Volti does it again!

I heard the Volti speakers at the 2022 Axpona in Tampa.  That was one of just two rooms that I didn't want to leave at the whole show.  (The Acora's rocked too.)

It had me thinking hard about revamping my entire system.  Building a system with either high power, low to medium efficiency speakers or low power high efficiency speakers.  The latter is I think, the more cost effective path to great sound.  Makes me think about a Quad ESL system as well.  That is the magical system right there- but not for rock and roll.  But I was too far down the path with my current system to change directions.  It would have been easier for me to just have two systems but I wouldn't be able to decide which one to sit down and listen to each night, causing my head to explode.

When I heard the Volti speakers at the show he was using some $40k SET amps with a Lampizator DAC.  Certainly hard to go wrong with that setup.

It's common to think that each component in a system should not be too out of line cost wise with the other components.  Not always the case as with these Volti speakers.  They were quite capable in utilizing top level electronics.  I have a pair of B&W floor standing speakers that I bought in 1999 for my HT system.  They were ok.  I was curious one day and connected them to my hifi system.  They didn't get any better.

The Volti speakers also have the option of external crossovers.  A further refinement keeping the electronics away from sources (the speaker drivers) of vibration.

If someone can determine how a speaker sounds by looks and spec sheets, I'll be impressed.  Case in point:  At Axpona 2022 I looked in the door of this very large ballroom and saw two diminutive granite towers- two way speakers.  No music was playing.  Unimpressed, I moved on.  Later, I came back to that room and walked in.  When the music started I was blown away.  These Acora speakers sounded amazing and they easily filled this giant room with music.  They filled the room with powerful bass.  "What sort of sorcery was this", I thought.  I walked around the two granite towers and confirmed that was all there was.  Had there been an Acora dealer a few hundred miles from my location I would have looked into getting a pair.

Besides my Wilsons, the most impressive speakers I have heard over the years are the Quads, Thiel, those Acora speakers, the Volti and the large Maggies with top of the line ARC gear.  (Lesser electronics make the Maggies sound less than average to me.)  I couldn't stay in the room with Klipsch for very long- same with the big B&Ws.  I've heard the Vandersteen Model 7 XTRMs in a showroom several times.  Sometimes they sound amazing and sometimes just better than average.  It's back to the electronics, I think.

When I sell my used gear on these websites I certainly do not want an item returned.  I describe the item exactly as it is and buyers should have the understanding that the used market is not a buy and try proposition.  Speakers are the most susceptible to damage- through either under/over powered amps or through physical damage.  When I sold my Thiel speakers, I wanted the buyer to pick them up in person.  That person got to hear them in person and inspect them thoroughly.  I certainly wouldn’t have appreciated him coming back two weeks later to return them because they didn’t sound good in his home.

Buyers must take responsibility for their decisions at some point.  Where dealers offer money back guarantees, that’s great and gives us some assurance about the product and I wouldn’t hesitate to return an item on those terms if I were not satisfied.  When it is a no returns or a no cash refunds deal, then I think real hard first before buying.

I quit selling on fleabay 10 years ago for that reason.  Buyers would decide to return things for no good reason and I was forced to accept the returns with a full refund- and pay the return postage.

Hi Greg,

Well said.  Life is grand.  Keep it simple and enjoy the road trips.  You make some beautiful looking and great sounding speakers.  Most will never get to appreciate the sound of them or see their beauty in person.  

One point:  My Audi TT Roadster with stage 1 APR tune is more fun to drive in the mountains of East Tennessee.  Unfortunately, I no longer live up there and do not get around to driving the Dragon or around Cosby as often as I would like.  Best road is NC209 from Hot Springs to Waynesville.  66 miles of curves.  My arms ache after that drive.  I’d probably have to stop twice to rest these days.  :)

I started with a 2005 NB Miata in East Tennessee 18 years ago.  Joined the local Miata Club.  The weekend drives were a lot of fun.  Got to see a lot of East TN and NC.  Got the bug in me to get a Z4.  It was faster straight line but heavier.  Then the Audi TT Roadster.  Fast and fun with the grip of all wheel drive.  I am the limiting factor with the Audi.  The Miata could climb the steep hairpin turns just fast enough and still hold the road.  The Audi TT can climb them too fast and start drifting.  Things can get a bit too exciting at that point.  It goes into a neutral slide but fortunately back off the throttle and the tires quickly regain their grip.  Good thing, it can be a long way down.