1. Home
  2. speakers
  3. 168403-145530

Speaker Road Trip

So in my last post I was asking opinions on three very different types of speakers; the Volti Razz, Tannoys and Magnepans. As I live in the sticks there's not a lot of opportunity to hear many products; there's not a hi fi place within four hours and then the selection is very limited. 

Many of you told me I needed to hear these things beforehand if possible so I packed up wife, aging mom and our five month old lab pup and hit the road. I drove from the very tip of the mitt in Michigan to Nashville. I chose Nashville as there was a shop with Tannoy, one with Magnepan and the Volti's are made nearby. For some reason I thought they were made in Franklin, Tn which is half an hour south of Nashville. Turns out it was an hour and a half east so the one day I had planned turned into two.

I went to Volti and Greg Roberts was there as I had informed him of my wish. He gave me a tour of the facility where all the magic happens and I was very impressed. It's a one man operation and it's a very professional facility. We proceeded from the tour and a glimpse of his Rival speakers which are quite a bit larger than the Razz to his future living area which is separated by a covered walkway. This area stores most of his components and parts and where he and his wife live though as of now it's not quite finished. It also showcases the Volti Vittori's which are massive and beautiful.

We were ushered into an unfinished room where he had a rig set up along with the Razz. My wife and I were seated center and he proceeded to demonstrate. I was floored by the sound and the imaging these big horns have. Vocals were sublime and everything delivered satisfyingly. I heard a bit of the shouty that some speak of when they talk horns. I attribute this to the fact that the room was unfinished, concrete floors, unfinished drywall and very little as far as furniture and absorption. I only stream at home so I didn't bring anything as far as reference material but he had the ability to stream and played some things to demonstrate their capability but I only heard one thing that I was intimately familiar with as my wife was getting a little impatient as we were running out of time. We had decided to leave our pup at a local vets for day boarding as it was 94 out and with an hour and a half drive to get her before they closed time was limited.

The next morning I was met by the owner of a high end home theater/ 2 channel shop that carried Magnepans. He demonstrated the 3.7s driven by Bryston gear. I was impressed as I had never heard them before and they certainly sounded great but I don't know how to describe what it was about them. Something for me seemed to be missing, it may have been the fact that I couldn't pinpoint the source of what I'm hearing which was unfamiliar. Ultimately I decided they weren't for me, especially after he suggested I would have to think about adding monoblocks to my Parasound Halo integrated which would have driven up my cost considerably. I also had a fear my cats would think they'd make a dandy scratching post though they haven't done so with other towers.

He carried a couple of different lines however and one of these happened to be Dali. He had a pair of Opticon 5s hooked up and just for s^&ts and giggles I gave them a listen. They really impressed me enough to want to hear the Opticon 8 that he had marked down to make way for the new Opticon 8mks. He was kind enough to take these out of the boxes and hook them up. They did everything right for me to the point it created quite a dilemna for me as I was leaning towards the Volti's.

My concern with the Volti's ultimately is listener fatigue. It could have been the unfinished room, it could have been their size verses my room size. I need to talk more with him on this matter. I think overall they are a better speaker than the Dali's but this observation could be biased by my like for Greg and my wanting them to be THE ONES.

Go with your gut right? The Dali's really checked all my boxes. These are a demo pair that he's knocking $500 off current list plus shipping so about a $300 savings. He says he will let me return them less a $200 restocking fee if they don't work in my room or a store credit. I've found a used pair listed about a 3 hour drive from me that are 9/10 in his opinion that I can get for $1500 but there wouldn't be any return of course.

Advice?
dadork
dadork OP
635 posts
 
@oldaudiophile I chose Nashville because the Volti's are mfg there nearby, there was a dealer who carried Tannoy (out of stock) and another with the Magnepans. I had not considered Dali's. The Dali's had been used as a demo pair previously then reboxed. Admittedly room conditions weren't optimal but are they any better at shows? 
@kren0006 Wife liked the Volti's as she said it felt like your are sitting right in front of the orchestra pit but then added "it's right in your face" which we both think may be tiring. It's such a hard thing because they sounded so sweet! 
@wolf_garcia I think the Volti's are designed very well but the room was poor. If I could throw 5k at something to see if they sounded right in my room I'd choose them. I agree with your assessment about generalizations however.
@arcticdeath That sucks about the CVs. I have to find something that will present RUSH properly!

blackbag20's avatar
blackbag20
624 posts
 
Rush+1

Geddy out of a horn could set the place a fire!

Have you looked at Zu or Salk, later of which is in Mi I recall?

https://www.zuaudio.com/loudspeakers

https://www.salksound.com/home.php
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,712 posts
 
Your best bet is to ignore posts like the one by @arcticdeth

Horns can sound glorious. But it appears that Greg's room needs some attention. I can listen to my Cornwall IVs for hours without the slightest hint of fatigue. Properly set up in a well thought out room and with good supporting equipment, horns can convey the emotional experience of music like few others can.

Oz


elliottbnewcombjr
7,776 posts
 
I have a room similar to yours, 14 x 24, 8’ ceiling

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/9511

Been here for 43 years, had a few different speakers here. My favorite speakers are my current vintage horn tweeter, horn midrange, 15" woofer. (see photo of speaker’s innards)

You will find, with horns, with proper balance of highs/mids/lows, you will listen at lower volume than prior ’normal’ and enjoy amazing imaging/detail with no need to concentrate, just enjoy.

Those speakers should not produce listener fatigue IMO. Concentration to ’hear’ ’be aware of’ imaging/detail is the source of listener fatigue IMO.

High efficiency of any speaker will be a great advantage regarding smaller amp, probably tubes eventually, not just smaller price, also less weight/size/heat, more placement options (remotes require direct line of infrared beam).
.................................................


Of your choices, I would ask for a customized pair of Volti Razz.

I would ask him to include a pair of high quality L-Pads, to allow you to alter the balance of mid to woofer and tweeter to mid IN YOUR SPACE! You may never alter them, but, like my 3 way horns/big woofer, I bet you will.

He would need to change the crossover so that his ’normal’ frequency response is designed for mid-attenuation (like most famous speakers did in the old days). Not rocket science, I bet he would enjoy doing this.

Then, for each/any listening space you can reduce attenuation for dull rooms, increase attenuation for live/bright rooms, and your personal taste, and perhaps boost the highs a bit as you age. You may use them in a different room someday.

..............................................

Loudness: any preamp you buy, look for a ’loudness’ circuit to boost the bass at lower volumes, the ability to still hear bass (jazz or rock) will keep the low volume music involving, that’s the difference to keeping low volume from becoming ’background music’.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour

misnamed/misunderstood. should be called ’low volume eq’ or ....., not loudness.

I use a Chase Remote Line Controller, RLC-1 with 2 methods: automatic fletcher-munson bass boost is progressively engaged as you reduce it’s volume, and remote volume/balance/bass/treble from your listening position, centered, or off in a corner while someone else is sleeping.

When you have superior and more easily discerned imaging, I found a very slight balance adjustment to an errant track can make a surprising difference, everything ’opens up’, easy to hear the results.

Something else in-line? Heresy! Once again, probably over 10 times, I have proven to myself and listening friends that we simply cannot hear any difference with or without it. 120db s/n seems to be true.

best of luck, Elliott


oldaudiophile
384 posts
 
Dadork, I understand the angst all too well, having recently completed a many months quest to replace a beloved pair of Paradigm. However, my longest road trip was only 2 hours; nothing compared to what you and your family endured. God bless them for being so supportive!

Based upon what you've mentioned, thus far, I can't imagine you'd end up liking any electrostatic design, even the very expensive ones. Can't say I've ever heard the Razz but they certainly review very well by reviewers I trust and they are certainly beautiful speakers. Since you and your wife liked that horn loaded sound signature, have you done any serious seat-time with Klipsch? When I bought my Paradigm, many moons ago, I actually liked a pair of Klipsch (can't remember the model number) I A/B'd them with more, but they were considerably larger and required room placement criteria I couldn't accommodate. Back in 1972, I also liked a pair of Ohm Walsh F I listened to with a McIntosh beast of an amp and, then, a Phase Linear beast. However, I was a kid then with empty pockets. Haven't heard their new stuff but I'm guessing you and your wife might like that sound signature, as well. Those, too, require judicious room placement. Up for a road trip to Brooklyn?
More to discover