Rhapsody.Audio Listening Rooms

Rhapsody.Audio- Listening Rooms (RLRs)

Rhapsody.Audio would like to announce that within the next 3-4 months there will be multiple new locations where several of the product lines that Rhapsody.Audio represents will be available to audition via Rhapsody.Audio Listening Rooms (RLRs).

Initially, the RLR’s will have the products available for demonstration mentioned below. Upon opening, the DFW RLR will have a very similar product offering as that available at Rhapsody.Audio in Manhattan.

Over time, all locations will be expanding their portfolio to a comparable scale as that of NYC/DFW.

The RLRs will be available to host auditions by appointment. All product ordering and delivery logistics will be processed and supported from the Rhapsody.Audio NYC location.

Product assistance and installation will be supported by Rhapsody.Audio NYC along with the RLRs depending on customer location.

The RLR locations are:


Portland - Rhapsody.Audio RLR

Products available to audition (coming soon)

-Pilium

-Alsyvox

-Diesis

-Bayz Audio

Dallas/Fort Worth Rhapsody.Audio DFW

Products available to audition:

-Alsyvox

-Diesis

-Bayz Audio

-Pilium

-VYGER

-Kondo

-Taiko Audio

-VYDA

West Palm Beach & Miami (2 Florida locations) Rhapsody.Audio WPB/Miami

West Palm Beach will open initially. Miami will follow when the RLR is ready to host customers.

Products available to audition (initially):

-Alsyvox

-Pilium

-Aurender

-TelluriumQ

Chicago, IL Rhapsody.Audio Chicago

Products available to audition (initially):

-Alsyvox

-Pilium

-Aurender

-TelluriumQ

Long Island, NY Rhapsody.Audio Long Island

-Kondo

-Alsyvox

 

Actually it is very clear bass with texture, but the Diesis don't go down all that deep, (around 30Hz) so ??? I don't use the subs unless someone asks me to turn them on.

It's all about quality and clarity!

david

 

There are two Platinum, four gold and two silver resonators from Franck in the room. Along with several sugar cubes. I think I have 30 resonators through my four rooms. The ceiling in this room is made from wooden beams which offer a lot of diffraction. The left side wall is heavily abortive behind the diffraction copper material.

The back of the room is open to a lot of absorption and nooks and crannies as well.

The room sounds AMAZING regarding acoustics to myself and many visitors.

I must admit the first thing I think of when I see a room like this is, wow I would love to listen to this setup. The thought of reflections, speaker positioning, etc. isn't up there in my thoughts. I just like listening too much I guess.

 

I must admit the first thing I think of when I see a room like this is, wow I would love to listen to this setup. The thought of reflections, speaker positioning, etc. isn't up there in my thoughts.

I know. I never talk about reflections or what a room "might" sound like, until I personally hear a room. Then I can comment on whether it sounds great or it might need some attention.

 

The Diesis/Kondo room at Rhapsody.Audio-Brooklyn
View attachment 97037

I always like a room that create feeling. The first glance at your room, Colonal Ludlow Legends of the Fall came to my mind.


If this was his listening room He probably use this as an absorber.



Just want to say hi to you Bob.

 

I always like a room that create feeling. The first glance at your room, Colonal Ludlow Legends of the Fall came to my mind.
View attachment 97043

If this was his listening room He probably use this as an absorber.

View attachment 97044

Just want to say hi to you Bob.

Hi Tang, love it!

 

Beautiful inviting room for sure. I'm surprised the bass can be very tight considering I don't see any low frequency absorption. Curious, is the room very deep? It looks to be ~15'W by ~8' H.

 

It is 15 foot wide and 8 foot ceilings but it goes back 30+ feet. There are really no issues with the bass. But the Diesis have a different type of bass. Not as strong as a cabinet speaker but great texture and clarity.

 

Speaking of excellent sounding and appearing rooms I visited Bobvin this week and experienced his Rhapsody Listening Room. He had Alsyvox Botticellis set up driven by Pilium gear. We listened to both his Extreme and Vinyl and both were just superb and both are now on my short list of much wanted gear. Bob has posted some photos of his room here but believe me they don't do it justice. It's stunning. Thanks again Bob for the visit and great hospitality.

 

Speaking of excellent sounding and appearing rooms I visited Bobvin this week and experienced his Rhapsody Listening Room. He had Alsyvox Botticellis set up driven by Pilium gear. We listened to both his Extreme and Vinyl and both were just superb and both are now on my short list of much wanted gear. Bob has posted some photos of his room here but believe me they don't do it justice. It's stunning. Thanks again Bob for the visit and great hospitality.

Great to have you visit… its not often I’m in the music room mid-day, but it sure is nice to have a view out into the forest on a beautiful, sunny autumn afternoon. Music playing, branches gently dancing with the breeze… “natural sound”.

 

Bob, when do you get your new turntable?

 

Bob, when do you get your new turntable?

Hi Peter, I’m working with Giuseppe in Rome to resolve a couple small issues resulting from less than gentle handling by the courier. I’m beginning to think putting “please drop” would be better than “fragile” markings on the crates. I know fragile means nothing, but “please drop” — maybe they’d think “no, they can’t mean that! Somebody’s probably watching.”

 

Hi Peter, I’m working with Giuseppe in Rome to resolve a couple small issues resulting from less than gentle handling by the courier. I’m beginning to think putting “please drop” would be better than “fragile” markings on the crates. I know fragile means nothing, but “please drop” — maybe they’d think “no, they can’t mean that! Somebody’s probably watching.”

Hello Bob, So it has arrived? That's great, but I am sorry about your small issues. I just shipped nine boxes full of two very heavy turntables back to ddk. The shipping company arrived and put them right on three pallets and wrapped them up. Shipping these delicate items always makes me very nervous.

Good luck resolving the problems and I look forward to reading your reports and of course the photos of your beautiful room and gear. You must be excited.

 

Alsyvox, Diesis, Bayz, Pilium, VAC, and Kondo: Magic in Fort Greene

Last week I had the absolute pleasure of hanging out with @Rhapsody at the Rhapsody showroom in Fort Greene. I’ve been visiting Bob’s audio lab/hifi toysRus for years (back when it was in Flatiron) and both my Magicos came from him. This was my first time visiting his new location and Fort Green and it’s a great set up: a beautiful townhouse on an idyllic Brooklyn townhouse lined street with the park right next door. Throw in that it was the first day of a fall chill and I couldnt be more excited to take a Friday off work and enjoy some of the finest audio offerings in the world. The whole experience was so “ear opening” that it has left me questioning (in a good way) what I prioritize in a system.

We listened to quite a few set ups that I will briefly list in order here:
1. Taiko+Esoteric DAC, Bayz Counterpoint, Pilium Integrated
2. Taiko+Esoteric DAC, Alsyvox Botticelli X, Pilium separates (stereo amp)
3. Taiko+Esoteric DAC, Diesis Roma, Pilium separates (stereo amp)
4. Taiko+Esoteric DAC, Diesis Roma, VAC separates (monos)
5. Aurender N100+Aqua LaFormula (I think), Diesis Roma Triode, Diesis Integrated as preamp, Kondo Kagura monoblocks, 2x REL subs
6. Taiko+Esoteric DAC, Alsyvox Botticelli X, VAC separates (monos)

I didn’t take down the exact models of the dacs and didn’t really inquire about cabling. The Roma and Botticelli X were in one room, the bayz another, the Roma Triode in the basement area in a 3rd room with stone walls and wooden rafters. I’ve detailed my musical preferences before but basically hip hop, heavily processed/lots of synthesizer use, not a bass head but the music I listen to needs a good foundation and needs a lot of drive - staging is key to really paint the soundscapes.

Here are my thoughts on each system - honestly I could write paragraphs about each but I am trying to condense my thoughts. At a high level, I could live happily with any of these systems and that’s really the long and short of it. There are certainly comparative strengths and weaknesses and the systems are different but they are all really good and they are all so balanced and well put together that describing the differences is hard but also easy to notice - I’ll try my best:

Taiko+Esoteric DAC, Bayz Counterpoint, Pilium Integrated
1. Amazing soundstaging, diffuse image vs what I’m used to but not only not offensive honestly more “real” than the pinpoint imaging I am used to. I prefer pinpoint imaging but I also didn’t feel like it was “missing” it…there’s a lot to love about the presentation. Probably the darkest/richest sounding of all the systems we listened to that day but I would say not as dense as the system I have it own. If you want to take that as a magico m2 comparison vs. bayz counterpoint, I would say that it’s drawing too strong a conclusion. Biggest bass of all the systems we heard that day.

Taiko+Esoteric DAC, Alsyvox Botticelli X, Pilium separates (stereo amp)
2. Big time sound stage. Image size is exceptional and up there with the biggest speakers I’ve heard (xvx etc), tall soundstage offered great vertical layering of sound. Soundstage depth wasn’t as deep as I’m used to but there was good layering from front to back. Insane drive and speed, but the bass doesn’t wallop and shouldn’t be expected too. Fleetfoot, clear, with tremendous energy. For my own preferences warming up the system’s lower midrange would probably fit the bill perfectly for me but that’s an easy task with a speaker this transparent - i reckon the aqua dac bob has would probably do the job great. Really easy to crank these up and see a wall of sound.

Taiko+Esoteric DAC, Diesis Roma, Pilium separates (stereo amp)
3. We didn’t think the Roma would be great for the type of music I like but thought it would be fun to try. I was raving about the botticelli x and was ready to call it my next speaker until I heard the diesis. I picked up better staging, not as tall but width was better, images were more pinpoint, crazy level of low detail retrieval. Dynamic and alive with no coloration from the horn to my ears. The sound did feel a little chopped off on some music purely because they don’t play that low. The pilium amp has a lot of juice so I found the sound better at a lower volume. Vocals/midrange even on hip hop and pop tracks were delivered so _naturally_

Taiko+Esoteric DAC, Diesis Roma, VAC separates (monos)
4. I asked to hear the Roma with the VAC separates hoping/wondering how the sound would be if warmed up a bit. I use a symphonic line kraft at home so am used to a slightly richer presentation and a bit more warmth through the midrange. I don’t like warm sounding speakers but this amp just adds the right amount for my ears to make my m2’s play with precision but not sound “too technical”. The VAC combo was phenomenal. I haven’t owned a tube amp in years but I recognized that tube midrange right away. The sound was so dimensional and the speakers being as fast as they are were able to deliver the bloom and musicality without sounding bloated or slow. For me, I think this system would need subs but the imaging and tonality were just so good and it sounded like music was spilling out o the speaker rather than being pushed out of the speaker. There was an immediacy to the soundstage and lack of barrier that I’ve never experienced before. The terms I would normally use for soundstaging (vertical, depth, layering, etc) were not really useful here because it was all of that and I was in it. Instead of watching a wall of sound (which can be awe inspiring) I was in an orb of sound. Maybe the high efficiency guys are on to something!

Aurender N100+Aqua LaFormula (I think), Diesis Roma Triode, Diesis Integrated as preamp, Kondo Kagura monoblocks, 2x REL subs
5. We fired up this system to see what subs on a roma would be like. What I heard was nothing short of magic. I sat engaged and absorbed into the music. For years I have been quietly admiring the kondo amps that Bob has. Ever since seeing the Kagura monos my very first visit back in 2014/2015 I have found them to be really intriguing. I never listened though - price and love for hard to drive speakers mostly kept me away but I like hunting gear with a story and the Kondo story was known to me and I appreciated the insane level of craftsmanship. Everything in this system was new to me so it’s difficult and useless to compare to the other systems. However, I can easily say this was the best system I have ever heard. Whatever is going on with that room speaker amp combo is just sheer magic. Music was spilling out with a warmth and dimensionality that no longer sounded like a recording but a fond memory of a record. Rose colored glasses but still enough resolution to not miss out on the details and enough speed to feel alive. The subs added the depth to the bass I was looking for but I think I could use a touch more detail and impact through the mid bass - maybe it was there and I just didnt notice because the overall picture was so engaging and absorbing.

I have a lot more to say about this system…..

Taiko+Esoteric DAC, Alsyvox Botticelli X, VAC separates (monos)
6. This was good but honestly after the high of system 5 I was still buzzing about the previous system and my thoughts were occupied. I heard some of the same vac bloom that I got in the diesis+vac combo. Its a great combo and if I were to go with the botticelli x, I’d probably opt to run it on big tube power

 

Coming Home

As I said prior to describing the systems, they were all really good and each of them could be an easy choice for someone. For me the Roma Triode + Kondo System was just epic. The Diesis Roma and Alsyvox are just so different and enjoyable having both would be a pretty clutch situation. I liked the Bayz as well but I believe the Diesis and Alsyvox fit what I’m looking for a bit better despite the Bayz having the deepest bass of the 3.

I told Bob that I thought the Alsyvox was a great system for a living room. You’re hanging out, you have friends over, it’s just a very impressive experience. The wall of sound would impress anyone and I don’t think I’d ever get tired of having my music presented that way. It’s an IMAX experience. The kondo+roma triode system…well…that’s a different level of refinement. It’s a system I’d put in a private listening room. I think while the average non audiophile would like the sound it’s not as immediately “wow” as the botticelli x system. However, once you’ve been in this hobby long enough you know there’s something special about it when you hear it. If you want your listening experience to be less cinematic and you look at listening as a therapeutic time for quite contemplation and to “get away from it all” the combo of roma triode and kondo is about as intimate and emotional an experience as you can find.

I was really shocked by how good it was on the type of music I like as well. The vocals in my favorite hip hop tracks had new rhythm, depth, and dynamics than I had heard before. The sound was alive and it was beautiful. The Kondo doesn’t deliver a “matter of fact” presentation like my favorite SS gear. I love listening to transparent systems because the “sameness” of a colored system can get old after a while. I used to own raidhos and while the sound was beautiful the magicos suit my tastes much better. The Kondo had a coloration but it didn’t sound colored - it just sounded right. I know that’s a cliche but I’m not sure how else to describe it. I got all the richness of vocals with the slight romantic quality of a just-slightly-longer-than-is-neutral sustain/reverb/delay. I’m hearing everything on the recording, just better than the actual recording is. It sounds the way my memory of great musical experiences sounds…and that’s kind of crazy to think about.

That evening, I spent time listening to my own system. You know what? It sounded great. It sounded easily as magical as everything I heard earlier in the day and just shy of the Roma Triode+Kondo system. The magicos don’t have the depth and width of the bayz, but they are pretty deep and wide. They don’t have the soundstage height of the botticelli x but they play tall and much taller than their size. They don’t sound as utterly unconstrained as the Diesis, but they have presence and dynamics. They have the best bass of all the four and it leads to a sound that has a great foundation and is expansive.

So where does this all leave me? Well - there are no bad options here. The m2 is likely too small for my new space and shipping will be annoying. If I keep 2 systems (looking likely), I’d probably get the boticelli x or roma for the second system. If I could only keep one system, I would be tempted to trade the m2 into an m6 (i’m a creature of comfort) or to hold off for a bit and comfortably purchase the kondo + roma triode system. I really don’t know and I’m more than okay with that

 

Hi Osho, Thx so much for visiting. It was a fun listening with you to all of the systems and all of the fun tracks that you played. I enjoyed the afternoon as much as you did.

Also thank you for the excellent report on Rhapsody-Brooklyn. It is appreciated.

Be well until we meet again!

 

Sounds like it was a fun day! Those are some killer setups.

 

Thanks again for having me over Bob! It was a fantastic day and I look forward to my next visit.

Part 2 updated above!

 

Hi @Skanda! Thanks for the great recounting of your experience at @Rhapsody. Really exciting read and I’ve enjoyed your other posts, as well. While I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Bob or spending time in one of his amazing rooms, we’ve done a little biz and have had some fun, informative conversations (mostly him informing me, ha!) He has been very generous with his time even when there was no sale imminent. Rare thing that be! I was hoping you might post some (or all!) of your reference tracks. I’m curious to give them a “spin” in my system. Thanks!
Michael

 

Hi @Skanda! Thanks for the great recounting of your experience at @Rhapsody. Really exciting read and I’ve enjoyed your other posts, as well. While I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Bob or spending time in one of his amazing rooms, we’ve done a little biz and have had some fun, informative conversations (mostly him informing me, ha!) He has been very generous with his time even when there was no sale imminent. Rare thing that be! I was hoping you might post some (or all!) of your reference tracks. I’m curious to give them a “spin” in my system. Thanks!
Michael

cheers man, thanks for reading. here are a few tracks I played on all the systems:

(specifically the original House of Balloons version and not the Trilogy version. if a speaker system can play this album to my liking then i am all set )

(insanely talented lyricist from the uk who writes, produces, and masters all his stuff. he's also a great actor. my favorite rapper/musicians these days)

(same guy as above teamed up with uk grime legend Stormzy to create a track that verges on spoken word at time - goodness gracious there is amazing world play here)

(so many great layers in this record, esp with the echo in the back. she's such a great vocalist but this track specifically is recorded/mastered in a way that makes them sound extra lush and expansive)

(love the sound scape on this. i dont listen to the lyrics, i just like the way the whole track flows. erykah badu said in an interview a few years ago that the reason that soundcloud rap and related genres got popular is because kids these days are less interested in lyrics and more interested in vibes. i think this track is really an epitome of that: the lyrics are mostly blasé and borderline vapid but the vibe is quite nice. i wouldn't say i fall completely under ms. badu's categorization but it is a big part of what i listen for)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAu1KBJe2qE (this track is fun, she even has a remix with little wayne. theres alot of small elements hidden away deep in the mix. one of my favorite tracks for testing the resolution of a system)

happy to share more recs if you like what i listen to. i hope this also gives some context to what i mean in my write up about bass. but thinking about it more, each track can be played in a way where the music is driving in charging...or you can take a step back from the macro view and hone in on that midrange and hear the rythmic quality and texture for a more contemplative listening experience.

i gotta say - its been about 5 days and i haven't stopped thinking about that roma triode+kondo system! i need help lol

 

cheers man, thanks for reading. here are a few tracks I played on all the systems:

(specifically the original House of Balloons version and not the Trilogy version. if a speaker system can play this album to my liking then i am all set )

(insanely talented lyricist from the uk who writes, produces, and masters all his stuff. he's also a great actor. my favorite rapper/musicians these days)

(same guy as above teamed up with uk grime legend Stormzy to create a track that verges on spoken word at time - goodness gracious there is amazing world play here)

(so many great layers in this record, esp with the echo in the back. she's such a great vocalist but this track specifically is recorded/mastered in a way that makes them sound extra lush and expansive)

(love the sound scape on this. i dont listen to the lyrics, i just like the way the whole track flows. erykah badu said in an interview a few years ago that the reason that soundcloud rap and related genres got popular is because kids these days are less interested in lyrics and more interested in vibes. i think this track is really an epitome of that: the lyrics are mostly blasé and borderline vapid but the vibe is quite nice. i wouldn't say i fall completely under ms. badu's categorization but it is a big part of what i listen for)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAu1KBJe2qE (this track is fun, she even has a remix with little wayne. theres alot of small elements hidden away deep in the mix. one of my favorite tracks for testing the resolution of a system)

happy to share more recs if you like what i listen to. i hope this also gives some context to what i mean in my write up about bass. but thinking about it more, each track can be played in a way where the music is driving in charging...or you can take a step back from the macro view and hone in on that midrange and hear the rythmic quality and texture for a more contemplative listening experience.

i gotta say - its been about 5 days and i haven't stopped thinking about that roma triode+kondo system! i need help lol

I must say I love seeing your selection of music. I just built me a playlist and will do some listening.