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| Letters -- October 2007 More speaker comparisons? October 30, 2007 Editor, Greetings from a loyal reader. I have been wishing for the types of comparisons you’ve been conducting with the various loudspeakers you’ve been listening to. I have found your straightforward style refreshing and honest. I do have some requests for you if you’d be so kind as to consider them: I’d like to get your take on the newest Kharma CF-3.2.2 and the newest Isophons from Germany with the Thiel and Partner ceramic drivers. Specifically, I’d like to hear your thoughts on those speakers versus the Wilson WATT Puppy 8s, the YG Acoustics Kipods, and the Rockport Technologies Miras. I’d be most interested in one article about nothing but how these products differ from each other! Nigel Although the speakers you requested reviews for are not planned for my system, there is one more coming speaker review that you might be interested in (based on price at least): The German Physiks HRS-120s. These speakers retail in the upper-$20k region and therefore have heavy competition from the models you mention as well as many others. But they have some very unique strengths of their own. You’ll read about my time with these speakers very early next year. I do have further thoughts on the speaker journey I’m wrapping up also, and you’ll read more of those coming in future issues of Ultra Audio. Thanks for the kind words and for reading….Jeff Fritz “…reference-level speakers for the common man”? October 11, 2007 Editor, I have been enjoying your tour of the many top speakers that you have reviewed over the last two years. I find speakers to be one of the most, if not the most problematic components to resolve. More than this, there aren't too many truly great ones out there that can be reached by the more financially challenged among us. This is why your review of the Rockport Mira and future review of the newly redesigned Paradigm S6 v.2 are of such interest to readers like myself. While neither is exactly "cheap," by genuine high-end, reference-caliber standards they are significantly more financially obtainable. The idea that a true reference-level speaker may in fact exist at the price points of either the Mira or Paradigm is rather inspiring. I guess my question to you is whether or not these two models do indeed give a significant measure of statement-level performance to be considered reference-level speakers for the common man. In other words, are they that good? You have heard far more speakers, and superb speakers at that, than many of us will ever get the chance to hear, and are probably in a far better position to give an informed view on the matter. Robert It’s time to step away from the price-equals-performance myth and face the facts: There are a few special products that just embarrass their more expensive competition. While it’s true that you have to search for them, they are there, and they are waiting to be discovered. The Rockport Miras and the Paradigm Signature S6 v.2 are just such products. Given the constraints of appropriate room size, careful set up, and synergistic electronics, these two speakers will truly shine. You already know how I feel about the Rockports, and you can read about the Paradigms on November 1. Obviously I like them both very much. So yes, to answer your question, you can get a “significant measure of statement-level performance” with these speakers. It’s time to get excited about some of the audio products available today -- the really special ones anyway….Jeff Fritz Soulutions October 8, 2007 Editor, Your editorial on solid-state amps that you've sampled was indeed interesting. I don't have too much experience with solid states as most of my previous amps over the last decade were mostly tube models -- from push-pull to SETs. However, I have just switched camp to solid state for a number of reasons, not least being the convenience and ease of maintenance. I am currently trying out the Soulution preamp and power amplifier from Switzerland, and they are extremely exquisite-sounding -- relaxed but powerful when summoned. This coming from the Wavac 805s I was using just before the changeover was indeed a contrast. I thought I was going to give up the immediacy and delicacy of the SETs, but there was no need to worry. The Soulution products, like their name suggests, impart a whole lot of soul and at the same time dare I say a "solution" to my previous concerns about tubes. Perhaps you may want to check it out. I believe the US distributor is Axiss. Here's the link to the company's website in English. Michael Foo Altair and X-2 October 4, 2007 Editor, I look forward to your monthly articles and equipment reviews. This is very informative writing directed at the audiophile community without being biased. I hope you will continue to write such great articles in a detailed manner instead of just coming up with a 5000-word-limit article. What really interests me was the Rockport Altair you enthusiastically reviewed. I have yet to see and hear a Rockport dealership this side of the West Coast -- Vancouver, BC. Your comparison with the Altair pitted against the Wilson WATT/Puppy 8 left me thinking that perhaps the mighty Alexandra X-2 could have been more appropriate. Between these two giants, where do the speakers falter or is the X-2 still invincible? Nelson Borje This is a question I knew would come up, and I grappled with it while writing the review. I agree that the most relevant comparison would have been my prior reference and my new one. However, I chose not to make it for two reasons. First, at the time I started the Altair review, it had been well over a year since I heard the X-2 in my room. I therefore did not feel comfortable with a blow-by-blow comparison due the time that had elapsed. Second, all of the associated electronics had changed. Because of these two problems, it was clear that I could not make a direct, detailed comparison. However, even though I can’t delve into the details of midrange versus midrange, etc., with specific recordings,, I can give you some general observations: As good (and it is very, very good) as the X-2 is, the Rockport Altair sets new standards for me in terms of clarity, transparency, and overall neutrality. It is the speaker I prefer to all others I’ve heard and that includes the Alexandria X-2. That's why I bought it. It should be noted that the X-2 is in Series 2 form which I have not heard. I think the most relevant point, though, is that at this level you must hear these speakers optimized in order to form your own opinion. I would encourage anyone considering such an investment to seek an extended audition of each model….Jeff Fritz Altair and Arrakis October 2, 2007 Editor, An interesting read with a not-so-surprising outcome, as Mr. Payor seems to have hit his stride with these latest designs. While at Rockport, did you have the opportunity to audition (however briefly) the Arrakis? From your comments, I inferred that the Arrakis were more of the same presentation given by the Altair. Possible to comment on them? M. Tan. I did hear the Arrakis. It definitely shares a close family resemblance with the Altair, but its presentation is a bit different. Its D’ Appolito-like configuration makes its soundstage even more enveloping, and it has an ease about it that is nothing if not lifelike. Even in the largest Rockport room, I’m not sure you could make that speaker compress with anywhere near reasonable listening levels. The Arrakis will of course play louder, but the Altair will play quite loud on its own -- not sure that will be an issue with either speaker. Think of a soundstage on an even grander scale and even more headroom and I think you’d about have it….Jeff Fritz
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