Daryl Wilson Debuts the Autobiography Loudspeaker at JS Audio

Jacob Heilbrunn reports

For several decades, JS Audio has been a leading purveyor of stereo equipment in the Washington, DC area. The JS refers to the late Joe Stromick, who originally founded the store and was an impassioned and unforgettable figure. It is now owned and run by an intrepid band of brothers—David, Steven and Jason Kennedy—who regularly hold events featuring new gear. This Saturday they invited their customers to a new one that held a special promise.

It featured Daryl Wilson, the CEO of Wilson Audio, together with several of his colleagues, including Peter McGrath, Bill Peugh, David Ellington and Patrick Butler. Michael Fremer, the editor of this website, also flew from his personal audio Valhalla in New Jersey to Washington to attend the event. The occasion was, of course, the public launch of Wilson’s new flagship loudspeaker, Autobiography.

Like Fremer, I had flown in April to Provo, Utah to see and hear the new loudspeaker with numerous other dealers and audio writers. But under the somewhat hectic conditions, I had trouble getting a handle on the loudspeaker during its brief audition in Provo. This time I did not. Together with the other auditioners—a maximum of eight at a time for 90-minute listening sessions—I was able to zero in on the attributes of the Autobiography. One of the remarkable attributes of the session I attended is that there was zero noise—from the audience, that is. It was quieter than a symphony concert—no coughing, no IPhones beeping, no idle chit-chat. Instead, a bunch of audiophiles listening avidly, eagerly, intently.

During the sessions—I only attended one but the abundant interest in the loudspeaker meant that they ran almost continuously from 12 to 9 p.m.—Daryl Wilson explained the genesis of the loudspeaker and his aspirations for it. He will be going on tour, speaking at other dealerships such as Innovative Audio in Manhattan, the Audio Salon in Santa Monica and Paragon Sight & Sound in Ann Arbor. He delivered a polished and convincing demo of the Autobiography, explaining the variety of hurdles that he had to overcome to bring it successfully to parturition. Above all, he sought to transport his audience upon a musical journey rather than simply blasting them into submission with a bunch of powerhouse recordings—Daryl's are refined selections included the great German singer Matthias Goerne performing Schubert.

For all its dynamic prowess—evidenced upon a Wynton Marsalis recording, where the trumpet blasts emanated with the force of Gabriel—I was most favorably impressed by the purity of the treble of the Autobiography. The lack of grain and low noise floor combined to produce a jet-black background that permitted Goerne’s velvet thunder to emerge in its full glory. Here was what the British novelist E.M. Forster once referred to as “sublime noise” in Howard’s End.

I am myself keen to listen further to the Autobiography at JS Audio, which has invested in a pair and which it is happy to demo for interested listeners. As part of their outreach to a wider public, the Kennedy brothers also installed a stereo system this past week for the annual gala of the Phillips Collection, an art museum located in downtown Washington that contains many impressionist masterpieces, including Renoir’s “Luncheon of the Boating Party,” and that is trying to shake off its fusty past under the leadership of its new director, Jonathan P. Binstock. At both events—at JS Audio and the Phillips—there was much for any music lover to celebrate.

JS Audio's brothers Kennedy (Steven on the left, David on the right), with brother Jason in blue suit and the Wilson team in between

Comments

2026-05-11 03:24:55 AM

MandoMorton wrote:

I was invited to attend the 12:30 demonstration of the Autobiography speakers, and I don‘t remember ever being as excited about attending a new product launch. To start, I was delighted by the kudos given to JS Audio and, in particular, the acknowledgment to Joe Stromick. Joe Stromick was a great friend. Following Joe‘s passing, Steve and his brothers have done a great job carrying on Joe‘s vision. What should be mentioned is that Steve and Dave both worked with Joe, so when Joe passed away it was not an outside acquisition of Joe‘s business — it was passing along Joe‘s business to his long-time colleagues. Joe was as much an enthusiast as any of his customers, and the Kennedy brothers now running JS Audio share that, which is why I love dealing with them. As to the Autobiography demonstration, it was simply astonishing. While the seamless integration of the multiple drivers was impressive, I don‘t recall ever hearing so natural a high end as I heard from the Autobiography speakers. I was particularly pleased that Peter brought along a pipe organ piece for a 3-minute sample, as it showed off how well the speakers replicate what I hear at organ recitals. I never thought I could ever be disappointed listening to my Alexx V speakers until I heard the Autobiography speakers. As a (not very good) musician, I have never heard speakers as breathtakingly natural as the Autobiography speakers. I do hope for trickle-down technology in the Wilson speakers line, but kudos to both Daryl Wilson and Peter McGrath for a wonderful presentation. As to the music presented in the 90-minute presentation, some of it was just glorious (the Matthias Goerne and the Westminster organ being particularly outstanding). Other pieces, well, they showed off wheat the speakers can do, which is a lot. In conclusion, the presentation was great, the speakers were the best I have ever heard (and, given the price, I may never hear again) and my eternal gratitude to Steve, Dave and Jason at JS Audio for the services they provide, their fanaticism that matches my own for great audio equipment and what they have done to make my life so much better with the gear I have bought from them.