The goal of this system, like many others, is to re-recreate the illusion of "live" - i.e that sense of space, ambience, dynamics, and the right amount of tonal colors/reverberation.
I'm a huge fan of the Rockports as the title says. I just love the combination of extreme build quality, carbon fiber cones on Audiotechnology drivers, soft dome tweeter, and of course the sexy curves! One day I hope I can upgrade to the Arrakis if I ever build a dedicated room big enough for them.
For my system, I know I'm limited by my living room. It's an open floor plan, measuring about 14mx5.5mx2.8m (LxWxH) and the speakers must align on the long wall. Second, the drivers fire into a floor-to-ceiling glass wall behind my couch (but I do have curtains which close during serious listening sessions).
After a lot of adjustments I must say the system is coming together. I've listened to Aquila's in 3 different rooms before I purchased, and was extremely happy each time. In my room with no sidewalls, however, I think the sense of envelopement isn't quite as strong as the 3 treated shoebox rooms, but I'm now quite happy with what I have. Big improvements were made when I pulled the speakers out further than what I had first anticipated, along with adding diffusion on the front wall. In the pictures the speakers are pretty close to the front wall, but during more serious listening sessions I pull them out about another foot into the room. The big TV is also covered.
I really wish I had a dedicated music room! Unfortunately where I live, space is a huge premium.
Adding the Gryphon Mirage preamp to mate with the Gryphon monoblocks was quite a transformation in transparency, size of the sound stage, sense of ease & natural-ness, etc etc. I was using a temporary Orpheus which just didn't match.
Next up will probably be a music server to play 192/24.
Regarding your television, I currently use to side panels with absorption and diffusion, that I move into place (see my systems pictures). You could have some acoustics company make one or two panels for you that would roll or move to the front of the TV when you want. I will probably do something like this for my TV.
One more question...i saw you were considering the Wavac PRT-1 vs the Mirage. Did you ever try the PRT1 with your Gryphons? Any observations about the 2 preamps?
i run my Wilson X-1/Grand Slamms with Zanden 5000 DAC, CJ ACT 2 pre and the Antileon. Cabling is Transparent Reference.
I am now considering an upgrade to my pre...something that maintains the speed, dynamics and transparency of the existing system...but adds even more tonal color/richness.
Is this the Mirage or PRT-1? Or any other pre you have come across? Someone suggested ARC Ref 5, Kondo/AudioNote and CJ ART 3. Thanks for any help!
I have not compared the stereo vs mono on the same occasion, but I would say there probably is no difference in terms of sound characteristics like tonality, balance, texture, etc. I bought monos because I just love the mono mono look (yes I'm vain) but also from strong recommendations from Andy Payor as well. I have never heard the original Antileons so I can't comment on that versus the Signatures.
With the monos I'm sure there would be added control on the speakers/drivers, and of course the ability to power any speaker in the world. If Gryphon monoblocks can't power any speaker in the world, I really can't think of any amp that could.
Fantastic system! i have nothing but great things about the synergies between Rockport and Gryphon. I am currently running a Gryphon Antileon (non-signature) with a pair of Wilson X-1/Grand Slamms. I feel extremely confident based on my experience the Slamms could absorb the power of a second Antileon without a problem.
Have you compared stereo vs mono? If so, what were the differences in your opinion? Thanks for any help! Enjoy your system!
Many thanks Enzo. It's a shame that I haven't got the chance to audition the Rockport, but from their looks alone I'm quite sure that they are special.
BWP - thanks! you have a great looking pad yourself.
To be honest my living room is not ideal for this system. The speakers are place don the long wall with no side walls, and my couch is cloth which probably acts like a big dampener. I'm still trying to replicate what I heard the Rockports were capable of doing at the dealer. I think I'm maybe 70% there and not sure if it's possible to get the last 30% without really building a dedicated room, which is not an option where I live.
Duong - I compared the Kharma mini Exquisite as well as the Grand Exquisite multiple times in a very good room mated with all Boulder electronics as well as all Soulution electronics before going with the Rockport. I can say the Kharma is a great speaker as well, but the Kharma and the Rockport I would say are 2 different styles.
I think the Kharma has a more "beautiful" midrange which presents the music more exquisitely like its name implies. The bass is does not have the authority nor the naturalness of the Rockports. I also prefer the audiotechnology midrange versus the ceramic mids on the Kharmas. I still haven't heard a speaker that does the decay on a grand piano as well as the Rockports. Lastly, the ceramic drivers on the Kharmas are quite brittle. During my audition the dealer tried to impress me and turned up the juice only to shatter one of the ceramic midrange drivers.
Ultimately I just preferred the Rockports for its naturalness in presentation, the ability to deliver power & authority while maintaining its beautiful midrange texture, its engineering, and sleek curves. I just wished I could have bought the Altairs or the Arrakis for the big step up in cabinet design.
Hi Enzo - Great system you have there. I'm considering the Rockport Aquila andthe Kharma Mini Exquisite. Do you have experience about the latter and how is it compared to the Aquila?
Thanks guys. I'm very happy everytime I come home from a long day's work and listen to music. I can't say it's reached its potential yet (it probably never will in my living room) but I can say I'm very satisfied for now. More adjustments/tweaks I'm sure will continue to help the system mature.
Does anyone have a guess as to whether the sound will improve if I remove my 60" TV completely and do "something" (diffusion, absorpbtion, or both) to the middle of the front wall there? I could put in a projector/screen for watching TV/Movies where the screen can be rolled up mosts of the time. Right now, when I cover the TV with a big thick beach towel, the sound does improve a little but not massively.
System edited: System edited: I finally installed my Ortofon A90 yesterday and right off the bat it sounds fantastic. Note I'm upgrading from a $500 Dynavector Karat 17D3 so it SHOULD be a quantum leap, which it is. Every single parameter is bettter: Soundstage width & depth, more natural timbres, better bass, and just sheer musicality. I'm very happy with this cartridge. It's definitely one of biggest improvements I've heard in my system. What a huge upside surprise. Kudos to Ortofon.
Thanks for the suggestions. I know there's going to be a compromise in the sound given I do not have a dedicated listening space (the ideal "shoebox" shape so to speak). However, there must be tons of systems out there that have no sidewalls like mine (i.e speakers placed on the long wall). I'm not ready to give up, but I'm skeptical as to how close it can be to what I have heard the Rockports are capable of in 2-3 separate rooms.
Next I'm going to try diffusion on the front walls behind the speakers to see whether this helps extend the soundstage deeper and wider, with deeper being much more important. Right now that large sense of hall space just isn't there.
I understand how you would want to get the most from your stereo system's performance. I think that due to the room aesthetic, you'll be tip-toeing around what will be "ideal" and what makes sense aesthetically. There has to be a reasonable compromise in there somewhere.
At a glance, I'd venture to say that the speakers do look to be set too wide apart for where you are sitting. I'd try to set them up for a 1:1.2 or 1:1.5 ratio, max. That is to say that if the speakers are say, 6 feet apart, tweeter to tweeter, you could sit anywhere from 6, up to 9 feet away from them. Focusing their toe-in to look at you will also help but not all speakers sound best that way. It's a matter of gradually toeing them in and out until you get what you like. Judging from your list of components, I'd say you've invested a pretty penny for that setup. Has your local dealer made himself available to help you with this? I would think that up to a reasonable point, it might be part of his service. Talk with him and see if you can get a house call or what he'd charge for one.
Someone mentioned an area rug. I'm on board with that too, placed just forward of the speakers to absorb the "bounce" from the floor. Cover the windows behind you when you're ready to A/B compare the effect that has on the system. If you say it sounds "dead" maybe you should leave the drapes open? Hey, I'm just guessing here, which is all any of us can do by long distance.
