Rhapsody.Audio Listening Rooms

rando · Nov 2, 2021

Status is conducting a jazz band that only plays your tune.

Letting others get hot under the collar.

Rhapsody · Nov 2, 2021

I don' t think that I've ever met ANYONE that bought a stereo system for "status". Cars, jewelry, houses, clothes, almost any luxury items are often bought to "keep up with the Jones" or as has been said for "status".

I have never seen someone buying an audio system to impress anyone else. Audiophiles pretty much buy for themselves. People with $$$ that buy a nice system for their home, buy because they like cool stuff and they like to listen to music. This is my experience with the people that I encounter.

That includes the maybe 10 people/customers that I have sold $1M type Goldmund Epilogue and Apolgue systems to over the years. None of those people bought their systems to impress others. They may have bought them due to their egos and wanting something to them that was amazing, so the purchases may have been to impress themselves but not friends, family members or guests.

One other thing is that I've heard more systems that I can remember that were theoretically set up "correctly" and they were "meh" when I heard them. On the flip side I've heard systems that were set up to accommodate living situations and were to an audiophile "poorly" set up. When I've heard some of these systems I would say "wow" that sounds really good in spite of the room or placement limitations.

PeterA · Nov 2, 2021

Bob, I’m curious if you typically sell a lot of audio file room treatment to your clients?

Addicted to hifi · Nov 2, 2021

Rhapsody said:
I don' t think that I've ever met ANYONE that bought a stereo system for "status". Cars, jewelry, houses, clothes, almost any luxury items are often bought to "keep up with the Jones" or as has been said for "status".

I have never seen someone buying an audio system to impress anyone else. Audiophiles pretty much buy for themselves. People with $$$ that buy a nice system for their home, buy because they like cool stuff and they like to listen to music. This is my experience with the people that I encounter.

That includes the maybe 10 people/customers that I have sold $1M type Goldmund Epilogue and Apolgue systems to over the years. None of those people bought their systems to impress others. They may have bought them due to their egos and wanting something to them that was amazing, so the purchases may have been to impress themselves but not friends, family members or guests.

One other thing is that I've heard more systems that I can remember that were theoretically set up "correctly" and they were "meh" when I heard them. On the flip side I've heard systems that were set up to accommodate living situations and were to an audiophile "poorly" set up. When I've heard some of these systems I would say "wow" that sounds really good in spite of the room or placement limitations.

I’m with you. My system is very personal and I don’t show it of to family members only the occasional very serious audiophile.

Rhapsody · Nov 2, 2021

PeterA said:
Bob, I’m curious if you typically sell a lot of audio file room treatment to your clients?

Very seldom. Maybe 20%. 50% of the customers already have systems and the rooms that are already set up, either living rooms or dedicated rooms. 30% buy new systems and we just incorporate their new systems into their existing living situations, which are all over the map.

The 20% that do room treatments usually have architects/designers involved that do specialized non-visible room wall treatments, ie, similar to BobVins room. I have sold RPG panels etc in the past but very rarely at this point.

Rhapsody · Nov 2, 2021

Addicted to hifi said:
I’m with you. My system is very personal and I don’t show it of to family members only the occasional very serious audiophile.

Most seasoned audiophiles that I know sort of shy away from even talking about their systems to non-audiophiles. Basically because the normal people (non-audiophiles) think they are crazy if they talk about or show them their "audio system". Most non-audiophiles like music but via their ear buds or Sonos, Boze etc. Any more than that is considered "strange".

Of course I am generalizing, lot's of exceptions to my comments.

Addicted to hifi · Nov 2, 2021

Rhapsody said:
Most seasoned audiophiles that I know sort of shy away from even talking about their systems to non-audiophiles. Basically because the normal people (non-audiophiles) think they are crazy if they talk about or show them their "audio system". Most non-audiophiles like music but via their ear buds or Sonos, Boze etc. Any more than that is considered "strange".

That explains why my in-laws think I am mad.

Rhapsody · Nov 2, 2021

I do get non-audiophiles that visit. I got tired of them looking at my crazy looking speakers (to them).

I now have a pair of Devialet Phantoms set up. When I sense someone is not an audiophile I say come in this room and look at this. I pull out my iPhone click on Spotify and hit play. They are amazed at the sound, love the all wireless/network Spotify interface and we have a nice visit and talk about music and normal stuff. VS me explaining what a full range Ribbon speaker is or what omni directional Bayz speakers are all about, which would just make them stare and wonder wtf I was talking about.

Holli82 · Nov 2, 2021

Rhapsody said:
I do get non-audiophiles that visit. I got tired of them looking at my crazy looking speakers (to them).

I now have a pair of Devialet Phantoms set up. When I sense someone is not an audiophile I say come in this room and look at this. I pull out my iPhone click on Spotify and hit play. They are amazed at the sound, love the all wireless/network Spotify interface and we have a nice visit and talk about music and normal stuff. VS me explaining what a full range Ribbon speaker is or what omni directional Bayz speakers are all about, which would just make them stare and wonder wtf I was talking about.

Whenever someone visits my home I don't make an effort to show them my listening room. However, if they ask to hear something I'm willing to oblige. A good rule of thumb for me is if they listen to entire track without talking over the music, they are probably enjoying the experience and then it's "game on". If they are talking over the music within the first 30 seconds, it's time to move on to another part of the house.

Ron Resnick · Nov 3, 2021

Stereophonic said:
I'm nobody to say what someone wants or needs. I don´t care what people do with his money. We live in a free world.
Ron was saying they are regular people who loves music and i was only commenting they are typycal rich ("high powered executives") people who maybe loves music and sure loves expensive system to show a status...
No problem by my side, it won´t be the first or the last customer of that style....
The dream's customer of all distributor....

I understand the confusion. By "regular people" I meant non-audiophiles.

Rhapsody · Nov 4, 2021

I have some really nice sounding combinations but this is one of ,my favorites- Taiko Extreme>>>Aqua Lascala>>>Pilium Leonidas>>>Diesis Roma
Triode>>>Odin 2 cabling

Bobvin · Nov 4, 2021

Rhapsody said:
I have some really nice sounding combinations but this is one of ,my favorites- Taiko Extreme>>>Aqua Lascala>>>Pilium Leonidas>>>Diesis Roma
Triode>>>Odin 2 cabling

That room… I love that wall behind the rig. Really gives the “cave” to man-cave!

And Pilium with Diesis… my own Pilium Achilles and Alexander I think are reaching “burned-in” status. Over the weekend an audiophile from Seattle visited to hear the rig with the Romas, and last night with lights out I was listening to vinyl — holy smokes this is such a monster leap over the ARC-Wilson combo I loved for years. Texture, nuance, delicacy, detail all served with amazing liquidity. How good? I was actually listening and enjoying classical — that should tell you everything!

PeterA · Nov 4, 2021

Rhapsody said:
I have some really nice sounding combinations but this is one of ,my favorites- Taiko Extreme>>>Aqua Lascala>>>Pilium Leonidas>>>Diesis Roma
Triode>>>Odin 2 cabling

Bob, could you describe why this combination is one of your favorites? Thanks.

Rhapsody · Nov 4, 2021

PeterA said:
Bob, could you describe why this combination is one of your favorites? Thanks.

Hi Peter,

Probably not. Words can't describe the feeling that I get or how I get sucked into the presentation of the music when I listen to this combination. I just think "wow, this sounds really special".

All that I can do is invite anyone that is curious as to what it might sound like to visit and form their own opinion. I'm pretty much doing one demo at day at my new place. People are starting to fly in from all over the US as well as local people. Seems alive again!

Rhapsody · Nov 7, 2021

The Rhapsody.Audio - West Palm Beach location is now set up and open for business by appointment. The WPB will be live on the Rhaposody.Audio site in the next few days. Sneak peek

Featuring Alsvyvox Tintoretto speakers with the Pilium Leonidas integrated amplifier and Aurender A30 streamer/server. Soon to arrive will be the Bayz Audio Courante speakers in carbon fiber.

Rhapsody · Nov 7, 2021

Stereophonic said:
Thank you for your quick reply.
I’m glad to see they work well near back wall.
Based on the picture, it seems they are around 50cm from back wall. They have a lot of toe in and back wall seems very hard ( a lot of reflexion)….
View attachment 83835

Please see the current pics below. The pic in this photo/attachment above was taken prior to our final set up, which is now complete. The X crossovers are behind the speakers and the distance from the rear wall is 1M+. Sounds GREAT and also blends in with the loft lifestyle everyday living.

Rhapsody · Nov 9, 2021

All six Rhapsody.Audio Listening Rooms are now open, by appointment, for demonstrations. Each Rhapsody listening room has products from Pilium, Alsyvox, Bayz and Diesis available for demonstration.

Several of the RLR’s have the Taiko Extreme server as well as Aurender servers on display.

In addition, the Brooklyn and Dallas/Fort Worth locations have full Kondo Reference systems available for demonstration.

The Brooklyn and Dallas/Forth Worth locations will both have Magico M9s installed in Q1, 22 driven by full Pilium Audio systems.

Each RLR has a live page available for viewing at https://rhapsody.audio

Let the fun begin!

Bobvin · Nov 9, 2021

Rhapsody said:
All six Rhapsody.Audio Listening Rooms are now open, by appointment, for demonstrations. Each Rhapsody listening room has products from Pilium, Alsyvox, Bayz and Diesis available for demonstration.

Several of the RLR’s have the Taiko Extreme server as well as Aurender servers on display.

In addition, the Brooklyn and Dallas/Fort Worth locations have full Kondo Reference systems available for demonstration.

The Brooklyn and Dallas/Forth Worth locations will both have Magico M9s installed in Q1, 22 driven by full Pilium Audio systems.

Each RLR has a live page available for viewing at https://rhapsody.audio

Let the fun begin!

Ron Resnick · Nov 9, 2021

Dear Bob,

A big congratulations to you for the wonderful article Julie Mullins wrote in the December 2021 issue of Stereophile about your Rhapsody Listening Room business model!

Addicted to hifi · Nov 9, 2021

Ron Resnick said:
Dear Bob,

A big congratulations to you for the wonderful article Julie Mullins wrote in the December 2021 issue of Stereophile about your Rhapsody Listening Room business model!

View attachment 84458

Very interesting article. I know a dealer in my country that has done the same thing.he sold his shop and runs his business from home.being there a few times.congratulations to rhapsody audio as well.

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