That sounds incredible. Congrats...Did you have a chance to listen to the Lyra's? Or was it love at 1st sight with the Orions.
Rockport Technologies Introduces Orion Loudspeaker
- Thread starter MAXPWR
- Start date
Orion is amazing and 90% of us would be extremely pleased with its performance , especially in average to smaller rooms,
but Lyra is just different animal.
The quietness of the cabinet is much better in Lyra so less coloration and much more quiteness.
There is no speaker I ever heard that is that "clean" performing. You simply hear cabinet coloration in every other speaker.
Also Lyra will work in a bigger rooms better.
But again. Whatever you pick you will be super happy.
but Lyra is just different animal.
The quietness of the cabinet is much better in Lyra so less coloration and much more quiteness.
There is no speaker I ever heard that is that "clean" performing. You simply hear cabinet coloration in every other speaker.
Also Lyra will work in a bigger rooms better.
But again. Whatever you pick you will be super happy.
I've listened to both under optimal conditions and I've spent hours talking to Josh and John about these two speakers. I actually think the difference in cabinet quietness is being overstated. The Lyra is indeed slightly quieter so it is a little more resolving but its not night and day. Its definitely not a different animal. I recommend you go to Rockport and hear for yourself. They have a great sound room. The Lyra does have a larger internal volume so it could theoretically play in a larger room but unless you're listening in a truly cavernous space you won't notice it. Room size is not really a consideration when choosing between these speakers. Talk with Andy, Josh or John about this directly. The biggest difference between these two speakers is how the 13 inch driver and the two 10 inch drivers will couple with your room. It's just different. A person involved in the design told me that "the Lyra does measure better in every way but that he personally likes the Orion". If you want the better (marginally) measuring speaker get the Lyra. You will not be sorry. Its as good as it gets IMHO. If you are interested in the one that sounds best to you then you really have to listen to both of them and then decide. No one can tell you in advance which one you would prefer.
I'm loving this conversation!
Going with the Orion, the money saved could be put towards bi-amping if one cared too... Hmmm.
One consideration for me is, due to how close the right speaker(back left corner only) will have to be to a wall with toe in, the lower port will be 4-5 inches away from the wall. Is that enough space to not influence the air chaffing/blowout to mess with the bass sound?
The speakers will be close(r) to my ears(about 8 feet).
Josh told me the minimum is 7 feet.
That is going to be very challenging. 8 feet should be fine but 4-5 inches from the wall is concerning. You’d have to investigate the SBIR at this distance. I would specifically ask Josh about this. He helped design Orion with Andy and would be the one to trust on this subject.
I plan on doing that.
The thought hit me yesterday that my current speakers are front ported. Orion's being back ported may preclude me from getting them. I've seen audio shows where drapes were blown around from a rear port.
I’m not sure it’s just the port per se. Remember, all speakers output (sealed or ported) below 200hz or so become omnidirectional. The port won’t help but it’s much more than just that. Can you create an 8 foot triangle somewhere in you room that gives them more distance from the sidewall ? What are the overall dimensions of your room?
apologize if I'm interrupting. Is this a new listening room? Obvious concern for such a substantial investment being put inti a tough spot. The tweeter waveguide will create serious reflections that close to the sidewall that I would smear the soundstage, no? Also, a huge woofer rear ported with front and sidewall reinforcement will likely be an audible distraction in my experience. Rockport isn't immune to boundary effects.
i think at the very least both front and sidewalls would need real treatment. The tweeter issue could be handled relatively easily with absorption but lower frequencies are going to be tough to treat because there simply isn't room to shoehorn them in there.
I cannot create that much space around my speakers...I
I'll wait to hear what Josh has to say about Orion's.
I think I'm going to have to consider going with my 2nd choice. Front ported Fischer & Fischer SN 770.1's. They have an AMT Tweeter custom made by Mundorff, composite sandwich drivers similar to the RP's, are almost the same dimensions as my Mezzo's and can be Tri amped.
I'll pass on what Josh says and I really appreciate your help and thoughts.
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No interruption! Thanks for your input. I agree with you. To make the Orion investment and not put them in the perfect environment is not the right way to go.
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Your room is large enough but I don't see the layout. If I understand correctly its 36 x12. Correct? To optimize this you would sit about 13.5 feet from the front wall(38% of room length)) Speakers would be 8 feet apart giving 2 feet on each side of them to the side walls. Speaker fronts would be 5.5 feet from the front wall (13.5 - 8) giving you an equilateral triangle with 2 feet to sidewalls and 5.5 to front walls. This would work fine. No?
All you would need is first reflection point absorptive treatment on side walls (too close for diffusion), corner bass traps in front walls and ideally either Giks monster bass traps directly behind speaker or after measuring choosing one of their tuned traps.
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It's 36" long. But only 12' deep. With high ceilings. I can't believe I did not realize the back port design right away.
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Sorry. I meant that the room is 12' from behind my couch to the other side. I've scoured my brain but I just can't put the Orion's anywhere without completely rearranging the furniture and everything. So alas, I will have to keep the Mezzo's or find front ported speakers that can stand where my current speakers are.... Thank you for trying to help me out.
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