Wisdom Audio M-50

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

Hi. Long time since I've posted to this group.

I have an opportunity to acquire a new pair of Wisdom Audio M-50s for
a spectacular price. I'd be replacing Apogee MiniGrands (yes, I like
ribbons.) I've always liked what the Apogees can do with stringed
instruments (bowed, plucked or whatever), but the speakers leave a lot
to be desired in several departments: midrange accuracy, bass
response, etc. The three completely different drivers are not
particularly well-integrated and the crossover isn't great.

There's not much on the web about the M-50s -- just one in-depth
review (glowing.) I've read the TAS article on the M-75 system, but
that's a different animal. I listened to the M-50s for maybe a half
hour several years ago and thought they had potential as a replacement
for the Apogees, but I couldn't really evaluate them properly because
the listening room was very small, the crossover hadn't been optimized
and the rest of the audio chain was inferior to mine.

Before I make the dealer drag these 200-lb (each) monsters to my house
for a demo, I'd like to hear impressions from any of you who have
heard the speakers or know anything about them that would be important
to my decision.

I also have some specific questions:

1) I haven't inquired, but I suspect the great price will not include
a factory rep coming to my house to determine which of the 4000
possible crossover adjustment settings to do. I'm wondering if there's
any way I can get enough information to do that myself, or if all that
flexibility will be useless to me. I'm also wondering if failure to
optimize the crossover will leave me with annoying anomalies in
response.

2) I'm curious about price. Just three years ago the M-50's listed for
$18,900. Now the Wisdom website has them listed for $30,000. Is this
the same speaker and inflation has really returned with a vengeance, or
have improvements been made without changing the model number?

3) I'll be driving the speakers with a pair of CJ MF2200s, nominally
rated at 200wpc. Will that be enough power? FYI, the preamp is a CJ
ART II driven by a Mark Levinson No.39 or VPI Aries/JMW/Clearaudio
Discovery/CJ Premier 15.

I would be vert grateful for any information.

Thanks in advance,
RLG