Anybody have Experience with Alta Audio Alyssa Speaker

@stuartk Unfortunately I’ve never had the opportunity to hear any Fritz speakers but have read nothing but very positive things. Given that they’re sold direct I’d guess the Carbon 7s would sell for about the same price as the original Pulsars, and the specs between the two seem very comparable. That said, to me the real magic of JA speakers is in the crossover that can’t be duplicated because it’s patented. I believe this is a big part of why JA speakers just sound special to me, but I’m sure the Carbon 7s are also excellent in their own way with those intriguing series crossovers. From what I’ve read the Alyssas may have been voiced with a little more laid back treble region, and as the Pulsars strike an optimal balance of detail and air to me without sounding bright or edgy if the Alyssas stray from this it’d be a definite no go for me. But not having heard either of them this is just pure conjecture on my part so not really worth much, and at this level I really think it comes down to personal taste more than anything.

@soix 

OK. Thanks for weighing in.

Has anyone heard the Alta Audio Celesta FRM-2? Cheers

@tjraubacher

Just found the Stereophile follow-up review, responding to H. Reichart’s original :

https://www.stereophile.com/content/alta-audio-alyssa-loudspeaker-jim-austin-december-2020

What seems odd, given what YouTube reviewers have reported, is the second Stereophile reviewer’s assertion that "they are at their best with female voices and higher instruments". Huh? What are we supposed to deduce from such a disparity?

What have you decided to do ?

I recently auditioned a pair of Alyssas and was greatly impressed. For reference I've been listening to Triangle Signature Thetas with two SVS SB2000 Pro subs. If I could find speakers combining the best of both they would be perfect! The Triangles are more "lively" and I missed that with the Alyssas. However, when it comes to bass reproduction there was no contest: the Alyssas were simply astounding in that regard. Yes, they play to 32Hz and seemingly lower in my room. And the bass is controlled, detailed, and palpable. I also heard bass passages in the mids and upper mids that I swear I'd not heard before even though I was very familiar with the tracks (and this from a musician/bass player). I also turned the subs off once I knew what the Alyssas were capable of, and never missed them. The soundstage was large: wide and deep. Highs were never bright, and overall the presentation was what I'd consider neutral; "Honest" would apply. As I said, I missed the liveliness of the Triangles with the Alyssas, but I think with Alyssas more is gained than is lost. Pretty sure I'm gettin' 'em! Good luck.

I made a point of hearing the Alyssa's at AXPONA this year. I visited the room twice and unfortunately the demo music was always focused on their amazing bass reproduction, to a fault I thought. I would have liked to hear something a bit more balanced to see how they perform across the spectrum. Not knocking them by any means, but it does seem like a speaker that you want to hear before you buy it. 

Noting the previous post, I also visit a room with the Triangles, it was really good, and yes lively.

@airwatcher I’d recommend listening to the Joseph Audio Pulsars if you can.  Given what you described they may well be that best of both worlds speaker you’re looking for.  Just my $0.02 FWIW.

I heard all three Alta Audio speakers shown at Axpona. All of them had the same issue. It sounded like the midrange driver did not correctly meet the tweeter making vocals seem recessed / distant / veiled. There was a suckout that just didn't work for me. The Stereophile measurements of the Alyssa not only show the suckout, but a peak at about 1.5k that make it even more obvious. It was clearly audible. I am with @soix , go with the Pulsars.

@soix @csmgolf @stuartk 

Hey I am in concurrence with the Pulsars. They seem like the right fit.

I listened to Alyssa speakers at Axpona.  I was really impressed.  Obviously it was in a hotel room but I sat front and center and the sound was solid.   Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson singing By the Rivers Dark: sublime.   When I upgrade my speakers I will give them a serious critical listen, but the glimpse I saw at Axpona was memorable. 

@csmgolf 

It sounded like the midrange driver did not correctly meet the tweeter making vocals seem recessed / distant / veiled. There was a suckout that just didn't work for me. The Stereophile measurements of the Alyssa not only show the suckout, but a peak at about 1.5k that make it even more obvious. It was clearly audible. 

Thanks for this. I for one am crossing them of my list. 

Me too

@tjraubacher 

So, what's next in your search???

Are you lucky enough to live near to a Joseph dealer who has Pulsars in stock?

I'm not ;o\

I contacted Joseph and was told they have no dealers in N. CA ! 

@stuartk 

I need to check with Joseph too to see if there is a dealer in the St Louis area

BUYER BEWARE!!!

DETAILED CHRONOLOGY OF PURCHASE w/ ALTA AUDIO

1. On 1/29/25 at 6:06AM Bob Rapoport of Essence For Hi Res Audio ("the seller") was paid $4,914 (via Paypal Transaction ID 58806874M3167910L) for a pair of Alta Audio stereo speakers in RAL 9010 pure white gloss finish. No cancellation or refund policy was communicated by the seller.

2. At that time, Brian Connolly ("the customer") was told by the seller that delivery would be in 10 days from the purchase date.

3. After the order was processed, the owner of the manufacturer, Alta Audio. Mike Levy called the customer Connolly and informed him that he was going to use a different cheaper paint than that specified in the order. He subsequently emailed a link. On 1/29/25 12:10 PM, Michael Levy wrote: https://ilvacoatings.com/Products/absolute-white/(https://ilvacoatings.com/Products/absolute-white/) .

4. Within the first week from the order, customer was informed by the manufacturer Mr. Levy that there would be a delay. On 2/6/25 7:37 PM, Michael Levy wrote: "Yes. we have prepared the speakers but we are waiting for the paint to come in which is holding us up."  Expected delivery was then revised to 2/19/25.

5. On 2/26/25, the speakers were finally shipped only to be subsequently recalled by the manufacturer from the manufacturer's local shipper Estes in Bridgeport Connecticut due to post-production sub-standard "workmanship issues".  

6. On Tue, 4 Mar 2025 17:24:14 -0500, Connolly wrote the manufacturer, Levy: “As this is now long overdue, can we set a drop-dead date, please?  As it comes down to a quality control issue, of course, I'm concerned.  I purchased pristine.  NEVER expected the delay or what's transpired.”

7. On 3/5, shipment was again withheld due to workmanship issues that were subsequently fully acknowledged verbally and in writing by the Seller, Rapoport.

8. On 3/5/25 7:20 AM, Connolly wrote to Seller, Bob Rapoport: “Again, if this isn't ALL rectified by close of business today, I demand a full and immediate refund.

9. On 3/6/25 3:56 PM, over a month after the original purchase date, the dealer Bob Rapoport wrote: "Eric and I rejected the work done today after seeing the new pics, we had a conference call with Alex to let him know our expectations and chart a way forward.  I want it to be smooth as a baby's ass and polished to a nice gloss like the cabinet. Alex says he can do that, it will take a few days.  He'll re-sand the interior of the ports to make them smooth, apply a primer coat, then the polyester top coat which requires 2 days to cure, then polish.  Should be ready by Tuesday and meet your expectations." Note: Alex is Alta Audio's production manager.

10. On Thursday, March 6, 2025, 4:50 PM the customer wrote: "Dear Bob, Given the bumpy and now exacerbated production trajectory to date... we need to set an absolute drop-dead delivery date. I propose delivery NO LATER than Friday, March 14."

11. On 3/6/25 5:46 PM, Bob Rapoport wrote: "I think that's fair Brian, Eric and Alex agree.  We've got a good plan now."

12. On 3/11, given a 3-day shipment constraint, seller informs customer that he/they cannot meet the "drop-dead delivery date".  On 3/11/25 5:44 PM, Bob Rapoport wrote: "I spoke to Eric at 4:30pm, Alex was still finishing up, polishing remains to be done in the morning.  I have to see a pic of the finished work before they ship. If I approve them for shipment, they'll arrive Monday."  Note: Seller now estimates delivery 3/17, post the drop-dead date.

13. Customer rejects the new estimated delivery date, as it is post the agreed drop-dead date.

14. On 3/11/25 6:01 PM, the seller Bob Rapoport wrote: "Ok, I'll send you the refund tomorrow, sorry it didn't work out as we hoped it would."                 

15. On 3/12, seller informs the customer that he needs 3-5 days to fund his Paypal account to make the refund (Note: No mention of any charge backs).

16. On 3/16, Seller provides only a partial refund via Paypal, i.e. $3,306.08.  Seller claims that is the full refund minus a wholly unanticipated and never communicated, restocking fee, free shipping charge, and Paypal fee totaling $1,607.92. Seller Bob Rapoport fraudulently claims via Paypal that these back charges were due to an "unauthorized cancellation".  See paragraph above.  The agreement was that delivery was to be NO LATER than 3/14.  That was not met.

17. On 3/17/25 10:12 AM, the manufacturer Levy admits responsibility. He wrote: "We ran into a problem with the ports because the material the ports are made of will not accept this type of paint." (Note paragraph 3 above. Levy had switched the RAL 9010 white gloss paint specified in the invoice to a cheaper white paint.)  

KEY POINTS

* Purchaser never received the product
* Production was long delayed past the terms of the original purchase
* A “NO LATER than delivery date” was agreed on and ultimately exceeded by the Seller
* There was never a cancellation/refund policy
* Seller did not have a restocking fee as he never had possession of the product
* Seller and manufacturer did not incur any shipping fees
* Manufacturer admits that issues stemmed from production problem(s)