Mid to high end speaker options

[bhagwan]

Re: Rockport technologies

Yes Arj, unlike many high end speakers which are nothing but a certain designer's version of "good sound", typically motivated by a certain new age driver or technology and aimed at a certain segment of high-end clientele, speakers like Guru are truly special in the direction of telling the truth. It is amazing music all around when this speaker plays. Most importantly it plays every genre of music with equal aplomb. Michael Jackson sounds like a real concert and Ella takes you into black & white era. Superb stuff !

Is this QM 60 priced @ 7/- K Pounds ?
Is it that good ? Rs. 7/- Lacs ++
This model I have not heard - the smaller one I have - did not 'arouse' me;

 

[Dr.Bass]

Re: Rockport technologies

Is this QM 60 priced @ 7/- K Pounds ?
Is it that good ? Rs. 7/- Lacs ++
This model I have not heard - the smaller one I have - did not 'arouse' me;

Listen to the bigger one. They actually made only one speaker which is this QM60. The smaller ones were only to give the lower end market an option.

In Singapore it retails for $11k and to me it is one of highest VFM speaker I have heard. If it was priced at $30k I would have still considered it to be excellent.

 

[bhagwan]

Re: Rockport technologies

Listen to the bigger one.

If it was priced at $30k I would have still considered it to be excellent.

Oh Oh !
That is a 'tall' statement;
Way to go.
I shall try and listen to it.
Thanks for the pointer...:clapping:

 

[Dr.Bass]

Re: Rockport technologies

Another speaker of this Genre is the gradient.. another Scandinavian masterpiece .
If you add on Denmark also to this, that area seems to have something special when you think of Audio !

Yes, I have heard the Gradient too. It is very good too. It had that box-less openness. In fact the same dealer who does Guru in Singapore does Gradient too. I heard it with the same electronics at his showroom as I heard the Guru with. The Guru was something special. It had a presence very similar to real live instruments and since it is meant to be placed near the corners (like audio note speakers) it projects music almost like a full horn speaker. Unlike Audio note, the Guru doesnt use the corner to reinforce bass but rather uses the back and side walls to form a presentation which is extremely realistic. In a way it removes the detrimental effects of the nearest walls around it and rather use it in its favour. The showroom I heard it in had one of the side walls made of all-glass and the other was concrete. Back wall was also concrete. There were just few medium thick curtains thrown around randomly and nicely carpeted floor. What you hear is an amazingly coherent, full scale music without any typical artefacts we attribute to room related issues.

 

[Dr.Bass]

Re: Rockport technologies

Oh Oh !
That is a 'tall' statement;
Way to go.
I shall try and listen to it.
Thanks for the pointer...:clapping:

It may also be coming because I have heard too many mediocre sounding $30k speakers in the last couple of years

Moreover isnt it difficult to put a price tag on a speaker which really wows you ?

 

[arj]

Re: Rockport technologies

Apparently the cabinet is helmholtz resonator based to even out the bass response..i guess thats how they are able to tune the bass boom/overhang which could come up in the corners

 

[Dr.Bass]

Re: Rockport technologies

In Singapore it retails for $11k and to me it is one of highest VFM speaker I have heard.

BTW, it is S$11k at Singapore.

 

[bhagwan]

Re: Rockport technologies

BTW, it is S$11k at Singapore.

11,000.00 SGD = 575,895.84 INR
Singapore Dollar ? Indian Rupee

1 SGD = 52.3542 INR 1 INR = 0.0191007 SGD

Approx Rs. 6/- Lacs = FOB Singapore + Freight & Duty.

 

[Dr.Bass]

Re: Rockport technologies

11,000.00 SGD = 575,895.84 INR
Singapore Dollar ? Indian Rupee

1 SGD = 52.3542 INR 1 INR = 0.0191007 SGD

Approx Rs. 6/- Lacs = FOB Singapore + Freight & Duty.

Right. Just wanted to clarify that it was 11k SGD not USD.

 

[sidvee]

Re: Rockport technologies

Unfortunately was very busy with work in Chennai, could not sneak out for a couple of hours for the ATC demo. Will plan to do it next month when i am back there . Now will schedule a demo. in Hyd itself for the Avalon Ascendent sometime next week.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[mpw]

Re: Rockport technologies

Rockport Mira Loudspeakers | Full range | New York, New York 10014 | AudiogoN - The High-end Audio Community

mpw

 

[sidvee]

Re: Rockport technologies

Thanks Mpw, undoubtedly there are really a lot of good deals on pre-owned in Audiogon. Problem is by the time you ship and add customs etc. the hassle it is not really worth it. The bigger issue I have is when you pay approx. $10,000 for a used speaker, and after you get it, if something goes wrong then what? Indian dealer, if there is one, will not help because you did not buy from him or most likely it is out of warranty, so you have to again import parts etc. Recently my SVS Pc12 20-39 sub blew up. I remember paying $1100 about 10 years ago for this. Guess what the replacement driver cost (delivered) to my place is - approx $500. So at-least for me if I am buying a high value component, perhaps above $2-3K, I would rather pay 20-30% more and have the Indian dealer hold my hand. Anything cheaper, then Audiogon is the way to go.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[bhagwan]

Re: Rockport technologies

available in India;
Demo should be possible.

I have not heard them - intently - so will not comment on them;

SoundStage! Hi-Fi | SoundStageHiFi.com | Listening to Sonus Fabers Venere 3.0 and Olympica III -- and Some Naked Italians

3 way floor standing speakers Olympica III - Wood cabinet surround sound systems

In the review - do notice space from rear wall.
That may be needed - so bear in mind...

Looks a Million Bucks - High WAF - I feel.

May be worth a consideration; Add to your list of Possible In House Demo's !!
:clapping:

 

[bhagwan]

Re: Rockport technologies

Wizard High-End Audio Blog: Ascendo D9

New;

I have not heard... But there is a D & D for it.
Demo should be possible.
Call for it - listen & report.

All the Best !

 

[arj]

Re: Rockport technologies

Sid I believe Reference 3a Grand Veena is represented in india by Anlogue India labs

If you can get a demo, must be worth it...

 

[sidvee]

Re: Rockport technologies

Sid I believe Reference 3a Grand Veena is represented in india by Anlogue India labs

If you can get a demo, must be worth it...

Thanks Arj,
I already checked with Baiju at the time of the Hyderabad meet. Unfortunately no demo, have to pay first and get the speaker. I wanted to audition in the US when I was there but the dealer only had the bookshelf. So it is off my list for now.
Actually the search itself is quite slow, due to work load, but hopefully I will get some free time later in the year to audition more.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[Staxxx]

Re: Rockport technologies

I had the Reference 3a MM Da Capo speakers at one time and I can tell you they are exceptionally good book shelf speakers. I have also heard the Grand Veenas in quite a high end system at a dealers place (Macintosh tube amps etc.) and they sounded really very good. I hope you get to audition them as I think they are a very high vfm brand that is quite under-looked. Regards...

 

[sidvee]

Re: Rockport technologies

Esteemed Members, especially those reading this thread - my speaker search specifically Rockport has been going slowly, mainly because I am very busy with work even on saturdays - so no time to travel around. Consequently I have been couch surfing and checking what high end brands are really available to me in hyd. and the list is woefully short, enough to count on the fingers of my left hand:sad:. There was a glimmer of hope when Meridian opened a showroom in hyd., apparently same dealer as Sound of Music - Delhi, Bangalore etc., and when I contacted them they categorically stated there is no 2 channel demand in Hyderabad, so no Rockport - btw their showroom is above a mercedes benz dealership and Jaguar and Porsche are within 2 km of this location - so evidently people who buy these cars (obviously there is demand as the showrooms exist and bunch of display cars - which the showroom owner spent his money to buy) do not really care for 2 channel in their homes (how can you show off some great speakers to people!) . Anyways I am stumped - I am going to audition Thiel 2.7 (when the hyd. dist. gets them). No focal, dynaudio or B&W higher end in Hyd, one old Avalon Ascendent - Some highly priced MBL, perhaps Avantgarde horns which really won't work in my setup or to my taste - that's it - We are in a an audiophile desert I think I am going to agree with Bhagwan, Dr. Bass, Staxx et. al. no auditions please - we are Indians, just buy blind or hit the road and what, you want only 2 speakers? are u nuts, so many tollywood and bollywood mindless flicks and meaningless POP songs to be enjoyed:lol:. So at this point I will continue to enjoy the Harbeth Shl5, and perhaps some time mid next year when I have time to travel, will look for speakers to upgrade. Any suggestions - are welcome - after all our FM's are the last bastion of music lovers left in the Motherland.hyeah:
Cheers,
Sid

 

[mpw]

Re: Rockport technologies

i agree totally sid.

on a recent trip to the US and even before that audiogon makes you feel you are in a desert.

To my mind auditions are always preferable but in our country may not be on offer most of the time and therefore the option is to wait till you go to singapore etc.. and have your fill of auditions.

If you have the ability to get what you want from a place like singapore thats great and i suspect a large standmount is what most folks can get since floorstanders consume too much baggage weight etc..

I was reading this thread with interest ( partly selfishly.. i was drooling at those SHL5's ) :lol: for the knowledge it imparts.

But i wish you luck.. sometimes good things happen out of the blue.

mpw

 

[sidvee]

Re: Rockport technologies

To my mind auditions are always preferable but in our country may not be on offer most of the time and therefore the option is to wait till you go to singapore etc.. and have your fill of auditions.

But i wish you luck.. sometimes good things happen out of the blue.

mpw

Thanks mpw. Well beyond a mere audition I was hoping to get a home demo. Perhaps quite unlikely - at-least with Rockports - as there is no dealer here now. So back to square one. Anyways the Harbeths are sounding excellent so I will live with them for a few more months and see if something turns up.
Cheers,
Sid