“Legend” is not a title we bestow lightly. To earn this distinction, simply delivering an outstanding product in a given category isn’t good enough; this title is reserved for true icons – models that anyone with even a passing interest in hi-fi can name off the top of their head, and that have decisively shaped the audiophile landscape. The Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy undoubtedly meets these criteria, even though its creation was somewhat serendipitous: after Dave Wilson – spurred by the urging of those who had heard it – turned his personal, uncompromising WATT (Wilson Audio Tiny Tot) mini-monitor into a commercial product, he complemented it three years later with the “Puppy” bass module to cover the lowest octaves. The system subsequently became one of the best-selling high-end loudspeakers of all time. Even though the model disappeared from catalogs for a time, its design – a mid-high frequency unit atop a bass module – continues to define Wilson Audio’s product lineup to this day and served as a blueprint for numerous competitors. To celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary, the Provo-based manufacturer revived the name, albeit equipped with the latest advancements in driver technology, crossover components (including in-house manufactured capacitors), and – not least – cabinet materials. In principle, the new model remains true to its origins from nearly 40 years ago, yet it feels anything but a throwback to the past. It fits seamlessly into the current loudspeaker lineup and the broader high-end landscape – as if it had never been away.
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