For the enjoyment of music. Lot's of changes over the years. I typically won't buy something unless I can listen to it in my system. Spending a lot of time recently searching out well recorded and interesting music via hi res downloads. I have a really nice vinyl collection mostly Jazz and pop. Digital I'm filling out my classical titles and more modern recordings. Jan '16
A seriously great preamp...one of the best...if you're reading this...contact me...this is that good..
DCS Vivaldi DAC, Transport, Clock & Upsampler
dCS Vivaldi DAC, Trans and Clock
Transparent Opus Gen 5 & Magnum Opus
replaced mm2 version
Transparent Audio Opus Power and Opus Power Source Gen 5
Transparent Opus Gen 5 Speaker Cable
Speaker cable
Grand Prix Silverstone F1
stand
Spiral Groove Centroid
Uni Pivot arm
Grand Prix Audio Monaco
Direct Drive Turntable s/n 40
Nagra Classic Amp
Stereo amp
Nagra VPS/MPS and VFS
Just added the Nagra MPS power supply. Really more sublime now...the Nagra VPS/VFS combo was already great, however the MPS lowers the noise...sound stage opens up and transparency increases
Grand Prix Audio Apex - Threaded footer
very finely threaded very of Apex for minute level adjustments
Keith Monks Ruby
Killer record cleaner. I've always wanted a Monks.
Shunyata Hydra Triton v2/Typhon/DPC-6 v2
Sigma HC feeding Triton & Anaconda Zitron Feeding Typhon. All front end (dCS, Nagra, and TT motor controller...
Transparent Audio Reference XL Digital
Clock cables for dCS (2) bnc to bnc and Dual AES trans to dac
"Amazing speaker" I'm not surprised you feel that way.Of all the mega priced and highly touted speakers I've heard in recent years (Magico, Wilson, Evolution Acoustics, Y.G.Audio, Raidho etc.) The Rockport Altair left the most favorable impression. With the right amplifier and ancillary components it reproduces music as opposed to mere hifi. That's easier said than done. It was stunning and in a different class with the Absolare Passion amplifier. Regards,
Rockport report: I have to say, almost 6 days on now, breakin seems to be happening (more relaxed, more ease, deeper and more articulate bass). My dealer was here again today tweeking toe in on the right and moved the left out about 1.5 inches...really brought more focus and better warmth....
This is really a special speaker...wow, i'm in a different leaque now, a few days ago it was very nice, but more time from my dealer on placement and a few more hours playtime and these rockports are really singing!!
John, Jeff Congrads. on your new speakers. I am also in line for new Avatar's. Andy emailed me and said mine should arrive in a few weeks. Like Charles above said the Rockports had the best sound at CES and also best sound that I ever heard.
Peter your table is amazing...I know after hearing the arm at Alberts, a 30/2 at a friends, and my prior 20/2...and I need to get up to visit you very soon!
Love the photo John and you sound really pleased with the initial sound. Congratulations again. I think moving the rack should help sonically and aesthetically.
If you think your getting great bass from your new Rockports, I can tell you a massive table like the SME 30/12 help further in that direction. Check out the photos and my comments on the SME thread over on Whatsbestforum.
Keep updating us as the speakers improve. You must be having a lot of fun.
System edited: Initial observations on the Rockports: A seriously a beautiful speaker to look at only bested when you close your eyes and listen vs look. My dealer spent a few hours today on dial in. He is coming back a few more times this week. We want to let them settle down some (although they have really relaxed throughout and extended some in bottom end...about 36 hours playing time now). I do think Andy put a few hours on them also at the factory (helping speed things up for me). Really the speed of a electrostat, the transparency of the best ribbons....just amazing resolution but with warmth, naturalness, and a incredible precision on timing. I do not miss the height of the Wilson's so far...I was wondering if the having the drivers elevated in a line source array vs more of a point source would be a step back...somehow the Rockports pull the illusion of height of incredibly well...I can only guess it's the differing dispersion of the Rockport drivers and how the cabinet shapes reduce defractions...The Rockports just seem to disappear as sound producers...and in width and depth.... The bottom end is awesome. Holy cow that 15 inch side firing woofer has resolution, speed and it digs down low low...integrating with everything else
Thank you for feedback John. My listening room is also acoustically treated, perhaps not as dedicated as your room.
I have decided to move the front end to side wall and away from front wall and speakers. The burden will be longer IC, I will let you know if things change a lot.
Hakan, thank you. very much appreciated. I have considered moving my racks to the side or rear wall. Mostly the price of longer cables have kept me from it and I am unsure if I'll really get a better sound. Maybe some...but it's pretty killer as it is.
I am very open to suggestions here.
My treatments in my roof we're amazing. I used Rives Audio via my dealer. If you can do something like this...it's literally one of the best audio investments you can make...
First of all, congratulations for a wonderful system and listening room that you have, happy listenings.
I have a question for you since your roof room seems similar dimensions to my roof listening room from the pictures that I see here. My audio racks are also similarly located as your front end gear with similar distance to speakers at the back. Have you ever considered of placing the front end gear with audio racks to side or rear walls (further away from speakers)? Or did you have a comparison of placing audio racks in a different location rather than the current position? I wonder how it helps if any to soundstage as well as less feedback from speakers to front end gear. I am undecided to move audio racks from back and just leave power amps closer to front wall and speakers as that will cost a longer interconnector from preamp to power amps. Any feedback appreciated.
I miss you living in Dallas, I didn't even recognize your daughter the last time you brought her by. I still think of her as a "little girl" sitting on my sofa with us.
If you're in town Memorial Day come by and pick up the Allnic H3000V. I also have the new baby Allnic 1201 phono and DHT preamp. We can talk about those and you decide what you want to play with.
My Focal are supposed to be here Wednesday and I have a call into a piano mover too. I chuckled when I read that comment in your post, no way can I move my speakers either.
Albert, yes lucky and fortunate to ! You always have a standing invite and I especially want to hear the Allnic phono in my system. The speaker delivery dates kept changing slightly on me...the day I was there we should have just gone with our original plan!
I do think I have to be up there over memorial day..maybe we can work something out by then...
...and I can't WAIT to hear your new setup also !!
Thesaint519: The Rockports are here. 700 lbs each !!! in the crates. But they are in my garage...no way me and a few neighbors can get then upstairs crated. I decide to spring for some piano movers and do this safely (for my back and the speakers). Anyway, they can't get here until Monday late...
yes a great way to start the day with a cup a coffee...now moved to a nice Rioja and the Maxx 3's still sound great ;-) ...spinning Miles Davis quintet...the great prestige recordings...45's ... nice !!
Yes, not in my home. But have heard them. The X2's are definitely better than my Maxx 3's in bass extension/definition, improved timing and coherence and the efficiency opens up new lower power tube amp possibilities.
I still feel the Rockport Altairs, even the 30k Aviors vs the X2/Maxx 3, posses a transparency and resolution that is what I am seeking. It's just a different "house" sound ...not a one is better or worse.
It's like Corvette is faster off the line...but a Porsche makes up for it in the corners....it's what traights you seek in music
When I get my Rockport's broken in, I'll have lot more to say here. After all I have owned 4 pairs of Wilsons....I've really enjoyed them and I have to say I am a bit nervous to switch em out. Listening to Maxx 3's right now and so very nice...
