Rockport Technologies Introduces Orion Loudspeaker

[Vinylshadow]

Has anyone that has heard the Orion's(and the Lyra's), also heard the TAD Reference 1's?

Videos all sound great but I am curious as to how they compare in person. Similar costs but such different cabinetries.

 

[Vinylshadow]

@Reference Analog I see on your website that you have the Lynx's. How do they rate compared to the Orion's?

Well the offer stands, If you want to fly in to hear the Lynx and Orions when we get them in you are welcome to. We are in Oklahoma.

@Reference Analog I see on your website that you have the Lynx's. What are your impressions? How do they rate compared to the Orion's?

Is there a bi-amp option?

Thanks.

 

[Reference Analog]

Has anyone that has heard the Orion's(and the Lyra's), also heard the TAD Reference 1's?

Videos all sound great but I am curious as to how they compare in person. Similar costs but such different cabinetries.

I haven’t heard TAD in a few years and it was in a system I wasn’t familiar with. I did prefer the Rockport sound, but it could have been his electronics, room, etc.

 

[Reference Analog]

@Reference Analog I see on your website that you have the Lynx's. How do they rate compared to the Orion's?

@Reference Analog I see on your website that you have the Lynx's. What are your impressions? How do they rate compared to the Orion's?

Is there a bi-amp option?

Thanks.

Any rockport is Bi-ampable but has to be configured that way before the build to have them bi-wired. It is an extra cost, amount depending upon which model. On Orion and Lynx is an $1800 charge.

We listed the Lynx on our site so that people could start learning about it but they haven’t started shipping to US dealers yet. We will be amongst the first to get our demo though when they do, it’s on order

 

[Vinylshadow]

Any rockport is Bi-ampable but has to be configured that way before the build to have them bi-wired. It is an extra cost, amount depending upon which model. On Orion and Lynx is an $1800 charge.

We listed the Lynx on our site so that people could start learning about it but they haven’t started shipping to US dealers yet. We will be amongst the first to get our demo though when they do, it’s on order

Excellent.

Has Rockport ever thought about adding a grounding post to ground their speakers like TIDAL has?

Please keep us posted on the Lynx! Thx.

 

[Reference Analog]

Excellent.

Has Rockport ever thought about adding a grounding post to ground their speakers like TIDAL has?

Please keep us posted on the Lynx! Thx.

I don’t know, but I do know that Andy Payor and Josh Clark leave no stone un-turned when designing a speaker. I am sure they have explored it.

I will definitely post some pics and commentary on the Lynx when they arrive.

 

[KenKelso]

As far as Rockport statement , Lyra is better than Arrakis in many ways , being smaller to fit most of listening spaces. This is very smart.
It sounds as large as the old Arrakis.
Also I got direct info from their sales that Lyra being flagship since 2015 is not to be replaced any time soon. This is due to the fact that Lyra sales are still increasing.
It looks they created a true masterpiece that will be very heard to beat.

I wonder how the Lyra compares to the older Rockport Altair speakers. I heard those Altair speakers at the CES show in 2013 in Las Vegas and those Rockport Altair speakers were amazing.

 

[SuperDave]

I know we have one member that had Altairs and moved up to the Lyra, I can't speak for him but if memory serves, I believe he thought the Lyra's excelled in all areas with a smaller footprint. I haven't heard his Lyras but listening to the Altairs for the first time was eye opening.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I heard twice, leisurely and at length, at a friend' house, in a fully dedicated room, a very elaborate Arrakis system (with two pairs of VTL Siegfried IIs). The Lyra is superior to the Arrakis in every way other than a sense of scale and grandeur. There is no substitute for height, in my experience and in my preference.

I also liked two 15 inch woofers on each side. (I like woofage!) But, at least in theory (Marty hears it in practice), I don't like side firing woofers. I think Andy Payor came to the same conclusion.

 

[andromedaaudio]

No not exactly Ron .

At 18:30 in the vid .
From what i understand its mostly a marketing based decision , he personally is a fan .
He stated from a marketing perspective its hard to convince people of the advantage.
If it sounds good but doesnt sell very well , what do you do , ...
Put them in the front.

 

[Ron Resnick]

From what i understand its mostly a marketing based decision , he personally is a fan .
He stated from a marketing perspective its hard to convince people of the advantage.
If it sounds good but doesnt sell very well , what do you do , ...
Put them in the front.

Thank you for correcting me.

 

[bonzo75]

I heard twice, leisurely and at length, at a friend' house, in a fully dedicated room, a very elaborate Arrakis system (with two pairs of VTL Siegfried IIs). The Lyra is superior to the Arrakis in every way other than a sense of scale and grandeur. There is no substitute for height, in my experience and in my preference.

I also liked two 15 inch woofers on each side. (I like woofage!) But, at least in theory (Marty hears it in practice), I don't like side firing woofers. I think Andy Payor came to the same conclusion.

Any speaker that can’t scale to a recording is poor

Thank you for correcting me.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Any speaker that can’t scale to a recording is poor

1) Why do you try so hard to start gratuitous arguments?

2) Your post is a misinterpretation of what I wrote.

3) Many people do not agree with you that size of box speaker is irrelevant to perceived scale.

 

[bonzo75]

3) Many people do not agree with you that size of box speaker is irrelevant to perceived scale.

There is a fact, whether you can hear it or not depends on the way you audition and the recordings you use. Scale due to the size of the speaker is an NL system.

The swing and rise of an orchestra is evident and enjoyable on a simple efficient simple circuit system with good analogue recordings

 

[JiminGa]

Andy, Josh and John all think the Lyra is superior to the Arrakis in every way. Andy likes the side firing woofers but it is a tough sell to customers. He did it because he likes narrow baffles and 15 inch forward firing drivers precludes this.The Lyra scales up beautifully. Scale and grandeur are subjective comments at best and making a judgement based upon them is dubious. To answer the Kenkelsos question directly the Lyra is simply the better speaker. There is something to large woofers (15 inch) coupling to the room differently than 2 tens. Internal volume also matters and that is a “fact”. Maybe that is what Ron is referring to with grandeur and scale. Liking one better than the other does not imply that one is “poor”. Go listen to the Orion and the Lyra and see for yourself how a 13 inch driver couples to the room differently than 2 10s. I personally preferred the Orion with my tastes. It’s not a better speaker and neither is “poor”. Here is a “fact”: for a given room volume you will need a speaker with a certain minimum internal volume and a certain amount of driver surface area to play undistorted music at full realistic volume/scale.

 

[jfrech]

I wonder how the Lyra compares to the older Rockport Altair speakers. I heard those Altair speakers at the CES show in 2013 in Las Vegas and those Rockport Altair speakers were amazing.

Hi, so I had Altairs for years. Then traded up to Lyra. The Altairs were my fav speaker of all time. The Lyra's almost make them sound broken. The Lyras possess so much more clarity everywhere, up and down the frequency spectrum, time and space, more linear too.

If you never hear the Lyra's you'll love the Altairs. It's just a better speaker...

 

[treitz3]

Any speaker that can’t scale to a recording is poor

As if you the authority! LOL.

Can we get real here?

Tom

 

[Slingblade]

Hi, so I had Altairs for years. Then traded up to Lyra. The Altairs were my fav speaker of all time. The Lyra's almost make them sound broken. The Lyras possess so much more clarity everywhere, up and down the frequency spectrum, time and space, more linear too.

If you never hear the Lyra's you'll love the Altairs. It's just a better speaker...

Glad I haven't heard either and will happily sit here enjoying my Avior II's!

 

[jfrech]

Glad I haven't heard either and will happily sit here enjoying my Avior II's!

Avior 2's are fantastic speakers. All Rockports share a common family sound. They are all fantastic. I'd put your Aviors above most any other speaker below 100k, they definitely punch way way above with weight class !

 

[Slingblade]

Avior 2's are fantastic speakers. All Rockports share a common family sound. They are all fantastic. I'd put your Aviors above most any other speaker below 100k, they definitely punch way way above with weight class !

I agree, I am thrilled with them! I've loved the Rockport sound since I first heard them almost 20 years ago. A friend had a pair of Merak/Sheritan II which replaced some Sophia 2's. He was using all Ayre electronics (KX-R/MX-R's) and it just sounded so right to me. I knew eventually I'd have a pair of Rockports. Detail, imaging, soundstage without a hint of harshness - what else could you ask for?