Wilson Audio TuneTot Review (high-end bookshelf speaker)

[srrxr71]

Wilsons look pretty cool and I'm not sure which speakers could give you the same SPL
KEF One Blade Meta? Don't think so
Which studio monitors ? Not sure
So there's that too

Wait you’re telling me that tiny thing can deliver higher SPL than KEF blade or 8361 leave alone 8381?

He said he found resonances at 96dB.

I’m confused. If this thing could deliver 110dB without distortion or compression it might be worth it to some. But given its size that might require channelling the physics of other dimensions.

 

[pollock0424]

JFC!! I've never seen this review but..
What on God's green Earth

 

[LeeH]

Well... here it is 2025 and I just purchased a pair of the used TuneTots from a Wilson dealer. They came with all the accessories (including their 70lbs per side stands) Wilson would like you to buy. I called Wilson. They keep records on all their products. This pair was built in May of 2018. Beautiful construction and finish. These speakers sound horrible with my low-current, class D NAD 3020. With the Benchmark AHB2 and RME-ADI DAC/Preamp it is a whole other story. Without EQ they sound fine... better than all the other ~$10K speakers that I auditioned. The problem is these are rare on the used market, and they currently cost $18.5K new. If you buy as a Certified pair, you get access to a 3-year warranty. There are few brands like McIntosh and Wilson. They deserve some respect.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Well... here it is 2025 and I just purchased a pair of the used TuneTots from a Wilson dealer. They came with all the accessories (including their 70lbs per side stands) Wilson would like you to buy. I called Wilson. They keep records on all their products. This pair was built in May of 2018. Beautiful construction and finish. These speakers sound horrible with my low-current, class D NAD 3020. With the Benchmark AHB2 and RME-ADI DAC/Preamp it is a whole other story. Without EQ they sound fine... better than all the other ~$10K speakers that I auditioned. The problem is these are rare on the used market, and they currently cost $18.5K new. If you buy as a Certified pair, you get access to a 3-year warranty. There are few brands like McIntosh and Wilson. They deserve some respect.

What other speakers did you compare them to

 

[LeeH]

Wait you’re telling me that tiny thing can deliver higher SPL than KEF blade or 8361 leave alone 8381?

He said he found resonances at 96dB.

I’m confused. If this thing could deliver 110dB without distortion or compression it might be worth it to some. But given its size that might require channelling the physics of other dimensions.

Amir admits that he listens at very loud levels. I assume you know that 96db is extremely loud for home listening. 110db can easily create hearing loss over a period of time, besides not being required for home listening. That's why we have Pro horn equipment.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Well... here it is 2025 and I just purchased a pair of the used TuneTots from a Wilson dealer. They came with all the accessories (including their 70lbs per side stands) Wilson would like you to buy. I called Wilson. They keep records on all their products. This pair was built in May of 2018. Beautiful construction and finish. These speakers sound horrible with my low-current, class D NAD 3020. With the Benchmark AHB2 and RME-ADI DAC/Preamp it is a whole other story. Without EQ they sound fine... better than all the other ~$10K speakers that I auditioned. The problem is these are rare on the used market, and they currently cost $18.5K new. If you buy as a Certified pair, you get access to a 3-year warranty. There are few brands like McIntosh and Wilson. They deserve some respect.

Does it have enough bass?

 

[LeeH]

What other speakers did you compare them to

Sonus Cremona, Focal Sopra, Borresen C1 (a little more $), Alta Audio Alysee (a little less $), Stenheim 2.5, (a little more at a discount), and Triangle something... I can't remember the model number. All with equal or better electronics. I have the KEF LS50 and headphones: Stax 9000, Audeze LCD-5, Dan Clark Stealth, and many more.

 

[LeeH]

View attachment 448958
Does it have enough bass?

I need to get them into the room they will live in to know for sure. Opinion: I probably will need a sub crossed over at 50 or so.

 

[Heinrich]

They deserve some respect.

Don't want to sound like a parrot, but. No.

There's the data. While I'm (scientifically) very critical about data as explanatory, here we have a very clear case of a total fail in nearly every aspect of sound quality, and foremost: regarding sensible design under whatever paradigm. A bass reflex tuning at 90Hz for a full range speaker?!?!?!?

I understand perfectly well, that the more resistance, the more followship. Scientiffically that's a different problem than an engineering one. So, it is not mine.

 

[dfuller]

View attachment 448958
Does it have enough bass?

Dude just look at the charts. It has a peak at 90hz and falls off a cliff below that.

A bass reflex tuning at 90Hz for a full range speaker?!?!?!?

Worse still, that scanspeak has its Fs below Fb.

This is a classic case of "they don't bother simming the very basic stuff".

 

[Pearljam5000]

Dude just look at the charts. It has a peak at 90hz and falls off a cliff below that.


Worse still, that scanspeak has its Fs below Fb.

This is a classic case of "they don't bother simming the very basic stuff".

He should try some $10K actives, he would forget all about the Wilsons

 

[watchnerd]

He should try some $10K actives, he would forget all about the Wilsons

$1K actives would do

 

[Sal1950]

Well... here it is 2025 and I just purchased a pair of the used TuneTots from a Wilson dealer. They came with all the accessories (including their 70lbs per side stands) Wilson would like you to buy. I called Wilson. They keep records on all their products. This pair was built in May of 2018. Beautiful construction and finish. These speakers sound horrible with my low-current, class D NAD 3020. With the Benchmark AHB2 and RME-ADI DAC/Preamp it is a whole other story. Without EQ they sound fine... better than all the other ~$10K speakers that I auditioned. The problem is these are rare on the used market, and they currently cost $18.5K new. If you buy as a Certified pair, you get access to a 3-year warranty. There are few brands like McIntosh and Wilson. They deserve some respect.

I'm hoping they bring you much listening pleasure !
They wouldn't be my cup of tea, I couldn't afford them to begin with, and personally I find small stand mounts that cost over 4 digits way overpriced.
But in any case, as long as your happy that's all that counts, the speaker market offers just sooo many options in sound presentations.
One thing for sure, they will give good impressions of your audio creds in many places on the internet.

 

[Jim Creek]

The profit margin on the TuneTot must be astronomical.

 

[Mr. Widget]

They deserve some respect.

Don't want to sound like a parrot, but. No.

One can argue that they do not offer the highest level of performance or value for their cost, but companies like Wilson and McIntosh do stand behind their products and offer superior customer service compared to many of the more affordable products from other large companies.

For me, aesthetics and customer service are almost as important as the actual performance. I am not a fan of the aesthetics of Wilson, but generally find them pretty listenable. Beyond that, I respect them as a company and have several friends who love their Wilson speakers. At the end of the day that is what matters.

 

[Gremlins]

One can argue that they do not offer the highest level of performance or value for their cost, but companies like Wilson and McIntosh do stand behind their products and offer superior customer service compared to many of the more affordable products from other large companies.

For me, aesthetics and customer service are almost as important as the actual performance. I am not a fan of the aesthetics of Wilson, but generally find them pretty listenable. Beyond that, I respect them as a company and have several friends who love their Wilson speakers. At the end of the day that is what matters.

I dont agree

McIntosh customer service is a joke
How many comments on forums about dudes that have their CD player broken after a couple of years and McIntosh services asking huge amount of dollars to replace the whole system when only a few parts could be changed... They dont even brother opening the thing to check ... Story true that happened to a friend

Btw, the vs system is not McIntosh, its regular mass market japanese inside ...

 

[bennybbbx]

I can believe that owner say it sound better as their other speakers, but not much that it depend on which AMP it use. I like to know how they create the sharp peak in FR at 115 hz and what that happen to group delay . the phaes look good

maybe @amirm can do or have do tests with same speaker but diffrent amps, to see how much changes happen due to amp

when i see the FR results in my room i can get on some places seem i have "High end" room for toon tots near the tune tots need . I have measure diffrent places, and also have a dip . but it is at 104 hz. I hear this dip and sound not good. but boost it with EQ sound good, but it cause me ear tired after some hear and strange feeling. so i place my speakers that this dip is not so much. but when i test on diffrent position i have find places where this DIP is more. the tune tots have also a gap at 200 hz which help in room.

because rooms are not perfect maybe it enhance sound when do speakers that fit more to real rooms. in bass use EQ is worse because it do either phase shifts or prering(on linear eq). both give worse transients. so need choose how much use EQ do get better sound feeling as use no EQ

another speaker position that fit more to the tune tot 115 hz peak . my right speaker have larger gap. i have treatened room and a monster basstrap, but it help only in decay time and not in FR .

and here how the right speaker stand. distance to right wall(with basotect 5 cm" is 0,6 meter.). distance to back wall is 1,7 meter and i have hear position 0,5 meter and position i measuted currently with the d3v.

the truth seem. room matter most, so i did not believe a expensive speaker increase sound much or a expensive amp. maybe spend 1000 $ for treaten room give better results becaause it reduce the decay times.

the tune tots are also correct time align can see in step response and users should them align to their hear position stand in tune tot manual

https://www.wilsonaudio.com/media/347/manual-tunetot.pdf

Section 2�3—Correcting for the Time Domain
Like all ultra-high per formance loudspeakers, TuneTot will sound far more
lifelike if the time domain is properly corrected. In a compact two-way design
such as TuneTot, this can be effectively achieved by angling the baffle in correct
relationship to the listener. When the time domain is properly adjusted in a Tune -
Tot installation, ever y aspect of sound reproduction is improved—including tonal
accuracy and beauty, transient speed, soundstage and imaging, and a sense of
dynamic contrast

 

[Purité Audio]

Manufacturers used to be able to make these products before measurement became widely available and understood.
Keith

 

[Penelinfi]

For cheaper, more traditional "well measuring" using same/similar woofer, you could build Zaph zd5, or buy Trophet or Trophet R speaker (flat pack kit with veneered panels)

It is quite a decent woofer considering it's been around a while. Of course, still 5.25" so if you really like loud you need a sub or larger speakers

 

[LeeH]

I'm hoping they bring you much listening pleasure !
They wouldn't be my cup of tea, I couldn't afford them to begin with, and personally I find small stand mounts that cost over 4 digits way overpriced.
But in any case, as long as your happy that's all that counts, the speaker market offers just sooo many options in sound presentations.
One thing for sure, they will give good impressions of your audio creds in many places on the internet.

Well said Sal. Thanks! This is a hobby, career, and passion of mine. I actually paid under $10k... which was one of the deciding factors. I probably would have chosen the Stenheim 2.5 if taking them to Brazil, $7K more, and the pair needing to be placed in a 9'X11' room were not factors. Some of the comments have been a little off-key.