohm dip at 2kHz)
Frequency Response
+1, -3dB, 58Hz to 18 kHz
Sensitivity
91dBA/1W/1M)
Minimum Amplification
30 watts

Overall Dimensions

WATT Dimensions
Height
13 5/8 inches
Width
11 1/6 inches (Painted or Granite)
Width
11 7/8 inches (Wood Panles)
Depth
16 1/2 inches
Weight
120 lbs. pair (63lbs. each)
Crated Weight
166 lbs. pair