Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
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AUDIO FRAME WVL 23239 CHICAGO
reviews
Video Review
Manufacturer details
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Description
Innovation instead of marketing - the wheel doesn't need to be reinvented. They already exist: designs that have proven themselves over decades. Things with properties that border on genius. Like a classic speaker with the acoustic characteristic of reproducing the crucial vocal range of humans and instruments absolutely naturally. The CHICAGO therefore uses an advanced development of a legendary Western Electric (Chicago) transducer.
Innovation instead of marketing
There is no need to reinvent the wheel. They already exist: designs that have proven themselves even after decades. Things with properties that border on genius. For example, a classic loudspeaker with the acoustic characteristic of reproducing the all-important vocal range of humans and instruments in an absolutely natural way. The CHICAGO therefore uses a further development of a legendary sound transducer from Western Electric (Chicago).
The fact: It is not the membrane that directly creates the music, but the drive. This is confirmed not only by our ears, but also by modern simulation programs - and common sense. The power is not generated in the tires, but in the motor. The conversion of electrical amplifier power into movement takes place in the loudspeaker motor.
All of our externally excited sound transducers are created after precise analysis, the most advanced CAD acoustic simulations and are compared with human perception through long listening sessions. The open design of the AUDIO-FRAME systems means that the music foundation can be reproduced even in difficult acoustic environments.
The precision of the AUDIO-FRAME-WVL-23239-CHICAGO is not only breathtaking, but also makes you want to hear more. The impulse response and sonority captivate with a bewitching balance between the full-sounding foundation of the bass, the impressivel...
There is no need to reinvent the wheel. They already exist: designs that have proven themselves even after decades. Things with properties that border on genius. For example, a classic loudspeaker with the acoustic characteristic of reproducing the all-important vocal range of humans and instruments in an absolutely natural way. The CHICAGO therefore uses a further development of a legendary sound transducer from Western Electric (Chicago).
The fact: It is not the membrane that directly creates the music, but the drive. This is confirmed not only by our ears, but also by modern simulation programs - and common sense. The power is not generated in the tires, but in the motor. The conversion of electrical amplifier power into movement takes place in the loudspeaker motor.
All of our externally excited sound transducers are created after precise analysis, the most advanced CAD acoustic simulations and are compared with human perception through long listening sessions. The open design of the AUDIO-FRAME systems means that the music foundation can be reproduced even in difficult acoustic environments.
The precision of the AUDIO-FRAME-WVL-23239-CHICAGO is not only breathtaking, but also makes you want to hear more. The impulse response and sonority captivate with a bewitching balance between the full-sounding foundation of the bass, the impressivel...
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Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
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WVL 12439 Stage Plus:
- Positioning: Entry-level line, designed for affordability and compactness.
- Description: Offers a lively and transparent sound with a permanent-magnet bass-midrange transducer, making it more affordable than the SON. It is ideal for small rooms or those seeking a budget-friendly option without sacrificing sound quality, unlike the more expensive SON which uses a field coil speaker.
WVL 12639 Son:
- Positioning: Mid-range line, offering a balance of performance and size.
- Description: Delivers a big sound from a compact design, featuring a field coil speaker for rich audio. It is perfect for living rooms or libraries where space is limited but sound quality is a priority, unlike the larger Chicago model which offers more power and bass.
WVL 23239 Chicago:
- Positioning: High-end line, designed for superior sound reproduction.
- Description: Excels in precision and natural sound, using a field coil midrange drive and dipole design. It offers more bass and power than the Son, but less than the Berlin.
WVL 23216 London:
- Positioning: Premium line, focused on single-source sound.
- Description: Provides a homogenous sound from a single source, using a unique point source design. It offers a different approach to sound reproduction compared to the multi-driver Berlin.
WVL 33221 Berlin:
- Positioning: Flagship line, offering the ultimate in sound quality and design.
- Description: Features a spherical horn and multiple field coil drivers for a powerful and organic sound. It surpasses the Chicago in both power and soundstage.
WVL 12739 Ultima:
- Positioning: Ultra-premium line, designed without economic or technological limits.
- Description: Represents the pinnacle of Wolf von Langa's design, incorporating the latest technologies. It offers more advanced features and performance than any other model in the lineup.
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Avg. Product Price
$500
Used For Sale
0
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
520
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
8
Founding Year
2008
Our take on the brand
Wolf von Langa is a hifi audio brand recognized for its Field Coil Driver Technology, which delivers high-speed performance and a wide dynamic range. The brand crafts open-baffle designs by hand in Germany, creating speakers that deliver a natural sound.
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What if you spend more?
Magnepan
LRS+
995
995
/
9
Reviews
Following in the footsteps of the highly acclaimed LRS, the LRS+ takes it up a notch. "This is another slam-dunk POY (Product of the Year) nominee, and, IMO, the best buy (along with the MG1.7i) in an affordable loudspeaker for modest-sized rooms.” 2022 Golden Ear Award. Jonathan Valin, October 7th, 2022
Magnepan is known for their unique planar magnetic speakers that use thin Mylar film and aluminum foil strips instead of traditional speaker cones, creating sound from both front and back of the panel for a more natural, box-less sound. Their speakers are particularly appealing for jazz and classical music listeners due to their lifelike reproduction of acoustic instruments, and they're popular among audiophiles for offering high-end performance at relatively affordable prices.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Creates a very open and transparent soundstage, which crosses the threshold of believability in a small to medium-sized room
- Low distortion, especially in the midrange and upper bass, making listeners realize how imperfectly transparent many speakers are
- Highly resolving, with impressive performance on acoustical instruments and vocal reproduction
- Offers a unique and remarkable experience due to the story and love behind the speaker's creation
- Presents a challenge, helping users understand speaker positions as the sound changes completely with movement
- Considered 'eminently affordable' and provides incredible sound for the price
Product Considerations
- Requires significant time to install, tweak, and dial in due to its dipole design, making positioning critical
- Bass is not powerful—it doesn't do pounding bass, and listeners won't feel the bass pounding on their chest, so a subwoofer might be needed, especially for rock, pop, dance, and electronic music
- Needs good power and high current to sound clean and not cause fatigue, it is not a powerful-sounding speaker
- The stand included is considered subpar and not very versatile
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs the original LRS, the LRS+ has ameliorated treble, has smoother upper mids, and has a reduced nosedive in the power range and midbass
Takeaway: The Magnepan LRS+ is a special speaker with an open soundstage, great details, and makes music sound real and enjoyable. Though not perfect, it is well worth buying because it offers an excellent way to experience a panel speaker without spending too much.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Magnepan is known for their unique planar magnetic speakers that use thin Mylar film and aluminum foil strips instead of traditional speaker cones, creating sound from both front and back of the panel for a more natural, box-less sound. Their speakers are particularly appealing for jazz and classical music listeners due to their lifelike reproduction of acoustic instruments, and they're popular among audiophiles for offering high-end performance at relatively affordable prices.
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