 Rockport Alya versus Ankaa
March 31, 2010
Editor,
I read with interest your CES 2010 article on the new Rockport Alya. I have not seen any
information on the new speaker on the Rockport website and I thought I would write you to
get your opinion. I’m mainly interested in the differences between the Alya
($29,500/pr.) and the similarly priced Ankaa
that Randall Smith reviewed ($27,500/pr.). I’m leaning toward the Ankaa, but the
Alya certainly raised my eyebrows when I read about it. What is your take on the two
speakers in a head-to-head comparison? Your advice is greatly appreciated.
Blake Stein
You can certainly call Rockport Technologies and
speak with company president Andy Payor. He can give you the scoop on the two speakers
better than anyone else. But here’s my take: the Ankaa is a true three-way design
that has deep bass and generous dynamic range. It will fill a large space easily and will
handle high power. In some respects, I think it is the best value in the Rockport line.
The Alya is a more specialized product. It is suited to smaller spaces, and is perhaps
even a higher resolution loudspeaker with its beryllium-dome tweeter and even more
elaborate cabinet design. In the end, I don’t think the two speakers really compete
with each other at all. If you have a good-sized room and want deep bass, pick the Ankaa.
If you want a speaker that is ultra-precise and resolving for a smaller space, then the
Alya would be perfect. . . . Jeff Fritz
Italian amp for opera and choral music
March 21, 2010
To Garrett Hongo,
I have read that you are very much fond of opera and choral
music. Also, I read about your visits to
Italian audio companies on SoundStage! Now I would like to ask you, which
Italian company makes the best middle-level amplifier suitable for such music and what is
the model name?
Thank you,
Biju Joseph
Aloha Biju Joseph, this is a large question. My answer
will likely be as large. First, it depends on what speakers you have. For speakers in the
86-89dB/8-ohm range, I'd say the Unison P70 (power amp), Unico Secondo (integrated), or
Pathos Classic One (integrated) would be great. I like these companies, have visited them,
and think their workmanship and sound are both terrific. The Goldenote Demidoff integrated
amplifier is also worth checking out: class-A operation and fine sound. All these are
Italian make and design. The Unison P70 is a stereo power amp -- you'll need a preamp too.
The others are all integrated amps -- you won't need a preamp. Take care. . . . Garrett
Hongo
Paradigm Signature upgrade itch
March 15, 2010
Editor,
I thoroughly enjoyed your recent article, "How Close Can I
Get for Half the Price or Less? -- Paradigm Reference Signature S2 v.3 Loudspeakers."
Among other things, you grabbed my attention because of your choice of the Paradigm
Signature family of speakers. I’ve always felt that Paradigm -- while not the most
"prestigious" brand name -- offers huge bang for the buck! I sense you agree. I
currently have the Signature S8 v.1s and have the upgrade itch. Do you have any
experience, comments, or advice on the floorstanding Signatures v.3s?
Any thoughts or comments are appreciated! Thanks in advance
for your thoughts!
Chris Ervin
Because Paradigm is a research-and-development-oriented
company, I’ve always felt the improvements that they make from generation to
generation of a product series’ lifespan are worthwhile and oftentimes substantial.
Your v.1s, although fine speakers, are surely superseded from a performance standpoint by
the current models. The tweeter alone, using the new beryllium diaphragm, is more extended
and cleaner than what you have in your speakers. The bass drivers are also more capable,
due to the new surround design. For a blow-by-blow account of the Signature v.1s versus
the v.3s, however, I’d ask that you keep tabs on our newest site that will be
launching in April, SoundStage! Xperience. In a few months, you’ll see a
review on that site by associate editor Roger Kanno in which he will compare models from
the two series. If it were me, since it would be a move up two generations, I’d
certainly consider the purchase. . . . Jeff Fritz
New Gryphon
March 12, 2010
Editor,
You reviewed
the Gryphon Sonata Allegro and Antileon Signature about six years ago. Any plans to
review the Mirage and Colosseum? I would love to hear your thoughts on Gryphon's new
top-of-the-line equipment.
Cheers,
Isaac
Wow, has it been that long? It’s funny you should
write, as I was thinking about these products not too long ago. The issue has been that
Gryphon has not had any North American distribution in many years, but they have a strong
international presence and have been highly reviewed all over the world. I think it has
been Gryphon’s Flemming Rasmussen’s position that pursuing reviews in a market
where they have no product for sale makes little sense for the reader. However, I hope
this position will change soon. The SoundStage! Network, which is based in North America,
has grown steadily since that review way back in 2004. These days, we have a strong
international readership, so I do think a review makes sense. I’ll discuss this with
Flemming at Munich’s High End 2010 event in May of this year and see where things
shake out. . . . Jeff Fritz
Rockport Ankaa and Mira
March 6, 2010
To Randall Smith,
Thanks very much for your
informative review of the Rockport Technologies Ankaas. I am also a big fan of
Rockport speakers and of the Mira specifically. I know that Andy Payor prefers to use
high-powered solid-state amps to drive his speakers, as they are of average sensitivity. I
know his speakers are nominally rated as 4-ohm speakers, but I am not sure how benign or,
conversely, how difficult a load they represent to the partnering amp across the frequency
spectrum. I checked both your review and Jeff's review
of the Mira but there were no accompanying speaker measurements that showed impedance
and/or phase measurements across the frequency spectrum.
Do you know if there are any material dips in impedance at
any point in the frequency curve that would represent a difficult load to the partnering
amp for both the Mira and the Ankaa? Secondly, what equipment did you use to drive the
Ankaa during your review period? Did you try any tube amps and were they successful in
driving the Ankaas? I have heard the Miras with ARC REF 110s multiple times at my dealer
and they seem to do a sufficiently good job of driving them, but I can't help but wonder
if they are missing out on the dynamics front a bit given the ARC's 110Wpc power rating.
Thanks for your response in advance.
Sincerely,
Cyril
Glad you enjoyed the review. Unfortunately, I never had
the opportunity to try an amp other than my Classé CA-2200 when the Ankaas were in my
home. The CA-2200 is a very good amp and is rated at 200W into 8 ohms and 400W into 4
ohms. The Classé amp had no problem getting the lowest notes from the Ankaa. While I
suspect a strong amplifier is needed to get the best from the Ankaas, I also suspect even
a moderately powered amplifier can get a lot out of them.
I do own a pair of Miras, which are also a three-way
speaker with drivers of the same size. Since I have owned the Miras, I have used a Nuforce
MCH-3SE-C7 (power amp), a Coda Amplifier 11 (power amp), a Bel Canto 300sui (integrated
amp), and a Simaudio 600i (integrated amp). As you can imagine, all of the amps have their
own sonic signature, but all were able to drive the Miras just fine. The Coda amp provided
the deepest bass while the Classé amp seemed to be the most neutral. The important point
I am trying to make is that the Miras are sensitive enough to sound great regardless of
the amp's power, but neutral to the point that they will also reveal the weaknesses of the
partnering amplifier.
I did pose your question to Andy Payor as well, and this
was his response: "The Ankaa is rated as a 4-ohm load and its impedance doesn't dip
down below 3.5 ohms anywhere, and at this impedance minima the phase angle is essentially
zero, so it won't be difficult for the partnering amp to deliver current into the load.
The maximum phase angle is about 24 degrees and is in conjunction with about a 5-ohm load,
so, again, the reactive component of the impedance should be no trouble for any competent
amp, tube or solid state." Hope this helps. . . . Randall Smith
Devilsound, Ayre, and computer audio
March 2, 2010
Editor,
I just read your review of
the Devilsound DAC and I think our tastes are similar enough to trouble you with one
of those dreaded "this or that" questions.
I have a modestly good system without the computer side:
Sony SCD-1 as primary SACD player or as a transport into a Muse II DAC, which goes into
Wavac MD300B amplifiers driving Omega Super 6 Alnico single-driver speakers (having given
up the Koechels for space). I'm now experimenting with USB output of lossless ripped CDs
and have been impressed how "not bad" the sound was taken through a Music
Streamer directly into the Wavac.
I know the Muse is a little long in the tooth, and
technology has come a long way. So the question is whether to simply use maybe a
Devilsound or Music Streamer+ into the amp and continue using the Muse as a SACD/CD-only
component, or to replace the Muse with something that is USB compatible, perhaps the MHDT
Havana or Ayre. What do you think? Thanks so much. And if I'm missing a better way
forward, I'm all ears.
Doug
The answer depends on whether you see music streaming
from a computer as a huge part of what is already quite an impressive line-up of
components you’ve assembled. The Devilsound DAC is certainly a great way to get into
computer audio reasonably and without much hassle. The sound is quite good, as you read in
my review, and I’m quite sure you’d be impressed with its sound given your
current DAC. If you think you will want to do computer-based audio in a more serious way,
one that handily surpasses what you have now as a source, then going the way of the Ayre QB-9 is
certainly a great choice. With the right computer setup -- with the Ayre as your
centerpiece -- you will have sound that will eclipse your older Sony/Muse combination
easily. So it really depends on how deep you want to go. Either way, you have some
excellent alternatives to listen to. . . . Jeff Fritz
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