Wilson Audio Alexandria XLF Owner's Manual

Alexandria XLF—Owner’s Manual

T a b l e o f C o n T e n T s

Contents

S e c t i o n 1 — i n t r o d u c t i o n � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7

S e c t i o n 1 � 1 — i n t r o d u c t i o n � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9

C r o s s L o a d F i r i n g p o r t s y s t e m ( X L F ) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9

n e w a r C h i t e C t u r e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 0

s - m a t e r i a L m i d r a n g e B a F F L e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 1

C o n v e r g e n t s y n e r g y ™ t w e e t e r � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 2

a s p h e r i C a L p r o p a g a t i o n d e L a y � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 3

S e c t i o n 2 — i n Y o u r r o o m � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 7

S e c t i o n 2 � 1 — r o o m A c o u S t i c S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 9

F i n a L L i s t e n i n g r o o m s e t u p ( v o i C i n g ) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 9

Z o n e o F n e u t r a L i t y � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 9

S e c t i o n 2 � 2 — r o o m r e f l e c t i o n S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 1

s L a p e C h o � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 1

s t a n d i n g w a v e s � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 4

C o m B F i L t e r e F F e C t � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 5

S e c t i o n 2 � 3 — r e S o n A n c e S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 5

s t r u C t u r a L r e s o n a n C e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 6

v o L u m e r e s o n a n C e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 6

S e c t i o n 2 � 4 — Y o u r r o o m � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 7

r o o m s h a p e s � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 7

a L e X a n d r i a X L F i n a d e d i C a t e d h o m e t h e a t e r � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 8

s p e a k e r p L a C e m e n t v e r s u s L i s t e n i n g p o s i t i o n � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 9

s p e a k e r o r i e n t a t i o n � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 9

s u m m a r y � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 0

S e c t i o n 3 — i n i t i A l S e t u p � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 3

Wilson Audio Specialties

3

A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

S e c t i o n 3 � 1 — u n c r A t i n g t h e A l e x A n d r i A � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 5

i n i t i a L C h e C k � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 5

t o o L s r e q u i r e d � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 5

u n C r a t i n g t h e w o o F e r m o d u L e s � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 5

u n p a C k i n g t h e w o o F e r � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 6

u n C r a t i n g t h e a s p h e r i C a L w i n g s � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 7

u n C r a t i n g t h e u p p e r a r r a y m o d u L e s � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 7

u n C r a t i n g t h e C r o s s o v e r C o v e r � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 8

C r a t e C o n t e n t s C h e C k L i s t � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 9

S e c t i o n 4 — f i n A l S e t u p � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 1

S e c t i o n 4 � 1 — i n i t i A l A S S e m b l Y � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 3

r e - a t t a C h p r o p a g a t i o n d e L a y p L a t e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 4

S e c t i o n 4 � 2 – g e o m e t r i c t i m e d o m A i n A l i g n m e n t � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 5

m a t e r i a L s r e q u i r e d : � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 5

p r o p a g a t i o n d e L a y a L i g n m e n t � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 6

r o o m s e t u p � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 6

a L i g n m e n t p r o C e d u r e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 7

i d e n t i F i C a t i o n o F a L i g n m e n t s p i k e s a n d t e t h e r B o L t s � � � � � � 4 7

S e c t i o n 4 � 3 — m o u n t i n g u p p e r A r r A Y m o d u l e S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 8

m a t e r i a L s r e q u i r e d � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 8

m o u n t i n g p r o C e d u r e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 9

i n s t a L L t h e L o w e r m i d r a n g e m o d u L e ( L m r m ) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 9

S e c t i o n 4 � 4 — c o n n e c t i n g t h e u p p e r m o d u l e S ’ S i g n A l c A b l e 5 0

S e c t i o n 4 � 5 — l o c k i n g d o w n t h e u p p e r m o d u l e S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 3

m a t e r i a L s r e q u i r e d � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 3

i n s t a L L i n g t h e t e t h e r B o L t s � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 5

S e c t i o n 4 � 6 — S p i k e i n S t A l l A t i o n � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 5

4

Wilson Audio Specialties

T a b l e o f C o n T e n T s

S e c t i o n 4 � 7 — u S i n g t h e l i f t t o i n S t A l l S p i k e S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 6

m a t e r i a L s r e q u i r e d � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 6

i n s t a L L a t i o n p r o C e d u r e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 7

L e v e L i n g t h e a L e X a n d r i a � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 8

S e c t i o n 4 � 8 — e x p A n S i o n S p i k e S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 0

S e c t i o n 4 � 9 — i n S t A l l i n g t h e b A c k c o v e r S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 0

S e c t i o n 4 � 1 0 — r e S i S t o r S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 1

m i d r a n g e p h a s e r e s i s t o r s � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 2

w o o F e r d a m p i n g r e s i s t o r � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 2

S e c t i o n 4 � 1 1 — A d j u S t i n g t h e x l f p o r t � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 2

C h o o s i n g a p o r t C o n F i g u r a t i o n : � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 2

i n s t a L L i n g t h e p o r t p L u g : � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 3

S e c t i o n 4 � 1 2 — b r e A k - i n p e r i o d � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 4

S e c t i o n 5 — c A r e o f t h e A l e x A n d r i A � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 5

S e c t i o n 5 � 1 — c A r e o f t h e p A i n t e d f i n i S h � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 7

S e c t i o n 5 � 2 — c A r e o f t h e g r i l l e S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 8

S e c t i o n 5 � 3 — e n c l o S u r e c o n S t r u c t i o n � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 9

m a t e r i a L � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 9

a d h e s i v e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 9

C o n C L u s i o n � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7 0

S e c t i o n 6 — t r o u b l e S h o o t i n g � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7 1

S e c t i o n 7 — S p e c i f i c A t i o n S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7 7

S e c t i o n 7 � 1 — S p e c i f i c A t i o n S : � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7 9

S e c t i o n 7 � 2 A l e x A n d r i A x l f d i m e n S i o n S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 0

S e c t i o n 8 — A l i g n m e n t t A b l e S � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 1

Wilson Audio Specialties

5

A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

l o w e r m i d r A n g e m o d u l e d A t A � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 3

h i g h f r e q u e n c Y m o d u l e d A t A � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 4

u p p e r m i d r A n g e m o d u l e d A t A � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 5

l o w e r m i d r A n g e m o d u l e t e t h e r b o l t t A b l e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 6

h i g h f r e q u e n c Y m o d u l e t e t h e r b o l t t A b l e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 7

u p p e r m i d r A n g e m o d u l e t e t h e r b o l t t A b l e � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 8

S e c t i o n 9 — w A r r A n t Y i n f o r m A t i o n � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 9

S e c t i o n 9 � 0 — w A r r A n t Y i n f o r m A t i o n � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9 1

L i m i t e d w a r r a n t y � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9 1

C o n d i t i o n s � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9 1

r e m e d y � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9 2

w a r r a n t y L i m i t e d t o o r i g i n a L p u r C h a s e r � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9 2

d e m o n s t r a t i o n e q u i p m e n t � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9 3

m i s C e L L a n e o u s � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9 3

6

Wilson Audio Specialties

Section 1—Introduction
Section 1—Introduction

s e C T i o n 1 . 1 — i n T r o d u C T i o n

Section 1.1—Introduction

From all of us at Wilson Audio Specialties—thank you for purchasing the Alexan-

dria® XLF loudspeaker. The information contained within the pages of this manual will

inform and instruct you as to how you may enhance and prolong the enjoyment of your

Alexandria loudspeaker.

Alexandria XLF joins the Alexandria family, not as a replacement for the Series 2,

but as its even more ambitious sibling. The new XLF clearly resembles the original Al-

exandria’s form factor, but its architecture has evolved to support new technology. It is

physically larger, with 14% greater bass volume. The bass enclosure’s cabinet walls are

thicker for even greater resonance control. XLF refers to the new Alexandria’s Cross Load

Firing port, a unique passive bass management system. Wilson developed a new tweeter

for the XLF. The midrange baffle is constructed from Wilson’s proprietary S-material. Re-

tuned crossovers and a host of parts—each included as a result of exhaustive experimen-

tation and punctilious listening trials. The Alexandria XLF starts from the lofty foundation

of musicality and resolution established by the Alexandria Series 2, and improves upon

its predecessor’s performance in every musical parameter: greater dynamic contrast, bet-

ter harmonic expression, improved and more consistent bass performance room-to-room,

and increased linearity.

Cross Load Firing port system (XLF)

The Alexandria XLF features Dave Wilson’s latest loudspeaker invention: the Cross

Load Firing port (XLF) system. Dave recognizes that his speakers are often installed in

less-than-perfect environments. But as an idealist, he is concerned about how his loud-

speakers perform in the real world. His idealism in this area has been the motivating

force behind many of his inventions, such as adjustable propagation delay, the primary

purpose of which is to optimize, via precise, prescribed adjustment, the performance of

his loudspeakers in actual residential environments.

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

Perhaps the characteristic that most obviously changes from room to room is bass

performance. Certain listening rooms, such as those with a large number of windows, are

sometimes overly lean in the bass. Others don’t have enough structural ventilation in the

bass, resulting in a tonal balance that is bass-heavy. The negative sonic impact of these

less-than-ideal rooms is often exacerbated by the audiophile propensity to place listen-

ing chairs at or near the center of the room.

The Alexandria has always been a loudspeaker with extended and linear bass per-

formance. But now in the XLF version, the location of the port can be optimized for the

room. Wilson’s Cross Load Firing port is a simple system that allows the Alexandria XLF

to be more consistently optimized in the area of bass performance and extension by

matching the port location to the characteristics of the sound room. Since the system is

completely passive, it avoids the sonic pitfalls symptomatic to all active bass manage-

ment systems.

The Cross Load Firing port System on the Alexandria allows the installer to choose

either a front-firing or rear-firing bass port configuration. The choice depends on room

characteristics, with lean rooms favoring the rear port, and heavy rooms the front port.

The default configuration of the Alexandria XLF is with the bass port installed in the rear.

In rooms where a front-firing port is preferable, it is a simple matter of removing the

brushed aluminum cover plate and port plug from the front, reinstalling these elements

in the rear port, and in turn installing the low-turbulence port hardware on the front of

the bass cabinet.

New Architecture

Dave Wilson is the inventor of several once-patented technologies, including ad-

justable propagation delay and modular construction. In his earliest designs, Dave pi-

oneered the use of proprietary composite materials in his quest to reduce enclosure

resonances. The combination of all these technological factors has always dictated how

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s e C T i o n 1 . 1 — i n T r o d u C T i o n

Wilson loudspeakers look. The convergence of authentic technology and aesthetic ide-

als has produced Wilson Audio’s most iconic shapes. The idealism of Dave’s approach

defines Wilson’s design culture. The new architecture of Alexandria XLF is but the latest

iteration of that philosophy.

The Cross Load Firing port system (XLF) dictated a larger bass enclosure. It is 14%

larger than the Series 2. This enabled the engineers to carefully shape the XLF’s bass

response for an even more linear and room-friendly response. Using the latest analysis

technology, Wilson’s mechanical engineers reworked the woofer cabinet, thickening the

enclosure walls and redesigning the internal bracing geometry. Cabinet contribution in

the bass region was extremely low in the Series 2 Alexandria. The Alexandria XLF is even

more inert.

Alexandria’s “wing” structure, which supports the midrange and tweeter modules in

the upper array, is critical to the design for several reasons: It provides the infrastructure

that facilitates the precise aspherical alignment of the upper modules; and it provides a

low-resonance and extremely rigid platform from which the upper modules launch the

midrange and high-frequency waveforms. In the Alexandria XLF, the wing is thicker and

more substantial than the Series 2’s. It is built entirely of cross-braced X-material, Wil-

son’s extremely rigid and well-damped composite. The new wing provides an extremely

inert platform for the upper three modules.

Finally, the signature Alexandria curves, a metaphor for time-aligned wavelength

progression, have been enhanced to greater effect. Alexandria’s visual presence is at

once more substantial and organic.

S-Material Midrange Baffle

First introduced in Wilson’s venerable WATT/Puppy replacement, the Sasha W/P, S-

material is a wonder of midrange beauty and low-resonance. In combination with X-ma-

terial, S-material reduces measurable and audible noise and coloration in the midrange.

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

This achievement is all the more remarkable given that Wilson’s proprietary M4 material,

first used in the Series 2 Alexandria, established the previous benchmark for midrange

performance.

Convergent Synergy™ Tweeter

The magic of Wilson’s midrange driver is in no small part due to its ability to cover

almost the entire mid-band without interruption of the crossover, including the male

vocal region. This always meant that the driver would be large, and therefore limited

in its upper frequency range. Wilson’s existing inverted titanium dome tweeter has long

proved a successful and coherent match to Wilson’s remarkable midrange driver. Dur-

ing its decade-long development, the current Wilson tweeter has evolved such that it

uniquely excels in the areas of low distortion, resolution of micro and macro dynamics,

and harmonic expression. Wilson’s current tweeter was developed to play down to the

one kilohertz region with low distortion and high power handling ability. Dave has been

willing to trade ultra-wide bandwidth for these more musically important characteristics.

Dave and the engineers have tested a very wide spectrum of tweeters utilizing

domes made from diamond, beryllium, and ceramic. Many of these exhibit flat frequency

response, and are extended into the octaves above the audible bandwidth. But none

matched the dynamic contrast and harmonic expression of Wilson’s current titanium de-

sign. And all have been unable to perform adequately with our midrange driver given its

unique demands.

Three years ago, Dave began a renewed quest for an improved tweeter that culmi-

nated in a proprietary Wilson design for the Alexandria. The result is the Wilson Conver-

gent Synergy Tweeter. The new Wilson tweeter rejects exotic materials in favor of a new

silk dome design that better meets all of Dave’s musical design goals.

The Convergent Synergy tweeter is a proprietary, Wilson-designed driver. With the

Convergent Synergy driver, Dave’s design requirement of ultra low distortion and very ro-

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s e C T i o n 1 . 1 — i n T r o d u C T i o n

bust power handling down in the lower part of its range are beautifully met. These quali-

ties converge with a much higher resonant frequency and flatter frequency response.

The new tweeter is extremely linear. It crosses over synergistically to Wilson’s midrange

driver. It has exemplary off-axis dispersion characteristics in both the frequency and time

domains. The noise floor is lower. Because it has somewhat lower moving mass, its re-

sponse extends to beyond 33 kHz.

But most importantly, it is musically compelling. This is especially evident in its

ability to resolve low level resolution and harmonic textures effortlessly, with no audible

ringing or other distracting colorations. It is the Alexandria XLF midrange’s perfect com-

panion.

Aspherical Propagation Delay

A musical waveform is a complex overlay of frequencies, amplitudes, and phase

relationships. With current technology, no single transducer can reproduce the full range

of music at realistic sound pressure levels while maintaining consistent dispersion. The

solution is the multiple driver array, with specific drivers dedicated to various portions

of the frequency range. Multiple drivers introduce their own set of problems, however,

chief among them the challenge of preserving the precise time relationships of the musi-

cal waveform.

The key to solving this problem lies in Wilson’s innovative and patented Adjustable

Propagation Delay technology, which employs movable modules that allow the indi-

vidual adjustment of the drivers in the time domain. Using this technology, each driver’s

waveform propagation “matches up” with its neighbors’ in such a way to create the sonic

equivalent of a single point source. Certain other loudspeaker makers recognize the need

to correctly align their drivers, but they do so for only one theoretical listening position.

The fact is, misalignment of the drivers by fractions of an inch will audibly degrade

transient accuracy, soundstage height, depth, and width. Misalignment of the drivers will

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

also introduce tonal anomalies that destroy the otherwise convincing “presence” of an

instrument or a singer’s voice. Wilson’s solution for propagation delay correction has

long set the standard for precise driver positioning in order to insure correct time align-

ment for a wide range of real room listening distances and ear heights.

The signature curves in Alexandria’s cabinet are a further evolution of Wilson’s phi-

losophy that truly great forms follow a corresponding function. They are a visual meta-

phor for the solution Wilson Audio pioneered to address issues of phase coherence exac-

erbated by large speaker systems. Typical of the creative process, the solution itself came

as a metaphor, or rather, an analogy to the field of optics and the design of wide-angle

lenses. The means of maintaining edge-to-edge sharpness at both close and far focusing

distances for a high quality wide-angle lens suggested a solution to the similar problem

of time domain accuracy for

large speaker systems at

both near and far listening

positions.

With Alexandria, Wil-

son Audio takes this concept

a logical step further, ad-

dressing the issue of opti-

mal driver dispersion in the

large cabinet system. Ideal

driver dispersion for both

near and far listening posi-

tions requires the drivers to

be adjustable not only for-

ward and back, but also able

to rotate on their polar axes.

14

14

fi g ure 1— Al ex A ndr i A xlf’ S mo d ule S mo v e ASph e ric A llY to

or r ect pr o pAgAt ion del AY

c

Wilson Audio Specialties

Wilson Audio Specialties

s e C T i o n 1 . 1 — i n T r o d u C T i o n

With Alexandria, for the first time ever, you and others you listen with, will hear

your favorite recordings and soundtracks with true time coherency, full frequency range,

unfettered dynamics, and vanishingly low distortion. The improvement in realism wrought

by Alexandria XLF is delightfully revolutionary.

ig ure 2A - ty pic A l l ouD spe Ake rs e xhi bi t le s s t hAn opt imu m

F

pr opAg Ati o n De l Ay AnD Disp ers ion ch Ar A ct e ri s ti cs. th e sou nD
qu Ali ty is com pro mis eD For Al l l ist ene rs in All ro oms .

Fi gur e 2b - As phe ric Al pro pAgAt io n De lAy op t im i ze s Dr iv e r/r oo m in -

te rAc tio n F or A vAri et y o F s it u Ati ons . thi s p ro v iD e s con sis ten tly o pti -
mi zeD re sult s i n A w i De rA n ge oF ro o ms An D l i st eni ng pos iti ons .

fi g ure 2— Al ex A ndr i A’S mo d ule S mo v e AS ph e ric A llY to cor r ec t pr o pAgAt ion de l AY

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

16

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Section 2—In Your Room

s e C T i o n 2 . 1 — r o o m a C o u s T i C s

Section 2.1—Room Acoustics

You are surely excited about setting up your Alexandria XLF loudspeakers and do-

ing some listening, but before you begin, we would like to discuss some of the important

room acoustical information that will help you set up your loudspeakers properly.

Final Listening Room Setup (Voicing)

For a speaker system its size, the Alexandria XLF is unmatched in its ability to repro-

duce the musical event. It is truly state of the art. However, room acoustics and boundary

interactions affect the sound of a loudspeaker to such a large degree that poor setup can

seriously degrade your enjoyment of even the finest loudspeaker.

Therefore, we offer the following section, which will present some guidelines on

room acoustics and their interactions with loudspeakers. While we will also outline some

detailed suggestions on the setup of the Alexandrias, we strongly suggest that you have

your local Wilson Audio dealer perform the final speaker “voicing” with you. Wilson

dealers are specially trained in setting up Wilson loudspeakers and will ensure that you

realize the full value of your purchase.

Zone of Neutrality

The “Zone of Neutrality” is an area in your room where the speakers will sound

most natural. This location is where the speakers interact the least with adjacent room

boundaries. It is important to have a clear working space while determining the Zone of

Neutrality.

The following is a simple method to locate the Zone of Neutrality within your listen-

ing environment:

1. Stand against the wall BEHIND the location where you intend to position
your Alexandrias. Speaking in a moderately loud voice and at a constant
volume, project your voice out into the room. Your voice will have an

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

overly heavy, “chesty” quality because of your proximity to the rear wall.

2. While speaking, slowly move out into the room, progressing in a direc­tion parallel to the sidewall. It is helpful to have another listener seated
in the listening position to assist you during this process. Listen to how
your voice “frees up” from the added bass energy imparted by the rear wall
boundary. Also notice that your voice is quite spatially diffuse (to your as­sistant, your voice will sound spatially large and difficult to localize) as
you begin to ease away from the rear wall.

3. At some point during your progression forward into the room, you will
observe a sonic transition in your voice; it will sound more tonally correct
and less spatially diffuse (your assistant can now precisely localize the ex­act origin of your voice). When you hear this transition, you have entered
the inner edge of the Zone of Neutrality. Place a piece of tape on the floor
to mark this location. Although it will vary from room to room, the zone in
most rooms begins between two and a half to three feet from the rear wall.

4. Continue to walk slowly away from the rear wall. After some distance,
usually one to two feet past the first piece of tape, you will begin to hear
your voice lose focus and appear to reflect (echo) in front of you. This is
caused by the return of the room’s boundary contribution; your voice is
now interacting with the opposite wall. At the point where you begin to
hear the reflected sound of your voice, you have reached the inner edge
of the Zone of Neutrality. Place a piece of tape on the floor and mark this
location. The distance between the “inner” and “outer” edge tape marks is
usually between eight inches (for small, interactive rooms) and three feet
(for large, more neutral rooms).

5. Now position yourself against the side wall perpendicular to the intended
speaker location. Stand between the two tape marks. Using the same pro­cedure as above, begin moving into the room toward the opposite side­wall, progressing between the two pieces of tape. As above, listen for the
point in the room where your voice transitions from bass-heavy and diffuse
to neutral. Mark this point with tape. Continue your progression until there
is an obvious interaction with the opposite wall in front of you and mark

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s e C T i o n 2 . 2 — r o o m r e f l e C T i o n s

this point with tape. The four pieces of tape now form a rectangle that es­tablishes the Zone of Neutrality for the loudspeaker located on that side of
the room. Using the four marks as your guide, tape an outline to define the
boundaries of the rectangle.

6. Repeat this process for each speaker location individually. These are your
Zones of Neutrality, one for each channel.

Theoretically, the Zone of Neutrality for any room runs like a path, parallel to the

walls all around the room. Adjacent to very large windows and open doors, the outer

edge of the Zone of Neutrality moves closer to the wall and becomes wider. If you were

to extend the inner and outer boundaries of the Zone for the sidewalls and the front wall

(behind the speakers), they would intersect. After you complete this procedure for the

other loudspeaker, you will now have two rectangles, one on the floor on either side of

the room.

Note: The more reflective or “live” sounding the room is, the more difficult it will be
to detect the changes in your voice; thus, you may have to repeat this process until
the zones have been determined.

Section 2.2—Room Reflections

Note: The following section contains general information on room acoustics and loud­speaker/room interaction. The concepts outlined below are equally relevant when
dealing with multi-channel audio or home theater. The careful application of these
concepts, as you evaluate the acoustical characteristics of your own room configura­tion, will allow you to optimize the performance of your Alexandrias.

Slap Echo

Probably the most obnoxious form of reflection is called “slap echo.” With slap-

echo, primarily midrange and high frequency sounds reflect off of two parallel hard sur-

faces. The sound literally reverberates back and forth until it is finally dissipated over

time. You can test for slap echo in any room by clapping your hands sharply in the middle

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

of the room and listening for the characteristic sound of the echo in the midrange. Slap

echo destroys the sound quality of a stereo system in two ways:

• It adds harshness to the upper midrange and treble by storing time-domain
smearing energy.

• It destroys the delicate phase relationships, which help to establish an ac­curate soundstage.

Slap echo (see Figure 3) is a common acoustical problem in the typical domestic lis-

tening room because most of these rooms have walls with a hard, reflective nature, only

occasionally interrupted by curtains, wall art, or drapes. The best (but least practical)

solution to eliminate slap echo is nonparallel walls. This is because, rather than support

fi g ure 3— co mm o n ro om ref l ect i on pro b l em S

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s e C T i o n 2 . 2 — r o o m r e f l e C T i o n s

slap-echo, nonparallel walls allow the sound to diffuse. This approach can be accounted

for during the construction process. For existing rooms, slap echo can also be controlled

entirely by the application of absorptive materials to the hard surfaces. These are absorp-

tive materials that can be used to ameliorate slap echo:

• Illbruck Sonex®

• Air duct board

• Cork panels

• Large ceiling to floor drapes

• Carpeting to wall surfaces

In many domestic listening environments, heavy stuffed furnishings reduce slap

echo somewhat. Unfortunately, their effectiveness is not predictable. Diffusers are some-

times also used to very good subjective effect, particularly in quite large rooms. Sound

absorbent materials such as described above will alter the tonal characteristic of the

room by making it sound “deader,” less “bright and alive,” and “quieter.” These changes

usually make the room more pleasant for conversation, but sometimes render it too dull

in the high frequencies to be musically involving. Soundtrack effects will be more local-

ized. However, over-damping the room can render reproduced sound that is lacking in

musical involvement and “aliveness.”

Diffusers, on the other hand, do not affect the tonal balance characteristic of the

room as much. Placed properly, diffusers create a smoother and more open sound. Some

diffusers, due to their construction, create narrow midrange peaks and suck-out the

warmth region. Do not use diffusers on the wall behind the speakers or on the sidewalls

directly beside the speakers. It is our experience that all of these room treatment devices

should be used judiciously.

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

Standing Waves

Another type of reflection phenomenon is “standing waves.” Standing waves cause

the unnatural boosting or accentuation of certain frequencies, typically in the bass, to

be found at certain discreet locations in the room. These locations differ according to

room dimension and size. A room generating severe standing waves creates difficulty in

setup. In these rooms, the speaker will sound radically different as it is moved around.

The effects of standing waves on a loudspeaker’s performance are primarily in the areas

listed.

• Tonal balance

• Resolution of low-level detail

• Soundstaging

Standing waves are more difficult to correct than slap echo because they tend to

occur at a lower frequency. Absorbent materials, such as Illbruck Sonex®, are ineffec-

tive at controlling reflections in the bass region. Moving speakers about slightly in the

room is, for most people, their only control over standing waves. Sometimes a change of

placement of as little as two or three inches can dramatically alter the tonal balance of

a small system.

Fortunately, minor low frequency standing waves are well controlled by positioning

ASC Tube Traps™ in the corners of the room. Very serious low frequency accentuation

usually requires a custom-designed bass trap system.

Low frequency standing waves can be particularly troublesome in rooms construct-

ed of concrete or brick. These materials trap the bass in the room unless it is allowed to

leak out of the room through windows and doors.

In general, placement of the speaker in a corner will excite the maximal number of

standing waves in a room and is to be avoided for most direct radiator, full-range loud-

24

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s e C T i o n 2 . 3 — r e s o n a n C e s

speaker systems. Some benefit is achieved by placing the stereo pair of loudspeakers

slightly asymmetrically in the listening room. This is so the standing waves caused by the

distance between one speaker and its adjacent walls and floors are not the same as the

standing wave frequencies excited by the dimensions in the other channel.

Comb Filter Effect

The “comb filter” effect is a special type of standing wave noticeable primarily at

higher frequencies and shorter wavelengths.

Acoustical comb filtering occurs when sound from a single source, such as a loud-

speaker, is directed toward a microphone or listener from a distance. The first sound to

reach the microphone is the direct sound, followed by a delayed, reflected sound. At

certain frequencies, cancellation occurs because the reflected sound lags in phase rela-

tive to the direct sound. This cancellation is most apparent where the two frequencies are

180 degrees out of phase. Further, there is augmentation at other frequencies where the

direct and the reflected sounds arrive in phase. Because it is a function of wavelength,

the comb filter effect will notch out portions of the audio spectrum at linearly spaced

intervals. Subjectively, comb filter effect evidences itself as follows:

• Added roughness to the sound

• Reduction of harmonic richness

• Smearing of lateral soundstage image focus and placement

Comb filter effects are often caused by side wall reflections. They are best controlled

by very careful speaker placement and by the judicious placement of Illbruck Sonex® or

air duct panels applied to that part of the wall where the reflection occurs.

Section 2.3—Resonances

Resonance in listening rooms is generally caused by two sources:

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

• Structures within the listening room.

• The volume of air itself within the listening room.

Structural Resonance

Structural resonances are familiar to most people as buzzes and rattles, but this type

of resonance usually only occurs at extremely high volume levels and is usually masked

by the music. In many wood frame rooms the most common type of structural resonance

problem is “booming” of walls and floors. You can test for these very easily by tapping

the wall with the palm of your hand or stomping on the floor. Most rooms exhibit mid-

bass “boom” when struck. The loudspeaker playing in the room also excites these reso-

nances. To give you an idea of what the perfect wall would sound like, imagine rapping

your hand against the side of a mountain. Structural wall resonances generally occur in

the low to mid-bass frequencies and add a false fullness to the tonal balance. They, too,

are more prominent at louder levels, but their contribution to the sound of the speaker

is more progressive. Rattling windows, picture frames, lamp shades, etc., can generally

be silenced with small pieces of caulk or with blocks of felt. However, short of actually

adding additional layers of sheet rock to flimsy walls, there is little that can be done to

eliminate wall resonances.

Volume Resonance

The physical dimensions and volume of air in a room will also support standing

wave modes and resonances at frequencies determined by the size of that room. Larger

rooms will resonate at a lower frequency and have more complex (better) modal distri-

butions than will smaller rooms. Volume resonances, wall panel resonances, and low

frequency standing waves combine to form a low frequency coloration in the sound. At

its worst, it is a grossly exaggerated fullness, which tends to obscure detail and distort

the natural tonal balance of the speaker system.

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s e C T i o n 2 . 4 — Y o u r r o o m

Occasionally, however, there is just enough resonance to give a little added warmth

to the sound—an addition some listeners prefer. Careful placement of loudspeakers in

the room can dramatically reduce the speakers’ destructive interaction with low fre-

quency modes. ASC Tube Traps™ are effective in reducing some of this low frequency

room coloration. Custom designed bass traps, such as perforated Helmholtz resonators,

provide the greatest degree of low frequency control.

Section 2.4—Your Room

Room Shapes

Standing waves are pressure waves propagated by the interaction of sound and op-

posing parallel walls. This interaction creates patterns of low and high acoustical pres-

sure zones that accentuate and attenuate particular frequencies. Those frequencies are

dependent on room size and dimension.

There are three basic shapes for most rooms: square, rectangular, and L-shaped (see

Figure 4).

A perfectly square room is the most difficult room in which to set up speakers.

By virtue of its shape, a square room is the perfect medium for building and sustaining

standing waves. These rooms heavily influence the music played by loudspeakers, greatly

diminishing the listening experience.

Long, narrow, rectangular rooms also pose their own special acoustical problems

for speaker setup. They have the ability to create several standing wave nodes, which

will have different standing wave frequency exaggerations depending on where you are

sitting. Additionally, these long rooms are often quite lean in the bass near the center of

the room. Rectangular rooms are still preferred to square rooms because, by having two

sets of dissimilar length walls, standing waves are not as strongly reinforced and will

dissipate more quickly than in a square room. In these rooms, the preferred speaker po-

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

sition for spatial placement and

midrange resolution would be on

the longer walls. Bass response

would be reinforced by speaker

placement on the short walls.

In many cases, L-shaped

rooms (See Figure 4) offer the

best environment for speaker

setup. Ideally, speakers should

be set up along the primary (lon-

gest) leg of the room. They should

fire from the end of the leg (short

wall) toward the L, or they should

be along the longest wall. In this

way, both speakers are firing the

same distance to the back wall.

The asymmetry of the walls in L-

shaped rooms resists the buildup

of standing waves (see Figure 4).

Alexandria XLF in a Dedicated
Home Theater

Home theaters can be orga-

nized many different ways. Some

use rows of couches. Others use

rows of multiple chairs.

In addition to watching

28

fi g ure 4— po SS i ble lou d Sp e A ke r pl A ce m e nt wit h in

Ar i ouS ro o m S h Ape S

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s e C T i o n 2 . 4 — Y o u r r o o m

movies, most users want to listen to two-channel music at the highest quality possible.

It is desirable, therefore, to choose a single optimum seating position in a home theater

and build the rest of the seating positions around this position.

If your optimum position is located on a couch, you should center the loudspeakers

on the middle position of the couch.

If the seating area consists of multiple rows of chairs, the second row should be

optimized for the best sound quality. Odd numbers of chairs arranged in rows work best

as this will allow a single chair to be positioned in the center. This approach will also

provide the best overall sound for the greatest number of seats.

Speaker Placement Versus Listening Position

The location of your listening position is as important as the careful setup of your

Alexandria speakers. The listening position should ideally be no more than 1.1 to 1.25

times the distance between the tweeters on each speaker. Therefore, in a long, rectan-

gular room of 12’ x 18’, if the speaker tweeters are going to be 9’ apart, you should be

sitting 9’11’’ to 11’3’’ from the speaker. This would be more than halfway down the long

axis of the room.

Many people place the speakers on one end and sit at the other end of the room.

This approach will not yield the finest sound. Carefully consider your listening position.

Our experience has shown that any listening position that places your head closer than

14” from a room boundary will diminish the sonic results of your listening.

Decide where you want your favorite listening position to be. Please remember that

your Alexandria XLF will fill almost any room with the most beautiful sound available.

Because the propagation delay is adjustable on the Alexandrias, if you take care in plac-

ing your new speakers, you will optimize Alexandria’s performance in your room.

Speaker Orientation

Speaker placement and orientation are two of the most important considerations

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

in obtaining superior sound. The first thing you need to do is eliminate the sidewalls as

a sonic influence in your system. Speakers placed too close to the sidewalls will suffer

from a strong primary reflection. This can cause out-of-phase cancellations, or comb fil-

tering, which will cancel some frequencies and change the tonal balance of the music.

The Wilson Audio Setup Procedure (Section 2.1) is the best method with which to posi-

tion your loudspeakers. Start with the speakers about 18” from each wall and, if you need

to move them relative to the side wall, move them away from the wall, not closer.

A very important aspect of speaker placement is how far from the back wall to place

the speakers. The closer a loudspeaker is to the back wall, the more pronounced the low

bass energy and centering of the image will be. However, this comes at a definite reduc-

tion in stage size and bloom as well as a deterioration of upper bass quality. You must

find the proper balance of these two factors, but remember, if you are partial to bass

response or air and bloom, do not overcompensate your adjustments to maximize these

effects. Overcompensated systems are sometimes pleasing in the short-term, but long-

term satisfaction is always achieved through proper balance.

The Alexandria XLF is designed for maximum phase coherence and pulse replication

accuracy when each speaker is aimed directly at the listener or microphone. Thus, your

Alexandria should be “toed in.” In other words, the listener, when seated in the listening

position looking forward with his/her head in a rested position, should just barely see the

surface of the inner side of each Alexandria. Toeing in the speakers provides meaningful

improvements in resolution of low-level detail in the midrange as well as appreciable

improvements in soundstaging performance.

Summary

In summary, for optimal tonal balance accuracy, resolution of low level detail, and

soundstaging performance, the Alexandria XLF should be positioned as outlined in this

section. Ideally, the speakers should not be positioned too far from the listener if maxi-

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s e C T i o n 2 . 4 — Y o u r r o o m

mum resolution of low-level detail is required. If possible, the speakers should be posi-

tioned out into the room, slightly asymmetrically vis-a-vis the side and rear walls. The

speakers should be “toed in” toward the listener, preferably so that the listener, at his

seated position, can barely see the surface of the inner side of the Alexandria as he/she

faces the speaker. It is recommended that a distance of two to three feet, and possibly

more, be maintained between the Alexandria and the rear walls and that a distance of at

least two feet be maintained between the front panel of the Alexandria and reflective side

walls. Depending on the room, judicious use of sound absorbent materials will reduce

the space requirement.

By following the guidelines in this manual, your new Alexandria XLF loudspeakers

can provide you with a lifetime of pure music reproduction.

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Section 3—Initial Setup

s e C T i o n 3 . 1 — u n C r a T i n g T h e a l e x a n d r i a

Note: You will have many modules to unpack that will need to be separated into right
and left channels. Clear out two spaces, one for your left and one for your right chan­nel modules. Place the ODD numbered modules in the LEFT channel section and the
EVEN in the RIGHT channel section. Prior to assembly, stage the modules away from
the area where the speakers are to be assembled. This will avoid clutter in the work
area that can result in damage to your loudspeakers.

Section 3.1—Uncrating the Alexandria

Initial Check

The Alexandria is shipped in seven

wooden crates. Upon receiving these

crates, please check their condition. If

any of the crates are damaged, please

report it to the shipping company im-

mediately for insurance verification.

Tools Required

• Metal shears

• Variable speed, reversible

electric drill

• Phillips head drive bit

Uncrating the Woofer Modules

A minimum of two strong adults is

required to set up the system. Locate

the two largest crates labeled “Woofer

Module.” These contain the woofer en-

fi g ure 5 - wo o fer mod u le

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

closures and are the first components of the system to unpack (see Figure 5).

Note: These two woofer enclosures are very heavy and when moving or lifting, care
should be taken in order to prevent injury.

Unpacking the Woofer

1. Using tin snips, carefully cut the steel bands around each of the crates.

2. Open the top of each crate and determine the side where the casters are
connected to the bottom of the woofer module.

3. Remove the packing material from between the casters and set the crate up
so that the casters on the woofer are toward the floor.

4. While one person holds the crate, the other person should roll the woofer
enclosure out of the crate. Be very careful not to scratch the module dur­ing this process.

5. Finally, move the woofer cabinets over to the “Zone of Neutrality” as de­termined by the Wil­son Audio Setup Pro­cedure. If you have
not yet performed this
room analysis, please
refer to Section 2.1 of
this manual. Remind­er: Place the odd se­rial numbered woofer
on the LEFT and the
even numbered woof­er on the RIGHT.

6. Remove the empty
woofer crates from
the room.

36

fi g ure 6 - wi n g Ar rAY

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s e C T i o n 3 . 1 — u n C r a T i n g T h e a l e x a n d r i a

Uncrating the Aspherical Wings

Locate the two crates labeled “Wing

Assembly” (see Figure 6). These contain the

wings that support the upper modules.

1. Cut the bands on the crate.

2. Remove all the screws from
the top and sides of the crate.

3. Pull the top of the crate off,
and pull the sides of the crate
apart.

4. Because the wing array is
extremely heavy, use two
strong people to carefully
lift the wing array out of the
crate.

5. Locate the serial plate on
the underside of the lower
horizontal support. Place the
wings on the floor near the
woofer modules, matched to
the woofer module with the
same serial number.

up per mi DrA nge mo Dul e (umrm)

hi gh Fre que ncy mo Dul e (hFm)

6. Remove the empty shipping
crates from the room.

Uncrating the Upper Array Modules

1. Locate the two crates labeled
“Upper Modules.” Remove

ow er miD rAn ge moD ule (lmrm)

l

fi g ure 7 - un c rAte up p er mod u leS

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

fi g ure 8 - pr o pAgAt ion de l AY c o ver

fi g ure 9 - re S iSt o r pl Ate co v er

the three upper modules, from each crate (see Figure 7). It is very impor­tant to ensure that each of the modules are matched to one another by se­rial number. The serial tags are located on the underside of each module.
Be very careful in unpacking the remaining modules to avoid chipping the
finish.

2. Stage these items away from traffic flow.

3. Remove the empty crates from the room.

Uncrating the Crossover Cover

Locate the crate labeled “Crossover Covers” (see Figures 8 & 9). This crate contains

the propagation delay cover and the resistor plate cover. It also contains tool kits, a jack,

and an owner’s manual. Remove the covers from the crate. Take care to observe the serial

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s e C T i o n 3 . 1 — u n C r a T i n g T h e a l e x a n d r i a

number and place the covers with the corresponding channel’s modules.

Crate Contents Checklist

Now that you have everything unpacked, you can inventory your items.

1 - Owners manual

2 - Woofer modules (left & right channel)

2 - Lower midrange modules (left & right channel)

2 - High frequency modules (left & right channel)

2 - Upper midrange modules (left & right channel)

2 - Wing Arrays (left & right channel)

8 - 3/8”-16 x 1.5 set screws

8 - Spikes, with nuts

8 - Woofer Mechanical Diode

1 - Caster wrench

1 - Jack and 7/16” Ratchet wrench

1 - 9/16” Combo wrench

1 - 3/16” Allen socket

1 - 5/32” Allen tip

1 - 9/64” Allen tip

1 - 3/32” Allen tip

1 - 1/8” Allen tip

1 - Allen Handle driver

1 - 1/4” Ratchet arm

1 - 1/2” Binding post wrench

4 - Expansion spike sub-assemblies

18 - “A” spikes

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

6 - “B” spikes

6 - “C” spikes

6 - “D” spikes

6 - “E” spikes

12 - #1 Tether bolts

12 - #2 Tether bolts

12 - Tether bolt threaded covers

1 - Polishing cloth

8 - Large aluminum spike pads

1 - Bottoming tap - 3/8”-16

1 - Tap Handle

8 - ¼” x .468” Washer (installed with alignment plate during shipment)

8 - ¼” - 20 x 1 ¼” Socket head screws (installed with alignment plate)

24 - 10 - 32 x 1” Button head screws

24 - 10 x .438” Washer

8 - 1/4” Lock washers

2 - XLF Port Plug

2 - Aluminum Port Cover

2 - XLF Port Flange

Complete set of resistors:

1 set of 2 (soldered in series) - .50 ohm tweeter level resistors

1 set of 2 (soldered in series) - .38 ohm midrange level resistor

1 - 34.6 ohm midrange phase resistor

1 - 30.7 ohm woofer barrel resistor

Note: After set up of the system, keep the shipping crates in case of future shipping
needs.

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Section 4—Final Setup

s e C T i o n 4 . 1 — i n i T i a l a s s e m b l Y

Section 4.1—Initial Assembly

In order to realize the capabilities of the Alexandria, we strongly recommend that you
have it installed by a trained Wilson Audio installer. Your dealer will have a person
trained in the art of the Alexandria installation. If you choose to do this installation
yourself, here are some guidelines to assist you. These guidelines come from many
years of experience and should be followed closely.

First, place the woofer modules in the Zone of Neutrality as determined by the pro-

cedure outlined in Section 2.1. Final setup and tuning will follow the assembly of your

Alexandrias.

Remove the protec-

tive film covering the

painted surfaces on the

modules, wing assem-

blies, and crossover cov-

ers. Start at the edge and

slowly peel it off.

The propagation de-

lay plate is installed for

shipping. Remove the

plate and set aside (see

Figure 10).

Each wing array has

a serial plate on the bot-

tom surface of the lower

alignment plate. There are

corresponding numbers

on the woofer module.

fi g ure 10 —rem o ve propA g Ati o n delAY plAt e

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

Make sure to match each wing to its corresponding woofer module.

Carefully lower the wing onto the woofer module. Locate six 1/4 inch diameter—1

1/2” hex head screws. Using supplied ratchet, attach wing assembly to woofer (see Fig-

ure 11).

Re-attach Propagation Delay Plate

• Locate four 10 - 32 x 1” screws with metal washers.

fi g ure 11 —cAr e ful lY i nStA ll w in g Ar r AY A n d b o lt i t t o t h e w o of e r m o dul e �

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s e C T i o n 4 . 2 – g e o m e T r i C T i m e d o m a i n a l i g n m e n T

• Locate the propagation delay alignment plate.

• Secure the plate with the four 10 - 32 x 1” screws, placing the metal wash-

ers beneath each screw.

• Repeat the above process for the other channel.

Section 4.2 – Geometric Time Domain Alignment

Materials Required:

• Tape measure

• Known listening position (see Section 2)

fi g ure 12 —rei n StAl l pr opA g Ati o n d e lAY plAt e A f t er inS tAll i ng w in g �

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

• Alexandria Propagation Delay Alignment Tables from Section 8

Propagation Delay Alignment

Propagation delay alignment accuracy of the Alexandria has been established and

verified by Wilson Audio. The graphs and charts used in this section are a result of this

testing.

Room Setup

As indicated in Figure 13, the Alexandria system allows for different listening dis-

tances (away from the speakers) and listening ear heights (measured distances from the

floor to your ear). For each distance/ear height combination there is a unique alignment

geometry.

To make correct in-home set up of the Alexandria possible without test equipment,

Wilson Audio has measured the correct geometric time domain alignment for different

distance/ear height combinations. This information is provided in the Propagation Delay

eA r heig ht (me Asu reD Fr om Flo or)

fi g ure 13 —meA S ure liS t en i ng d iStA nce An d eA r he i ght �

46

li ste nin g DistA nc e (meA s ur e D o n Flo o r)

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s e C T i o n 4 . 2 – g e o m e T r i C T i m e d o m a i n a l i g n m e n T

Tables in Section 8. By measuring the ear height and the distance from the speaker to the

listening position, you will be able to align the system for your listening position.

Alignment Procedure

Each upper modules’ rear spike rests in a specific numbered indent that determines

its individual propagation delay position within the modular array. Each alignment plate

contains numbered indents, numbered 1 to 33 (see Figure 14). The alignment tables con-

tain the information for positioning each module in the array, determined by the indent

in which the rear spike rests. The table also contains information on the appropriate

length spike to be used in the rear of the module. Determine the alignment of each upper

module as follows:

Identification of Alignment Spikes and Tether Bolts

1. Repeat each step of this procedure on the left and right channels simulta­neously.

2. Remove the Propagation Delay Tables from Section 8 in this booklet and
place them close by
for easy reference.
This information is
also contained in the
Wilson Audio Appli­cation, available on
Apple iTunes.

3. Make sure that you
are in your intended
listening position.

4. While sitting, have
someone measure
your ear height from

fi g ure 14 - A l ign m en t pl At e w ith Spi k e d e te n tS

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

the floor directly below your ear. You should be relaxed in your chair, as
you would be when listening to music (see Figure 13).

5. Now measure the distance (on the floor) from the point on the floor below
your ear to the base of the loudspeaker, as shown in Figure 13.

6. Refer to the Propagation Delay Tables (see Section 8) and locate the cor­responding ear height for each module. There are three charts per module;
the first is a table determining the rear spike length, the second is a no­mograph (accompanied by a table) determining each module’s rear spike
indent location, and the third table specifies the appropriate Tether Bolt
length.

7. Make a mark on the “Rear Spike Length” tables indicating the proper rear
spike for each module.

8. Note: The shortest spikes (labeled A) are always used at the front of all up­per modules.

9. Make a mark on the “Rear Spike Detent Location” table indicating the
proper rear spike location for each module. Set this information aside as
you will refer to it in the next section.

10. After determining each module’s correct spike length, refer to the Tether
Bolt Table to determine the proper bolts to be used for each of the upper
two modules. Set these aside as you will need them later.

Section 4.3—Mounting Upper Array Modules

Materials Required

• Correct spikes for the modules. Refer to the Alexandria Propagation Delay
Tables and the procedure in the previous section to determine the correct
Aspherical Propagation Delay spikes necessary for each head.

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s e C T i o n 4 . 3 — m o u n T i n g u p p e r a r r a Y m o d u l e s

• The correct four remaining tether bolts for the upper two modules as deter­mined by the table in Section 8.

• Four expansion spike sub-assem­blies.

Mounting Procedure

Note: The module’s center of gravity will be
somewhat forward and unbalanced until the
tether bolts are secured. Have an assistant
stabilize them while you install rear spikes
and heads.

The front-to-back location of each mod-

ule, along with the use of the proper length of

rear spike of the upper modules, achieves the

correct propagation delay and axial response

vis-à-vis the listener.

Install the front pair of short (A length)

spikes into the bottom of each module (see Fig-

ure 15).

Install the Lower Midrange Module (LMRM)

The lower midrange module (LMRM) is in-

stalled first. Install the module as follows:

• With the front spikes pointing
down, carefully lower the LMRM
between the alignment wings and
set it on top of the woofer en­closure (see Figure 16). Ensure
that the tether bolts are protrud-

fi g ure 15 - i n StAl l t h e A l ig n men t Sp i ke S

in t o t h e u p pe r mo d ule S �

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

ing through the slots provided in the module handle. There are alignment
tracks that accommodate the spikes. Refer to the Propagation Delay Table
to determine the numbered indent in which to rest the rear spike.

• It is now safe to install the rear spike by lifting the module by its rear han­dle and carefully screwing in the spike.

• The rear spike track is indexed numerically. Refer to your marks on the
Propagation Delay Table in Section 8 to determine the numbered detent in
which to rest the rear spike.

Install the High Frequency Module (HFM) as follows:

• With the front pair of short spikes pointing down, carefully lower the HFM
between the alignment wings and set the front two spikes on top of the
LMRM enclosure. Align the spikes into the alignment tracks. Install the rear
spike by lifting the rear of the HFM and carefully screwing it in.

• Refer to the Propagation Delay Table in Section 8 to determine the proper
location of the rear spike, noting that the position will be different from
the LMRM.

Install the Upper Midrange Module (UMRM) as follows:

• With the front pair of short spikes pointing down, carefully lower the
UMRM between the alignment wings. Set the front two spikes on top of the
HFM enclosure, into the tracks. Install the rear spike by lifting the rear of
the UMRM and carefully screwing it in.

• Refer to the Propagation Delay Table in Section 8 to determine the proper
location of the rear spike, noting that the position will be different from
the other two modules.

Section 4.4—Connecting the Upper Modules’ Signal Cable

The Alexandria uses binding posts that were designed in-house and are manufac-

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s e C T i o n 4 . 4 — C o n n e C T i n g T h e u p p e r m o d u l e s ’ s i g n a l C a b l e

tured exclusively for Wilson Audio. The design goal was to create a connector with supe-

rior overall sound quality, consistency, and longevity.

A note about these connectors: You risk breaking the binding post if they are over­tightened. Use the supplied binding post wrench and tighten until just snug.

The upper range signal cables are labeled so that they can be easily attached to

their appropriate module. This is ac-

complished as follows:

• Locate the cable marked
“Lower Mid.” Dress this
cable through the handle
opening and connect this
cable to the lower mid­range module (LMRM)
loudspeaker binding post
(see Figure 17).

• Locate the cable marked
“Front Tweeter.” Dress
this cable through the
handle opening and con­nect it to the high fre­quency module (HFM)
loudspeaker binding post
(see Figure 17).

• Locate the cable marked
“Upper Midrange.” Locate
the binding post on the
rear of the upper mid­range module (UMRM)
labeled “Mid Frequency.”
Carefully thread the
speaker cable up through

fi g ure 16 - i n StAl l t h e u p pe r mo d ule S i n t o t he w ing

Ar r AY�

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

fi g ure 17 - r e Ar v iew Sh o win g cA b le c hA n nel S

the hole located in the wing support and through a corresponding hole
located on the module support blade just below the speaker terminal (see
Figure 18).

• Locate the cable marked “Rear Tweeter.” Locate the binding post on the
rear of the upper midrange module labeled “Rear Tweeter.” Carefully
thread the speaker cable up through the hole located in the wing support
and through a corresponding hole located on the module support blade
just below the speaker terminal (see Figure 18).

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s e C T i o n 4 . 5 — l o C k i n g d o w n T h e u p p e r m o d u l e s

fi g ure 18 - c o nne c t c A bl e S t o th e up p er mod u leS �

Section 4.5—Locking Down The Upper Modules

Materials Required

Refer to “Identification of Alignment Spikes and Tether Bolts” in Section 4.1 under

“Geometric Time Domain Alignment” to ensure that you have the proper length tether

bolts for each loudspeaker’s upper two modules.

• 2 - Tether bolts for each of loudspeaker’s lower midrange modules (LMRM).

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

fi g ure 19 - i n StAl l t h e t e th e r b o ltS � cu tAw AY o f A l exA n dri A x lf S h owi n g b o lt A SS e mblY �

• 2 - Tether bolt caps nuts for each loudspeaker’s lower midrange module
(LMRM).

• 2 - Tether bolts for each loudspeaker’s high frequency modules (HFM).

• 2 - Tether bolt cap for each loudspeaker’s high frequency modules (HFM).

• 2 - Tether bolts for each loudspeaker’s upper midrange module (UMRM).

• 2 - Tether bolt caps for each loudspeaker’s upper midrange module

(UMRM).

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s e C T i o n 4 . 6 — s p i k e i n s T a l l a T i o n

Installing The Tether Bolts

Note: Do not use any tools to tighten the tether caps. Hand tighten only. Over ten­sioning of the bolts can damage the module.

• Insert the lower midrange module (LMRM) tether bolt through the bot­tom of the bottom alignment plate, up through the corresponding tether
bolt slot on the module handle. While holding the bolt in place, thread
the tether cap nut onto the bolt and loosely tighten it. Install the HFM and
UMRM tether bolt using the same process. After the two bolts are secured
in place, check to ensure that the alignment spike is still placed properly
in its numbered detent. Symmetrically hand tighten the tether cap nuts.

• Using the same process, insert and symmetrically tighten the tether cap
nuts for the tweeter and upper midrange modules.

Section 4.6—Spike Installation

Sp i k e A S S e m b ly

• Remove the mechanical diodes and move the nut to about two threads from

the point. This will allow for greater movement when leveling the loud-

speaker system.

• Screw the spikes into the diode until the nut is against the diode. Be care-

ful that the nut does not turn while inserting and threading spikes into the

diode.

Note: Do not tighten these assembled spikes. You will need to unscrew them
when you level the Alexandrias.

• Place the set screw into the other end of the diode with the Allen head

toward the spike. This will ensure that if for any reason you have to re-

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

move your Alexandria

spikes, you will be

able to withdraw the

set screw safely us-

ing the supplied Allen

wrench. Screw the set

screw into the di-

ode until it meets the

spike (see Figure 20).

• Place the assemblies

out of the traffic pat-

tern until they are

needed during the

installation.

se tsc rew

me chA nic Al Dio De

Al len ke y enD

3/8” nut

sp ike

fi g ure 20 - S p ike ASS e mb lY

Section 4.7—Using the Lift to Install Spikes

Materials Required

Note: This is a two person job. Do not attempt this by yourself. The Alexandrias weigh
over 700 LBS and may seriously injure someone if tipped over.

• 8 sets of assembled spikes

• The Wilson Audio Jack

• The jack socket wrench

• Swivel caster wrench

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Installation Procedure

• Slide the Wilson Audio Jack under the front of the Alexandria, centered be­tween the casters, so that the jack’s lift bolt is exposed. Place the lift plate
so it is positioned about an inch behind the front facade of the Alexandria
woofer enclosure (see Figure 21).

s e C T i o n 4 . 7 — u s i n g T h e l i f T T o i n s T a l l s p i k e s

fi g ure 21 - i n StAl lin g th e S p ike S uS i ng t he wil S on Aud i o j A ck

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

Note: An assistant should stand to the rear of the Alexandria to steady it.

• Attach the wrench to the lift bolt and begin to slowly raise the front of the
Alexandria by turning the bolt clockwise (see Figure 21).

• After the front of the Alexandria is high enough (you will need approxi­mately one and half inches of clearance beneath the caster), use the swivel
caster wrench to loosen the casters. Remove the casters.

• Insert and screw-in the finished spike assembly. Hand tighten only!

Note: Be very careful NOT TO CROSS THREAD the spikes. The base of the Alexandrias
is made of “X” material and is prone to cross threading.

Note: The spike will go into a different hole than the caster.

• With one person stabilizing the Alexandria, lower the Alexandria by turn­ing the jack counterclockwise. Note that the Alexandria will now sit lower
in the front as the spike assembly is shorter than the caster. Use caution.

Note: It is very important, at this point, that an able assistant stabilize the front of
the Alexandria until the rear spikes are attached and the unit is lowered.

• Repeat the previous process of the caster removal/spike insertion on the
opposite side of the enclosure. Then continue the process on the other
channel (see Figure 21).

Leveling the Alexandria

• It is not necessary to use the jack to level the Alexandria.

• Place a level on the left to right oriented axis. If it is level, move to the

next step.

• If the bubble shows that the speaker is leaning toward the center of the
room, you will have to lengthen one of the inside spikes down toward the

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s e C T i o n 4 . 7 — u s i n g T h e l i f T T o i n s T a l l s p i k e s

floor. If the bubble is leaning toward the outside of the room, you will have
to lengthen one of the outside spikes down toward the floor.

• You may rotate the spike tips in place by using a vice-grip or toothed pli­ers.

fi g ure 22 - i n StAl l t h e e x pAn S ion Spi k eS �

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

• To find out which spike to lower,
grasp the Alexandria channel and
rock it back and forth. This will
identify the spike that is out of
level from the other three.

• Place a level on the front to back
oriented axis. If it is level, then
your Alexandrias are level. If the
bubble shows that the speaker is
leaning toward the front of the
room, you will have to lengthen the
front spikes down toward the floor.
If the bubble shows that the speak­er is leaning toward the back of the
room (behind the loudspeakers),
you will have to lengthen the rear
spikes down toward the floor.

Section 4.8—Expansion Spikes

Place one end of the expansion spike sub-

assemblies into the last hole of the spike track.

Expand the sub-assembly until the upper end

fi g ure 23 - i n StAl l t h e b A ck cov e rS�

comes into contact with the dimple in the mid-

dle of the brass spike pad found on the under-

side of the wing braces. Use box end wrenches (included) to snug the expansion spikes

securely (see Figure 22).

Section 4.9—Installing the Back Covers

Attach the cover over the resistor plate. The cover attaches using the same stainless

steel pin system as the grills (see Figure 23).

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s e C T i o n 4 . 1 0 — r e s i s T o r s

Note: The rear resistor cover features a glass insert. Take care when installing or stor­ing the cover to avoid breaking the glass.

Attach the top cover over the propagation delay hardware.

Section 4.10—Resistors

By removing the back cover of your Alexandrias, you may gain access to the resistor

plate (see Figure 23). These resistors serve several functions.

Note: Only Wilson Audio replacement resistors should be used in your Alexandrias.
Changing the value or brand
of resistor will have a delete­rious affect on the sonic per­formance of your loudspeak­ers and may void your Wilson
Audio Warranty.

Midrange and Front Tweeter

Resistors

The Midrange Level and

Front Tweeter Level resistors

provide precise level matching

for the midrange and tweeter

drivers correspondingly. The

resistors also act as ultra high

quality fuses which open be-

fore a driver can be damaged

by excess power. See Section

6.0 for details in replacing

these resistors in the event one

of these two resistors is dam-

aged.

fi g ure 24 - r e SiS t or chA r t

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

Additionally, these two resistors can be used

to tailor the output of the corresponding driver

to overcome tonal balance issues that result from

room acoustics. Refer to Figures 23 through 25 for

information important to this adjustment.

Midrange Phase Resistors

The Midrange Phase resistor is a propagation

delay tuning device and should never be changed

or altered by the user.

Woofer Damping Resistor

The Woofer Damping resistor affects the way

the Alexandria’s woofers couple to the amplifier.

These resistors should not be changed by the user.

Section 4.11—Adjusting the XLF port

Choosing a Port Configuration:

• Below 30-60 Hz (depending on room)
the bass will increase by approximate­ly 1 to 3 Hz if there is a solid wall behind the XLFs. Bass response is room
dependant, so your results may vary.

• Between 60 - 110 Hz (depending on room) the bass will decrease by ap­proximately 1 to 2 dB, depending on the characteristics of the room.

fi g ure 25 - r e SiS t or plAt e

Based on the measured bass response of the two different port configurations, it is

recommended that in rooms that are inherently lossy and lean, and are thus in need of

additional deep bass extension, the rear firing port configuration will be optimal for your

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s e C T i o n 4 . 1 1 — a d j u s T i n g T h e x l f p o r T

room. If mid to upper bass is lean in your installation, the forward firing port configura-

tion is probably ideal.

Because there are a vast number of acoustical environments into which the Alexan-

dria XLF is installed, it is impossible to give absolute instructions for every given room.

Each Alexandria should be evaluated in its environment, and a determination made from

there.

If your installation requires the XLF to be installed close to the rear wall behind the

speakers, start by installing the port in its front-firing configuration first so as to avoid

potential bass overload in your room. However, if an Alexandria X-2 has already proven

to be too lean in this same location, start with the XLF’s port in the rear firing configura-

tion

The XLF system will often replace a Series 1 or 2 Alexandria X-2. If the bass perfor-

mance in these installation is optimal, start off with the forward firing port configuration.

Place the XLF in the same location as the Series 1 or 2 Alexandria. If, however, the low

bass was too lean with the previous Alexandria installation, install the XLFs in the rear-

firing port configuration. This may require some additional setup of the XLF.

In systems where the XLF is replacing a MAXX or other rear-firing bass port system,

it is generally recommended that the rear-firing port configuration be initially installed.

Warning: The bass performance of the Alexandria XLF will be severely compromised if
the port is not installed in one of its two locations.

Installing the Port Plug:

1. Locate the port plug.

2. From the toolbox, locate six of the 10-32x1” button head screws and wash-

ers.

3. Locate the Allen handle and the 1/8” Allen tip. Install the tip into the

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

handle.

4. Locate the aluminum port cover

plate.

5. Slide the port plug into either

the front or rear port hole.

6. Install the six 10-32x1” button
head screws and washers.

7. The XLF-engraved aluminum
port cover has four pins that
correspond with four gasketed
holes on the front of the port
plug. Line up the pins with the
holes, making sure the engrav­ing on the front port cover is
oriented properly, and gently
push the cover until it sits flush

fi g ure 26 - S wAp p ing th e po r t p lug

to the front of the loudspeaker.

8. Reverse the process to change the location of the port.

Section 4.12—Break-in Period

All audio equipment will sound its best after its components have been broken in

for some period of use. Wilson Audio breaks in the crossovers, tweeters, and midrange

drivers for a 48 hour period. All components are then tested, calibrated, and matched for

their acoustical properties. In your listening room, expect 25 to 50 percent of break-in

to be complete after two hours of playing music fairly loudly. Ninety percent of break-in

is complete after 24 hours of playing. Playing a “disc repeat” overnight can accomplish

this task quickly. Wilson Audio recommends chamber music for this task.

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Section 5—Care of the Alexandria

s e C T i o n 5 . 1 — C a r e o f T h e p a i n T e d f i n i s h

Section 5.1—Care of the Painted Finish

Your Alexandria XLF loudspeak-

ers are hand painted with WilsonGloss™

paint and hand polished to a high luster.

While the finish seems quite dry to the

touch, final curing and complete harden-

ing takes place over a period of several

weeks. To protect the finish of the Alexan-

dria during final manufacture, shipment,

and setup in your listening room, we have

applied a removable layer of protective

film over the finish. With the exception of

the upper modules, which should be de-

frisked upon initial installation, we rec-

ommend that this film be left in place un-

til the speakers are in their final location

in your listening room. Once you have

determined their final position, remove the film by peeling it off.

Do not leave this film on indefinitely as it may leave impressions on the paint.

It is important that the delicate paint finish of the Alexandria be dusted carefully

with the dust cloth, which has been provided. We recommend that the following proce-

dure be observed when dusting the speakers:

• Blow off all loose dust.

• Using the special dust cloth as a brush, gently whisk off any remaining

loose dust.

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

• Shake out the dust cloth.

• Dust the finish, using linear motions in one direction parallel to the floor.

Avoid using circular or vertical motions.

Because the paint requires a period of several weeks to fully cure, we recommend

that no cleaning fluids, such as glass cleaners, be used during this initial period of time.

When the paint is fully cured, heavy fingerprints and other minor smudges may be re-

moved with a glass cleaner. Always use the dust cloth. Stronger solvents are not recom-

mended under any circumstances. Consult your dealer for further information if required.

To maintain the high luster of the finish, periodic polishing may be desired over the

years. We recommend a nonabrasive carnauba-based wax and a soft cloth.

Section 5.2—Care of the Grilles

Periodically, you will want to clean

the Alexandria’s. This is best done by us-

ing the round brush attachment on a vac-

uum cleaner hose. Gently vacuum the

front surface of the grille. Be careful not

to apply too much pressure. Do not use a

hard plastic attachment against the grille.

The grille cloth is stretched tightly over

the grille frame. Too much pressure or use

of a hard plastic attachment could cause

the grille material to tear, especially in

the corners.

Often Wilson speaker owners desire

to change the look of their listening room

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s e C T i o n 5 . 3 — e n C l o s u r e C o n s T r u C T i o n

by changing the color of their speaker grilles. In addition to basic black, Wilson Audio

offers a variety of grille colors to match most WilsonGloss finishes. Contact your local

dealer for grille cloth samples or to order replacement grilles for your Alexandria XLF.

Section 5.3—Enclosure Construction

At the core of each Wilson Audio loudspeaker design is the knowledge that to

achieve the best performance, you must start with the best materials. Here are a few of

the elements that contribute to the Alexandria XLF enclosure’s supreme performance.

Material

The Alexandria’s low frequency enclosure is constructed from a high-density, phe-

nolic resin based composite. This composite meets and exceeds the highest of ANSI test

standards for its use, while offering very tight tolerances, high hardness, uniform density,

and dimensional stability. In the construction of the Alexandria XLF , Wilson Audio uses

two types of composites dubbed “X” material and “S” material. These strategic combina-

tions of X and S materials are used in the two midrange modules, resulting in the most

inert enclosures yet produced. X material is used exclusively in the woofer, tweeter mod-

ules, and wing assemblies.

The high hardness of this composite not only offers excellent acoustical properties,

but it also provides an ideal surface for painting.

Adhesive

Wilson Audio has conducted exhaustive research into the best adhesives to perma-

nently bond our speaker enclosures. This is an often overlooked element crucial to the

proper performance of a loudspeaker. Correct modulus of elasticity, coefficient of ther-

mal expansion, and natural frequency response are just a few of the important elements

of adhesives.

A highly cross-linked, thermoset adhesive is used for the construction of the enclo-

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

sure. It was also chosen for its excellent bond strength, solvent resistance, hardness, and

optimum vibrational characteristics.

Conclusion

The combination of the best in composite materials and adhesive technology, pro-

vided to us by the leaders in their industries, allows us to design an enclosure with

unmatched performance. The Alexandria XLF’s upper and lower cabinet modules have

been designed to eliminate vibration and cabinet signature while maintaining an internal

acoustical integrity. Wilson’s exhaustive research into the effects of materials, enclosure

construction strategies, and adhesives has yielded a product that maintains the strictest

structural tolerances, durability, and reliability. The Alexandria’s performance is repeat-

able and is unaffected by different climatic conditions throughout the world. The Alex-

andria XLF redefines the boundaries of what is possible in enclosure design.

70

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Section 6—Troubleshooting

Section 6—Troubleshooting

s e C T i o n 6 — T r o u b l e s h o o T i n g

One channel is not operating:

Imaging is off-center:

Check the interconnects from source.

Check the connections on the speak­er cables, both at the amplifier and
speaker ends. Watch especially for
connectors touching each other.

Check the Upper Range Signal Ca­bles. You may have forgotten to con­nect them, or they may have shorted
or come loose during setup.

Check your connections. A connec­tion to one of the modules may have
come loose. When a tweeter or mid­range driver is not working, or is
out of phase, the Alexandria will not
“image” properly. Double check your
connections for red-to-red and black­to-black.

A chronic lack of bass energy:

Driver out or not playing after connec­tions have been verified:

Play music at a low level and listen
to each driver in each channel. You
may have a driver that is not oper­ating correctly. If you find a driver
that is silent, please go to the “Driver
Out” section of this troubleshooting
guide.

Check the input cable connections on
your woofer enclosure. If one chan­nel is out of phase (connections re­versed), bass will be cancelled. Note:
Turn off your amplifier and unplug it
from the wall.

If you have found a driver with no
output, move to the rear of this par­ticular loudspeaker.

Remove the back cover exposing the

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

rear resistor plate. Locate the ap­propriate resistor. Loosen the bind­ing post and remove the Allen bolt
attaching the resistor to its heatsink.
Replace the resistor with the supplied
matching resistor.

Note: Use only Wilson Audio replace­ment resistors in your Alexandria.
These resistors were carefully cho­sen for the overall sonic and thermal
performance.

Plug your amplifier into the wall and
turn it on.

Listen to the channel at a low level.
The driver should now be operating
correctly.

Amplifier shuts off as soon as it is turned
on:

If the problem is solved:

If the problem persists:

Check to see if your speaker cables
are properly secured. Look for frayed
ends, loose connections, or a conduc­tor contacting the amplifier chassis.

Turn the amplifier off and disconnect
it from the AC wall outlet. Discon­nect the preamplifier leads to the am­plifier. Now turn on the amplifier.

There is likely something wrong with
your preamplifier or interconnect.
Contact your dealer.

Leave the preamp leads disconnected
and continue to the next step.

Turn the amplifier off. Disconnect the
speaker leads at the main input to the
speaker. Now turn on the amplifier.

If the problem is solved:

74

Call your Wilson Audio dealer. There

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s e C T i o n 6 — T r o u b l e s h o o T i n g

may be a problem with the crossover
or the speaker’s internal wiring.

If the problem persists:

If the problem is solved:

If the problem persists:

Continue to the next step.

Turn the amplifier off and disconnect
it from the AC wall outlet. Disconnect
the speaker cable leads to the ampli­fier and turn the amplifier on again.

You have a short in your speaker ca­bles. Check for frayed ends, holes
(from spike feet), or make sure that
your spade lug is not touching the
chassis while it is connected to the
binding post.

Call the dealer where you bought your
amplifier. You appear to have a prob­lem with this component.

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Section 7—Specifications

Section 7—Specifications

Section 7.1—Specifications:

s e C T i o n 7 . 1 — s p e C i f i C a T i o n s :

Enclosure Type Woofer:

Enclosure Type Midrange:

Enclosure Type Tweeter:

Woofers:

Midrange:

Tweeter:

Super Tweeter:

Sensitivity:

Nominal Impedance:

Minimum Amplifier Power:

XLF port, adjustable rear or front firing

Rear Vented

Sealed

One—13 inch, (33.0 cm)

One—15 inch, (38.1 cm)

Two—7 inch (17.78 cm)

One—1 inch silk dome (2.54 cm)

One—I inch silk dome (2.54 cm)

93.5 dB@ 1 watt (2.83V at 1 meter @1kHz)

4 ohms, 3.2 ohms minimal @ 1kHz

7 Watts per channel

Frequency Response:

Overall Dimensions:

System Weight Per Channel:

Total System Shipping Weight (approx.):

+/- 3 dB 19.5 Hz - 33 kHz

Height—70 1/4 inches, (178.44 cm)

Width—19 13/16 inches, (50.38 cm)

Depth—27 7/8 inches, (70.80 cm)

655 lbs each (297 kg)

1910 lbs pair (866 kg)

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a l e x a n d r i a x l f o w n e r ’ s m a n u a l

Section 7.2

Alexandria XLF Dimensions

fi g ur e - 27

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Section 8—Alignment Tables

s e C T i o n 8 — p r o p a g a T i o n d e l a Y T a b l e s

ListeningDistance

Lower Midrange Module Data

LowerMidrangeModuleSpikeLength

ListeningDistance

Ear

Height

36 n/a n/a n/a D D C C C C C C B

38 n/a D D C C C C C C C B B

40 C C C C C C C C B B B B

42 C C C C C C B B B B B B

44 C C B B B B B B B B B B

46 B B B B B B B B B B B B

8 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

48 n/a n/a B B B B B B B B B B

LowerMidrangeModuleSpikeDetentLocation

Ear

Height

36 n/a n/a n/a 18 18 18 18 18 18 17 17 17

38 n/a 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17

40 15 15 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 17 17

42 14 14 14 14 14 15 15 16 16 16 16 16

44 12 12 13 13 14 14 14 15 15 15 16 16

46 10 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 14 15 15 15

8 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

48 n/a n/a 10 11 11 12 13 13 14 14 14 14

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

High Frequency Module Data

HighFrequencyModuleSpikeLength

ListeningDistance

Ear

Height

36 n/a n/a n/a E E E E E D D D D

38 n/a E E E E E E E D D D D

40 E E E E E E D D D D D D

42 E E E E E E D D D D D D

44 E E E E E D D D D D D C

46 E E E E D D D D D D C C

8 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

48 n/a n/a D D D D D C C C C C

HighFrequencyModuleSpikeDetentLocation

ListeningDistance

Ear

Height

36 n/a n/a n/a 28 27 27 26 25 25 25 25 24

38 n/a 27 26 26 26 25 25 24 24 24 24 23

40 24 24 24 24 24 23 23 23 23 23 23 22

42 22 22 22 22 22 21 22 21 22 22 21 21

44 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20

46 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 19 19 20 20

8 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

48 n/a n/a 15 15 16 16 17 18 18 18 19 19

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Wilson Audio Specialties

s e C T i o n 8 — p r o p a g a T i o n d e l a Y T a b l e s

Upper Midrange Module Data

UpperMidrangeModuleSpikeLength

ListeningDistance

Ear

Height

36 n/a n/a n/a E E D D C C C C B

38 n/a E E E E D C C C C B B

40 E E E E D D C C C B B B

42 E E E D D C C C B B B B

44 E E D D D C C C B B B B

46 E D D D C C C B B B B B

8 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

48 n/a n/a D C C C B B B B B B

UpperMidrangeModuleSpikeDetentLocation

ListeningDistance

Ear

Height

36 n/a n/a n/a 29 28 26 24 23 22 22 21 20

38 n/a 28 27 26 25 23 22 21 21 20 20 19

40 25 24 23 23 22 21 20 20 19 18 18 18

42 21 21 20 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 17 16

44 17 17 17 17 16 16 16 16 16 15 15 15

46 13 14 14 13 14 14 13 14 14 14 14 14

8 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

48 n/a n/a 10 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

Lower Midrange Module Tether Bolt Table

86

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h i g h f r e q u e n C Y m o d u l e T e T h e r b o l T T a b l e

High Frequency Module Tether Bolt Table

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

Upper Midrange Module Tether Bolt Table

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Section 9—Warranty Information

s e C T i o n 9 . 0 — w a r r a n T Y i n f o r m a T i o n

Section 9.0—Warranty Information

Limited Warranty

Subject to the conditions set forth herein, Wilson Audio warrants its loudspeakers to

be free of manufacturing defects in material and workmanship for the Warranty Period.

The Warranty Period is a period of 90 days from the date of purchase by the original

purchaser, or if both of the following two requirements are met, the Warranty Period is a

period of five (5) years from the date of purchase by the original purchaser:

Requirement No. 1. No later than 30 days after product delivery to the

customer, the customer must have returned the Warranty Registration
Form to Wilson Audio;

Requirement No. 2. The product must have been professionally installed by

the Wilson Audio dealer that sold the product to the customer.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH EITHER REQUIREMENT NO. 1 OR REQUIREMENT NO. 2
WILL RESULT IN THE WARRANTY PERIOD BEING LIMITED TO A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS
ONLY.

Conditions

This Limited Warranty is also subject to the following conditions and limitations.

The Limited Warranty is void and inapplicable if the product has been used or handled

other than in accordance with the instructions in the owner’s manual, or has been abused

or misused, damaged by accident or neglect or in being transported, or if the product has

been tampered with or service or repair of the product has been attempted or performed

by anyone other than Wilson Audio, an authorized Wilson Audio Dealer Technician or

a service or repair center authorized by Wilson Audio to service or repair the product.

Contact Wilson Audio at [phone] for information on location of Wilson Audio

Dealers and authorized service and repair centers. Most repairs can be made in the field.

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A l e x A n d r i A x l F O w n e r ’ s M A n u A l

In instances where return to Wilson Audio’s factory is required, the dealer or customer

must first obtain a return authorization. Purchaser must pay for shipping to Wilson Audio,

and Wilson Audio will pay for shipping of its choice to return the product to purchaser.

A RETURNED PRODUCT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF

THE DEFECT. Wilson Audio reserves the right to modify the design of any product without

obligation to purchasers of previously manufactured products and to change the prices or

specifications of any product without notice or obligation to any person.

Remedy

In the event that the product fails to meet the above Limited Warranty and the con-

ditions set forth herein have been met, the purchaser’s sole remedy under this Limited

Warranty shall be to: (1) contact an authorized Wilson Audio Dealer within the Warranty

Period for service or repair of the product without charge for parts or labor, which ser-

vice or repair, at the Dealer’s option, shall take place either at the location where the

product is installed or at the Dealer’s place of business; or (2) if purchaser has timely

sought service or repair and the product cannot be serviced or repaired by the Dealer,

then purchaser may obtain a return authorization from Wilson Audio and at purchaser’s

expense return the product to Wilson Audio where the defect will be rectified without

charge for parts or labor.

Warranty Limited to Original Purchaser

This Limited Warranty is for the sole benefit of the original purchaser of the covered

product and shall not be transferred to a subsequent purchaser of the product, unless

the product is purchased by the subsequent purchaser from an authorized Wilson Audio

Dealer who has certified the product in accordance with Wilson Audio standards and

requirements and the certification has been accepted by Wilson Audio, in which event

the Limited Warranty for the product so purchased and certified shall expire at the end

of the original Warranty Period applicable to the product.

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s e C T i o n 9 . 0 — w a r r a n T Y i n f o r m a T i o n

Demonstration Equipment

Equipment, while used by an authorized dealer for demonstration purposes, is war-

ranted to be free of manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for a period

of five (5) years from the date of shipment to the dealer. Demo equipment needing war-

ranty service may be repaired on-site or, if necessary, correctly packed and returned to

Wilson Audio by the dealer at dealer’s sole expense. Wilson Audio will pay return freight

of its choice. A returned product must be accompanied by a written description of the

defect. Dealer owned demonstration equipment sold at retail within two (2) years of date

of shipment to the dealer is warranted to the first retail customer to be free of manufac-

turing defects in materials and workmanship for the same time periods as if the product

had originally been bought for immediate resale to the retail customer. Wilson Audio

products are warranted for a period of 90 days, unless extended to 5 years, as provided

above, by return and filing of completed Warranty Registration at Wilson Audio within

30 days after product delivery to customer and the product was professionally installed

by the Wilson Audio Dealer that sold the product to the customer.

Miscellaneous

ALL EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES NOT PROVIDED FOR HEREIN ARE
HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. ANY LEGALLY IMPOSED IMPLIED WARRANTIES RE­LATING TO THE PRODUCT SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE DURATION OF THIS LIMITED
WARRANTY. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY DOES NOT EXTEND TO ANY INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL COSTS OR DAMAGES TO THE PURCHASER.

Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or
an exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limi­tations or exclusions may not apply to you. This Limited Warranty gives you specific
legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state.

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