Rockport's or Magico's

Koegz, there was a bit of press (admittedly, not mainstream press) on the Internet for the Rockports after Jeff Fritz selected the Rockport Technologies Arrakis for his article on "The World’s Best Audio System 2009".

http://www.ultraaudio.com/twbas/twbas_20090401.htm

There is a review of the Rockport Technologies Ankaa Loudspeakers from June 1, 2009 on Ultra Audio.

http://www.ultraaudio.com/equipment/rockport_technologies_ankaa.htm

Regards,

OK Dracule1, cough it up. You can't hang that out there and not let us in on your find. That's a foul. I'm gonna take a stab that they're something like Emerald Physics, Ridge Street Audio, Intuitive Design, or NSR Sonic Research. Am I close?

i admit i read tas but not steriophile any more. i read all the reviews that intrest me and take them for what they are, opinions. i have seen, touched, listened too and compared rockport altairs and magico M6, V3 and mini 11's, they are all exceptionally made, great sounding speakers. each with their high points and each with what they do not as well. i just prefer, for several reason, the rockport, MY OPINION. i have owned or listen to B&W(entire line), focal grande, wilson alexandra 11, mbl's and many i can't remember. i am not the final word on speakers, everyone has a diff opinion and that is fine. i may have been out of line with my responce to Dracule 1, if so please except my apology. i just feel that anyone who implies someone is a fool for liking somthing you do not regardless of cost is out of line. metralla; i am aware of those articles that is what i was referring to.

koegz, I was not implying you are a fool because you read stereophile or tas. Just that those mags are highly over rated and don't have necessarily have your best interest in mind when they 20 different speakers as best of the best. I used to read those mags religiously 20 years ago. No apology needed.

Soix, looks like you have been reading up on my posts. Yes I have chosen to go with the Ridge Street Audio Sason. The improved version floats my boat like no other speaker in my last three years of auditioning for a reference speaker. I selected to get the Dueland CAST caps and resistors for the cross over. Cost is close to $13k with the upgrades but still peanuts compared to these speakers approaching $100k. I didn't want to sound like I was schilling these speakers. I have no financial ties to RSA.

Dracule1, that's great that you found a speaker that fits your discerning tastes at a fraction of the price of others that you listened with. There is probably a better way to get that across than with the snide, self-congratulating remarks you chose. Then in classic good taste you leave your own choice for people to guess at--Boston Acoustics?

Everyone has strong feelings about speaker choice and many opinions differ as strongly as the various designers that created them. We are all fortunate that there are enough lines left to give us all choices at so many price points.

Comments about the performance of speakers in shops describe only that set up, naturally. I heard the Magicos and Rockports at Goodwins as well --hooked up with Boulder electronics. I have also heard speakers from those lines at many dealers, at Jeff Fritz's place mentioned above and in peoples homes. In each system they sounded vastly different. For instance the same floor standing Magico's with Boulder at Goodwins, I would not have recognized sound-wise at the Munich show with Spectral and a Music Server. Are we getting the importance of context?

This is like the Maggie lover that hates Wilson etc...

Both speakers are chameleon-like and both have their charms, strengths and specific presentations that define them. Diversity and choice. These are wonderful trademarks of high end that we should embrace and promote.

If you have a point to make, couch it in superlatives about the speaker you chose and how it compares favorably with the Magico's, Rockports etc. based on your (context here) evaluations. Teach someone a new trick rather than the usual "I heard ABC speakers at DEF dealers and they _sucked_ compared to my new ...... at a fraction of the...., Are you keeping your new Bose Wave System a secret? :-P The same goes for the tired old magazine rips. Are you writing from a script?

Everyone has a favorite speaker because we listen for different cues in music that trip our switch. Both the Magico's and Rockports have great musical triggers given the right system. Both lines offer diversity in choice and have survived brutal commercial market tests to become and remain successful at dealers. That's more than can be said for some of the "out of nowhere" designs that get pub and sell direct based on audiogon reviews.

The best advice for the OP considering one or the other design is to buy the ticket and hear both in similar set ups. Goodwins out East would be a good spot. First hand listening is the only way to judge speakers at this level.