Strange how Volti speakers have been put into my YouTube algorithm for the last couple weeks and then you write such a good review. Sometimes I think the Internet is stalking me lol congratulations on such a nice purchase.
Upgraded from Klipsch to Volti - Was it worth it?
Short answer... YES!
I have two systems, one in a large living room that opens to the rest of the house and one in my office. I was running Klipsch Corwalls in the L.R. and Klipsch Fortes in my office. As I upgraded electronics and cables the limitations of the Klipsch, as good as they are for the money, began to become more apparent (see profile for electronics).
I did a ton of research and listened to several brands, but nothing I heard produced the warm and full sound as the Klipsch, especially the Cornwalls - they are good and get better with good electronics & definately fun, but they do have resonance, clarity, and bass issues.
One brand in particular that I auditioned uses DSP and powered subs - and this just didn't sound natural to me, was complex, and would have required large speakers, masses of cables, and in the end am glad I chose not to go that route.
I looked hard into what Greg, at Volti, was doing and it made tons of sense to me. Super high quality cabinets finished beautifully, filled with the highest quality drivers available, and assembled with "do no harm" crossovers.
So I took the plunge and purchased a very handsome set of Burl Walnut Rivals for the living room and a beautiful set of Luceras for the office that matched the wood of my desk and trim.
Wow, is all I can say! Superb balance, clarity, bass, it's all there - warm, full, refined and fun when you turn them up. To my ears they sound far more like real music than non-horn speakers - and the high quality 15" woofer drivers really bring the bass and lower mid-range voice.
Working with Greg was easy - he even took my Klipsch speakers in on trade so he could make a video series comparing Klipsch to Volti. Here's a link to the first one in the series: https://youtu.be/9BB-BTGaJxA?si=qSejdSk2-nSh_yME
I was super impressed with the fit and finish quality. The magnetically attached grills fit perfectly into the CNC cabinets.
But what's best from my wife's perspective is how nice they integrate into the house [this is huge] - For their size they produce copious warm and full music while adding beautiful wood work. No new cables or electronics required, they integrated perfectly in only few minutes to set up. The tube front-end on both my McIntosh systems really makes them sing, could not be happier with the upgrade.
Of course when upgrading we know that diminishing returns begins to set in... to get X% increase you may need to spend 2x, 3x, or 4x to get noticably better. In this case I'd say the Luceras are literally 100% better than the Fortes and are probably 25% better than the Cornwalls. The Rivals are easily 50% better than the Cornwalls and took the system to whole different level - frankly I can't imagine better and know that my system is now at the point where it would take more money than I'm willing to spend as I know any improvements from here would be minor but expensive.
So I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Voltis - If you own Klipsch or another brand and are looking for better give Greg a call!
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Think I posted the wrong link to the Volti/Klipsch video... this is the right one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btdQbNw1Huk&t=1s
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@namrider1 Congrats! Glad you got a big sonic boost. I own the Volti Rivals to discover tube warmth magic including flea watt SET amps
@gkelly - it’s a sign! ….maybe leading down the road of sonic bliss
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@namrider1 Excellent review of the Volti’s! Congrats on acquiring not one, but two pair. Funny, I watched the Volti vs Cornwall/Forte YouTube yesterday morning. Guess I saw your Klipsch trade in’s! I’ve been a big Klipsch fan ever since I heard a pair of Khorns in 1977 at my local audio shop. Spooky how stereo image follows you around a room. I love the Klipsch horn sound, but they are somewhat mass produced and not as high end as Volti’s which do have a much more refined sound. Yes, everything matters, and makes a difference, cabinets, drivers, horns, crossovers, cables, etc. all of which is reflected in price differential. Currently Forte III’s are at the top of the food chain in my systems, along with a few other Klipsch models including a great recapped pair of Heresy II’s, Vienna Acoustics and Focals. Different systems, different sounds, all good for different rooms and different purposes. My electronics and room are “price point appropriate” with the Forte III’s so no need to change anything right now. However, I am planning on relocating next spring, and a dedicated listening room that I can get acoustics dialed in is one of my top requirements. At which point I plan on upgrading electronics, e.g., Manley Labs, Carey Audio, or McIntosh mono blocks with a proper preamp vs an integrated, better sources, interconnects, etc. When I get there, I’ll plan on test driving Volti’s vs the new Klipsch AK7 and Jubilee. Damn, I can’t wait!!
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@trivema Indeed, everything is built to a price point - everything! Like you, I also have several systems in my house, each one doing it's specific job. In fact I have 7 sound systems in my house, LOL, including one in the garage. One of the lessons I learned long ago what that whole house sound systems just can't produce good sound. Thus I went to room specific systems - some of them are built in, but not my two 'good' systems - streaming technology has enabled this. The better my primary systems have become the less I use the others! Changing homes can mean big changes... For awhile I thought I might like a dedicated listening room, but the more I experience good music in my living room, the more I see it as bringing warmth into the house... my wife uses it, we listen while cooking and having meals, the dogs sit and listen with me. This is a very important reason why I chose Volti - they integrate into the house instead of having to integrate the house into your speakers. HUGE - music is supposed to be fun and is best shared w/others... Looking forward to hearing about your journey when you do make a move! |
Volti are a couple rungs above stock Klipsch speakers. But Volti are also much more expensive, so they should be better. I want the Lucera, but they are expensive, then there is tax, plus shipping. Thinking these will be over $20k total. For that price, there are a ton of other great speakers. My local shop has a pair of Jubilee that I can get for less. If I had the $$, they would be in my music room! |
Very special when it happens! In addition to my main SS system, I wanted an efficient speaker to investigate tube amplification. Starting with Klipsch, I found Volti had replacement/upgrade parts for Klipsch so initially I reasoned that Volti was better. Further investigation led to great Volti Rivals reviews. So that was my original target. At the time, the Rival unfinished started at 8k and iirc Vittora at around 15k. Then post Covid the Rival price jumped to 15k so I was so bummed, I complained to Greg so even though many others audio components were also raising prices from supply chain problems and inflation. Although the Razz sounded great at several audio shows, I had my heart set in the Rival. Fortunately, I later found a mint used Rival in my favorite wood birdeye maple priced reasonably - what a blessing! |
@kennyc - Sounds like universe was looking after you! Indeed, everything getting more and more expensive as our money is debased, ugh! Just heard that AudioQuest prices are going up 1 August... My Rivals are on 20' long cables, I had AQ Rocket 88 on the upper posts and full length biwire on lower post with AQ type 8. This worked great on the Cornwalls as the type 8 is more bass heavy but less detailed than the more expensive Rocket 88. But with the Rivals being more clear, I could tell there was an issue using two types of cables, so just bought a second 20' set of AQ Rocket 88 so they match! Is expensive, but beat the price hike, barely! (I think the full length biwire is worth it...) I think Greg voiced the Luceras perfectly... I run a 10' full length biwire with them and sounded magical right off the bat.
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I think the Volti Rivals would cost at least 50% if not 100% more if they were distributed through dealers. Their build & sound quality can compare with speakers of that price point but at the price Greg sells them directly, they’re a very fair deal. I’ve really enjoyed my Rivals for 3 years. Highly recommend. |
Thanks for the review. I may head down to TN to check them out. I have a modded set of vintage La Scala speakers and love the sound, especially with everything in our system. I am interested in the Rival 2, just not sure I want to spend $18K+ (all in) to get a new pair. Pondering... |
I like Volti speakers too. They sound reasonably balanced, natural and lacking in extreme coloration (not overly nasal or peaky), and deliver the kind of liveliness and dynamics (particularly at low volume) that one would want in a horn-based system. A big plus is that they will work with low-powered tube amps which is, to me anyway, a must because such amps sound so much better than other kinds. The weak point with modern horn systems is that the midrange compression driver/horn are not as good as those made from the 1920's through around 1960. If you hear modern horn systems using vintage Western Electric, International Projector Company, RCA, Racon, Goto, Yoshimura Laboratory, and Ogura drivers from that era, or modern clones of Western Electric drivers from G.I.P. Laboratories(very expensive field coil clones), I think you will be amazed. Deja Vu Audio in Virginia makes custom speakers with such drivers, as well as cheaper models using only modern drivers, and these speakers should be auditioned if possible. Another interesting alternative would be Charney Audio single driver systems. These are very lively, full sounding and coherent speakers that are not crazy expensive and are even more friendly to low-powered tube amps than the Volti models. |
Congrats to the OP. I saw the Volti Youtube vid before I saw this thread and thought Greg did a great job with it. I was also fortunate to buy my Rivals used and were purchased here actually a few years ago. They are my end game speakers. Every time I listen to them, it is an event and fully engaging. Greg was asking about / thinking about starting a Volti section on Audio Circle which I would like and would participate to discuss stuff like speaker placement, anti-vibration (btw, I have Townshend Podiums under my Rivals and was a substantial upgrade in SQ - and I'm on a concrete slab), amps used etc. |