Rockport Lyra

[jfrech]

I've traded my Rockport Altairs into my dealer and ordered Lyra's. They should ship in about 12 weeks (end of March/early April). I'll post my impressions on the differences on these two great speakers soon. My dealer has the Lyra's on display so I've heard them plenty of times. Very excited on this move to say the least !

If anyone is interested in used Altairs, my dealer has a pristine pair in Porsche Topaz Brown Metallic.

 

[timztunz]

Congrats on your Lyra's!

 

[LL21]

I've traded my Rockport Altairs into my dealer and ordered Lyra's. They should ship in about 12 weeks (end of March/early April). I'll post my impressions on the differences on these two great speakers soon. My dealer has the Lyra's on display so I've heard them plenty of times. Very excited on this move to say the least !

If anyone is interested in used Altairs, my dealer has a pristine pair in Porsche Topaz Brown Metallic.

AMAZING! Well done and look forward to hearing more about them. I have spoken with a number of people about them...and have heard they are sensational by all accounts. By the way, I also have read somewhere the current design thinking is that as opposed to doing a vertical inversion of the Lyra (Arrakis and Altair)...a custom-designed pair of Rockport Subs that sit side by side would be the long-term super-flagship that would outperform an inversion and outperform the original Arrakis.

 

[jfrech]

AMAZING! Well done and look forward to hearing more about them. I have spoken with a number of people about them...and have heard they are sensational by all accounts. By the way, I also have read somewhere the current design thinking is that as opposed to doing a vertical inversion of the Lyra (Arrakis and Altair)...a custom-designed pair of Rockport Subs that sit side by side would be the long-term super-flagship that would outperform an inversion and outperform the original Arrakis.

Interesting. I had not heard that. I do have a friend with Arrakis and subs. And I know a few Wilson owners, like yourself, use subs along with their speakers.

 

[spiritofmusic]

AMAZING! Well done and look forward to hearing more about them. I have spoken with a number of people about them...and have heard they are sensational by all accounts. By the way, I also have read somewhere the current design thinking is that as opposed to doing a vertical inversion of the Lyra (Arrakis and Altair)...a custom-designed pair of Rockport Subs that sit side by side would be the long-term super-flagship that would outperform an inversion and outperform the original Arrakis.

Oh, you've really made Ron unhappy now. He's bet the house on an Arrakis-style "double Lyra".

 

[LL21]

Well...I have read somewhere that an attempt was made to design an inverted Lyra and that ultimately it was determined that it would not work as well as dedicated side by side subs. I cannot confirm the veracity...but it certainly intrigued me a LOT...and I did speak with Rockport about the idea of custom subs and they were in principle open to the idea...and definitely supportive of the principle of matching subs.

 

[SuperDave]

I've traded my Rockport Altairs into my dealer and ordered Lyra's. They should ship in about 12 weeks (end of March/early April). I'll post my impressions on the differences on these two great speakers soon. My dealer has the Lyra's on display so I've heard them plenty of times. Very excited on this move to say the least !

If anyone is interested in used Altairs, my dealer has a pristine pair in Porsche Topaz Brown Metallic.

John,
Congrats, holding out as long as you have says a lot about the Altairs. I still haven't heard the Lyra, probably a good thing. I can't wait to hear about them!

Dave

 

[Ron Resnick]

I've traded my Rockport Altairs into my dealer and ordered Lyra's. They should ship in about 12 weeks (end of March/early April). I'll post my impressions on the differences on these two great speakers soon. My dealer has the Lyra's on display so I've heard them plenty of times. Very excited on this move to say the least !

If anyone is interested in used Altairs, my dealer has a pristine pair in Porsche Topaz Brown Metallic.

Wow! That is fantastic!

That is an extremely logical upgrade which any Altair II owner would want to make. I have heard the Lyra only at audio shows, but I have loved every system in which I have heard it. Somehow, I think it is more resolving and more coherent than the Altair II, without being any less natural or less smooth or less musical.

 

[Al M.]

I've traded my Rockport Altairs into my dealer and ordered Lyra's. They should ship in about 12 weeks (end of March/early April). I'll post my impressions on the differences on these two great speakers soon. My dealer has the Lyra's on display so I've heard them plenty of times. Very excited on this move to say the least !

Great speaker, congrats!

 

[musicfirst1]

Well...I have read somewhere that an attempt was made to design an inverted Lyra and that ultimately it was determined that it would not work as well as dedicated side by side subs. I cannot confirm the veracity...but it certainly intrigued me a LOT...and I did speak with Rockport about the idea of custom subs and they were in principle open to the idea...and definitely supportive of the principle of matching subs.

I know that some on this thread have followed my posts on the subject of separate subwoofers but there are others who have not.
I believe totally in separate subs, regardless of the frequency response of the mains. I have heard the Lyras on a couple of occasions, and I believe the Rockport Cygnus with two or more subs (at one time I owned the Cygnus with 2x3 Rel Gibraltars) handily outperform the Lyras alone in the bottom octaves.
That the current thinking of Rockport as well as Wilson, Genesis and other highly regarded manufacturers are starting to echo this approach is very encouraging to me.
Unfortunately, CORRECTLY integrating separate subs with one's main speakers is an order of magnitude more difficult than setting up mains alone. But once achieved, there is absolutely no going back.

I read/heard somewhere that the main listening room at Rockport now has integrated subs, but I don't know for sure if this is true.

 

[Al M.]

I know that some on this thread have followed my posts on the subject of separate subwoofers but there are others who have not.
I believe totally in separate subs, regardless of the frequency response of the mains. I have heard the Lyras on a couple of occasions, and I believe the Rockport Cygnus with two or more subs (at one time I owned the Cygnus with 2x3 Rel Gibraltars) handily outperform the Lyras alone in the bottom octaves.
That the current thinking of Rockport as well as Wilson, Genesis and other highly regarded manufacturers are starting to echo this approach is very encouraging to me.
Unfortunately, CORRECTLY integrating separate subs with one's main speakers is an order of magnitude more difficult than setting up mains alone. But once achieved, there is absolutely no going back.

I read/heard somewhere that the main listening room at Rockport now has integrated subs, but I don't know for sure if this is true.


View attachment 73394

Yes, any speaker should have subs, regardless if "full range" or not. Unless the bass towers already come with the speaker system.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Yes, any speaker should have subs, regardless if "full range" or not. Unless the bass towers already come with the speaker system.

I am inclined to agree -- unless the size or the characteristics of the room simply does not permit it subjectively or acoustically.

 

[LL21]

I read/heard somewhere that the main listening room at Rockport now has integrated subs, but I don't know for sure if this is true.


View attachment 73394

Fantastic photos and have enjoyed reading your posts on your system and experience with subs! I am particularly interested that you heard Rockport now have subs in their room...have you heard anything else about that? What subs for example?

 

[gshelley]

Hey John,
Congratulations on the new speaker decision. Will be interested in your comments on the upgrade.

 

[jfrech]

Wow! That is fantastic!

That is an extremely logical upgrade which any Altair II owner would want to make. I have heard the Lyra only at audio shows, but I have loved every system in which I have heard it. Somehow, I think it is more resolving and more coherent than the Altair II, without being any less natural or less smooth or less musical.

Ron, thanks ! Your comment "resolving and more coherent" is exactly what I am hearing as well.

 

[jfrech]

Hey John,
Congratulations on the new speaker decision. Will be interested in your comments on the upgrade.

Hi Great to hear from you. Let me know if you want a before then after listening session. I'd love to come visit you soon as well...

 

[jfrech]

John,
Congrats, holding out as long as you have says a lot about the Altairs. I still haven't heard the Lyra, probably a good thing. I can't wait to hear about them!

Dave

Hi Dave, make a trip to Austin soon and hear both ;-)

 

[musicfirst1]

I am inclined to agree -- unless the size or the characteristics of the room simply does not permit it subjectively or acoustically.

I would concur with this proviso Ron.

 

[gshelley]

Hi John,
would love to trade visits but it’s a little more difficult now. We relocated to Central OR. (Bend, OR). if you’re in the area, absolutely let me know.

We’re in the midst of designing/building a home and super excited about building a new Audio Room. Taking what I learned last time and making improvements.

 

[jfrech]

Hi John,
would love to trade visits but it’s a little more difficult now. We relocated to Central OR. (Bend, OR). if you’re in the area, absolutely let me know.

We’re in the midst of designing/building a home and super excited about building a new Audio Room. Taking what I learned last time and making improvements.

Congrats on the move ! I'd be super excited on building a new audio room too, I know you had experimented a lot on your prior room !!