June 2018
The entire team at the William Ralston Listening Library celebrates the life and achievements of Dave Wilson, founder of the iconic high-end audio company Wilson Audio. Dave died at the end of May at the age of 74 following a battle with bone cancer and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
From the time of Wilson Audio's founding in 1973, Dave and his colleagues have pioneered innovations in both the fields of sound recording and hi-fi audio reproduction and have changed the lives of many audio lovers.
Dave began his career as a clinical researcher and builder of medical equipment. His fascination for the intricacy of living things and his technical skills in the medical field translated well to the audio world as his "hobby" of constructing audio equipment gradually became his new calling, encouraged by his wife and eventual business partner, Sheryl.
During its early years, Wilson Audio was mainly known for its series of unparalleled classical and jazz recordings, the Wilson Audiophile Definitive Recordings series. However, once Dave began demoing these recordings on his own hand-built speakers, it did not take the world long to take notice. Since the early 1980s, Dave has consistently wowed the audiophile community with his range of state-of-the-art loudspeakers and equipment.
Here at the Ralston Listening Library, we are proud to count ourselves among the ranks of Wilson Audio’s devotees. Our Wilson Alexandria XLF speakers stand proudly in the listening room as a testament to what the brightest minds in audio reproduction can achieve. We are forever indebted to Dave’s knowledge, skill, and generosity.
Speaking to Stereophile in 1995 of his journey in the audio world, Dave opined, "It's been challenging, but I think the trip's been worth it. I'd like to think that I've given people higher levels of musical satisfaction in their own homes—some of that same thrill of discovery of music that I still seek and enjoy now." We certainly agree.
