A “lifestyle” speaker this is not. Wilson Audio’s Alexandria X-2 looks something like a cubist Darth Vader, stands 72 inches tall, weighs a hulking 750 pounds and more than amply demonstrates the Provo, Utah-based company’s pre-eminent position among high-end speaker manufacturers. Rest assured, the X-2 is setting sales records, and its nine-month waiting list grows longer every day.

It is easy to see why: The speakers are true works of industrial art in concept and execution. Wilson Audio’s CEO and founder, David Wilson, designs some of the world’s finest speakers and builds them to the highest possible standard. Because Wilson Audio’s finest speakers are as pricey as exotic sports cars, and Mr. Wilson wants to inspire the confidence of his customers, he divulges his company’s finances through Dun & Bradstreet. When you call Wilson Audio, you will be greeted by a human voice, not voice mail; it is a first-class operation.

A consummate audiophile, Wilson designs to satisfy like-minded perfectionists, but he also has a loyal following among music and film industry professionals. Academy Award–winning sound  mixer Shawn Murphy (Mystic River, Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace, Jurassic Park) steadfastly relies on Wilson speakers; Warner Bros., Pixar, Disney and CBS/Sony are all regular customers. David Wilson’s original recording studio monitor, the still-popular Wilson Audio Tiny Tot (WATT), has inspired countless imitations since its introduction in the early 1980s.

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