Hi Everyone, reposting this from the General Forum where I shared yesterday. Perhaps a Rhapsody thread is the better spot?
I just opened the Rhapsody Audio in Sausalito, Ca! My new journey with Alsyvox, Pilium, Taiko, Dieses and Esoteric
While in the process of escalating my personalized audio import business, I ventured to Munich in 2023 to scout for potential partners. Throughout my journey, I carried a demanding standard for quality, fortified by a rich history of personal owned interactions with a broad spectrum of world-renowned brands such as Magico, Raidho, Zellaton, and PMC, among others, alongside state-of-the-art electronics from Balabo, David Berning, Mola Mola, Ypsilon and more.
Given the high-quality echelon at which I’ve been operating,, a significant number of presentations in Munich fell short of capturing my attention. Nevertheless, during my 25-year-long trail of show attendance, there have been sporadic moments where I have stumbled upon audio experiences that surpass my familiar acoustical territory.
This year, such an encounter materialized in an unprecedented magnitude within the Alsyvox room, complemented by Pilium and Taiko electronics. The auditory sensation overwhelmed previous impactful moments I'd experienced at earlier shows. I found myself locked in a spell of auditory awe. Surrounding me were familiar faces from the audio industry, comprising of journalists and rival importers, all equally astonished, unable to suppress their wide-eyed amazement.
Feeling compelled to further probe this newfound discovery, I embarked on a journey of extensive comparative listening over the next few days, juxtaposing Alsyvox against the creme de la creme of the world's loudspeakers. Whether it was the top of the line from brand X or Y, the audio prowess of Alsyvox consistently proved superior.
Admittedly, the Alsyvox Rafaello couldn't compete with the heavy-hitting prowess of the colossal Steinheims and Wilsons. Yet, what it lacked in force, it compensated for in an unparalleled level of transparency. I have owned top-tier models from Apogees and Analysis Audio, but their lower dynamics led me to part ways. In this context, Alsyvox speakers stand in stark contrast. Designer Daniele Coen dedicated two decades in addressing this issue and triumphantly emerged with an ingenious use of double-sided neodymium magnets, which allowed the bass panel membranes to exhibit linear movements of up to 20mm, a significant upgrade from the typical 2-3mm excursion seen in traditional planar speakers. This tenfold increase in movement, when extrapolated over the entirety of the bass panel, creates a unique auditory beast. The sheer clarity of the low bass was a first-time experience for me. Although the dynamics won't cause an airstream, for the first time, I perceived the nuances below 100hz with remarkable potency.
I felt an irresistible pull towards these speakers, and I knew I had to make them a part of my auditory arsenal. However, this burning desire posed a significant hurdle. Both Alsyvox and Pilium were imported by Bob at Rhapsody! Faced with the dilemma of choosing between what I could secure without representation and what I personally deemed the best, I felt compelled to seek a solution. Consequently, I broached a proposal to Bob, a familiar contact from a past purchase, to establish a joint showroom in California.
Fortunately, my longstanding journey and achievements in the audio industry struck a chord with Bob. To give you a brief account of my background, I have dedicated the past quarter-century towards pushing the envelope in the realm of audio and technology. In the year 2000, I co-founded Gracenote, a groundbreaking music metadata database and song identification technology, where I wore the CEO hat. This cornerstone to encoding revolutionized the way people could transfer music from their compact discs to their hard drives. Subsequently, I contributed to the creation of MOG, among the earliest cloud-based music subscription services, which later found a new home with Beats By Dre. Afterward, I oversaw Beats Music, a rebranded avatar of MOG, which was eventually integrated into Apple's ecosystem and exists today as Apple Music. Post this acquisition, I devoted myself to collaborating closely with Neil Young on Pono as the “interim CEO”, an initiative focused on addressing the issue of low-resolution audio for the masses. Parallel to these endeavors, I nurtured a lifelong passion for high-quality audio since the tender age of 13. I was fortunate enough to be influenced by my best friend's father who owned the leading audio store on Long Island, where I worked through my teenage years. This ceaseless pursuit of the elusive "absolute sound" has become the bedrock of my life's journey.
Fast forward to the present day, I find myself at the dawn of Rhapsody Audio California's first week! We are open and eager to host you for a personalized visit, available by appointment. Our approach deviates from the traditional audio store model - here, there's no judgment based on your current audio setup! There's no propagation of the notion that all other brands are worthless because they don't feature in our lineup. And it's perfectly fine if you visit without the intention to purchase. My deep-rooted passion for sharing my love for music and presenting the systems (my artworks) that I've meticulously crafted is what drives this endeavor.
What you'll see in the accompanying photographs is the Asyvox Caravaggio, a notch below the Raffaello, and aptly sized for this space. It additionally holds the distinction of being the only 4-way speaker in the range, featuring a dedicated midrange. For the time being, it's paired with a Pilium Odysseus Integrated, awaiting the arrival of Hercules Monoblocks and Alexander Preamp. Supplementing this setup is the Esoteric N-01XD (positioned atop the impressive Wellfloat Babel), soon to be complemented by the Taiko Extreme. Anticipate the addition of Well Float Delta Extremes as well. We're still in the initial stages, the setup isn't finely tuned yet, but it already surpasses previous setups I've had in many aspects.
In my home's lower level, we're assembling a fresh system featuring Diesis Aura and Odeon Helix loudspeakers, along with Esoteric Class A 30-watt integrated, Holbo Turntable, Ortofon Verismo, and Ypsilon step up. Not to mention, an array of exciting tube-based gear that I've been tinkering with.
More to come on this journey. I’ll share the gory details of what it’s been like getting this system dialed in and my auditory notes along the way.
