Few loudspeakers carry as much history and reverence as the Wilson Audio Watt Puppy. This is my first time reviewing a Wilson Audio speaker, and I couldn’t have picked a more iconic entry point. First introduced in 1986, the Watt Puppy has come a long way in design and technology. This floor-standing loudspeaker comprises of two separable parts, the upper WATT (Wilson Audio Tiny Tot) component and the lower Puppy section.
The new WATT Puppy speakers celebrate Wilson Audio’s 50th anniversary. They have the same build quality and finishes as the more costly Alexia V, and incorporate many of the same internal components. They were designed as a more compact and accessible alternate to the acclaimed Alexia V.
Brief History Of The WATT Puppy
Wilson Audio was founded by the late David Wilson, and it first started out in 1977 as Wilson Audiophile Definitive Recordings. Many of David’s recordings, still available today, are regarded as among the most natural and lifelike of all time. The Wilson Audio Monitor (WAMM) was Dave Wilson’s first commercially available Loudspeaker.
The original WATT was Dave Wilson’s portable monitor, which he created for professional recording use. It was a triangular-shaped speaker that had a 1-inch dome tweeter and a 6 ½ inch woofer. After some time, Dave became dissatisfied with how the WATT sounded when paired with third-party subwoofers. And so, he designed the Puppy, a bass unit specially designed for the WATT.
Over time, the WATT and the Puppy evolved from a monitor-plus-subwoofer pairing into a fully integrated loudspeaker, gaining refinements in cabinet materials, crossovers, and driver technology across each generation. It remained in constant production from 1989 to 2011, with eight generations released during that span, before Wilson Audio discontinued the model. In 2024, Wilson Audio announced a new generation of the WATT Puppy speakers, and this one was special. It was made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Wilson Audio.
Price
The official Wilson Audio WATT Puppy price in 2025 starts at $39,500, which is significantly less than the $67,500 Alexia V, while still offering many of the same components. Upgraded finishes range from $42,000 to $46,000, depending on the level of customization. These loudspeakers are a great choice for high-end listeners looking for something iconic but more accessible than the Alexia.
Design And Build Quality
The very first WATT component could run as a full-range loudspeaker all by itself. It had all the drivers and the crossover to give impeccable sound at that time. The new WATT unit cannot function as a speaker by itself, because all the crossovers were moved to the woofer base in the lower section.
The Wilson Audio WATT Puppy features a 1-inch CSC tweeter, the same one used in the Alexia V. It has a 7-inch AlNiCo (Aluminum – Nickel – Cobalt) QuadraMag midrange driver, set right below the tweeter. These drivers are housed in the upper section of the loudspeaker, which we call the WATT. In the lower section (the Puppy), there are two 8-inch woofers, the same ones used in the $52000 Sasha Vs.
Not everyone may agree with me, but I think these speakers look amazing. You can choose your finishes from 33 options, and you can even change the color of your grille cloth. You can customize everything in the configurator, where there are hundreds of combinations available.
The build quality was exactly what you’d expect from a speaker like this. The machining of the crossovers, the rigidness of the cabinets, all I can say is that you won’t get any durability problems with the WATT Puppy speakers.
The combination of materials used in these speakers leads to a more controlled sound. Wilson Audio has used its proprietary X, S, and M materials for its speaker cabinets and enclosures from the start, and the WATT Puppy loudspeakers introduce another new composite, which is called the V material.
The X material is a cellulose and phenolic composite; it is very rigid and damped to help with the overall sound. The S material is an epoxy-bonded composite that is used for midrange coupling to the front WATT baffle, and the new V material is used at the top of the Puppy, serving as the vibration-sink interface for the WATT.
On the back panel of the WATT, you can find an adjustable spike that allows for precise alignment in the time domain. The WATT module itself rests on a sitting spike track hardware, directly installed into the V-Material top plate, greatly reducing vibrations from the woofer cabinet to the WATT enclosure. An integrated bubble level on top of the Puppy module helps with leveling during the installation.
Wilson’s approach to time-domain alignment is evident, with each driver carefully positioned to preserve phase coherence and transient accuracy, which helps instruments and vocals sound more lifelike. The decoupled cabinet structure between the WATT and the Puppy sections minimizes mechanical interference, leading to greater clarity and precision in the midrange.
Setting Up The Wilson WATT Puppy Loudspeakers
The loudspeakers have a frequency response of 26 Hz to 30 kHz, a sensitivity of 89dB, and a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Wilson Audio states that the speakers will go below 3 ohms, so you need a good amplifier to get the best sounding results. I used the Devialet Astra, which was in for testing at the time. I liked this pairing; the Astra’s 300 watts were more than enough for the WATT Puppys.
If you buy the WATT Puppy loudspeakers directly from Wilson Audio, you will get the full Wilson installation experience. Assembly and installation will be done at your location, by audio experts from Wilson, and they will calibrate and position your speakers so that you get the best possible listening experience.
If you don’t get the installation, Wilson Audio provides an extremely detailed manual, which covers everything from getting the speakers out of their crate, setting them up, and how to position them for the best sound, to details about almost every component used in the loudspeakers. They also have installation audio tracks, which can help you with alignment and fine-tuning once you’re set up.
If you’re doing the installation yourself, or you’re thinking of moving the loudspeakers around, you need to know that these speakers are extremely heavy. I’m talking 73kg or 160 lbs per unit, and this makes it impossible to move around for one person. Wilson Audio also specifies that the loudspeakers absolutely need to sit on spikes that were built just for them to sound their best. There are no wheels underneath, and if you decide to move, it will be a hassle. Wilson does offer sliders that make it easier to move the loudspeakers, but these sliders are sold separately for $1000, which, let’s be honest, no one will buy.
WATT Puppy Sound Quality
The Wilson WATT Puppy loudspeakers deliver bass that goes deep enough to feel like you have a subwoofer, even though you don’t. The low-end is tight, punchy, and adds a physical presence to music that you usually only get with larger or multi-driver systems. If you want bass that hits hard but doesn’t overpower the mids, you’ll appreciate what Wilson has done here.
The mids are transparent and natural, allowing vocals and instruments to shine through with realism and separation. Listening to jazz or acoustic recordings, I could hear small details like the breath of the singer or the resonance of a guitar body. Everything feels cohesive; the drivers blend so well that you forget you’re listening to separate components.
The treble is smooth, extended, and detailed without ever sounding harsh. You’ll notice this most in things like cymbal strikes, violin strings, and high-pitched synths; they sound pleasant, never sharp.
The WATT Puppy loudspeakers make it feel like the artist is right in front of you. These speakers throw out a wide and stable soundstage, and center imaging is so precise that you won’t feel the need for a dedicated center channel in most cases.
The only thing you need is a great amplifier. These speakers demand power to sound their best. Once powered properly, they can easily be the last loudspeakers you’ll ever need.
Wilson WATT Puppy vs Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature
The Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature is the company’s flagship floorstander, a refined version of the standard 801 D4 with upgraded crossovers, cabinet bracing, and a new finish. This is my reference speaker, and it’s been with me for about 16 months. It’s a big speaker, both in presence and sound. Built around a diamond dome tweeter, the 801 D4 Signature stands for openness and scale, with a rich, full-bodied sound that fills large spaces with ease. It retails for US$60000 per pair, while the Wilsons start at US$39500.
Compared to the Wilson WATT Puppy, the 801 D4 Signature feels a little more relaxed and forgiving. It delivers a broad, cinematic soundstage with a deep low end and smooth top, leaning slightly warm. The Wilsons, on the other hand, are sharper-edged, faster on transients, tighter in the midbass, and more detailed. Voices sound more immediate on the WATT Puppy, and instruments feel locked in space.
Read our full review of the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature loudspeakers.
If you’re choosing between them, it depends on what you value, and if you want to spend an extra $20000 on the B&W speakers. For precision, imaging, and time-domain accuracy, the Wilsons are hard to beat. But if you want scale, weight, and that signature Bowers & Wilkins richness, the 801 D4 Signature still holds its ground as one of the most musically engaging speakers you can buy. For me, the 801 D4 Signatures win, but just by a thread.
Verdict: A Flagship Experience In A Smaller Package
The Wilson Audio WATT Puppy is a testament to the great work done by Wilson Audio. Every part of its design, from the materials to the assembly, reflects extreme attention to detail. The sound is fast, precise, and deeply revealing, with exceptional dynamics and imaging. It delivers a level of midrange clarity and transient control that very few loudspeakers can match, even at much higher price points.
At $39,500, it’s still a significant investment, but for listeners who want Wilson’s signature sound in a more compact, accessible form than the Alexia V, the WATT Puppy is the one to get. It carries the brand’s legacy forward without compromise. If your setup, space, and source chain are up to the task, these loudspeakers will show you just how much your system is capable of.