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The Search for Musical Ecstasy

Every once in a while, some mainstream journalist discovers the audiophile underground.

It happened again this past summer, when Washington Post writer David Segal introduced his readers to some Washington, DC audiophiles and the stores that stoke their mania ("Sound Crazy?"). The theme that unites all such journalistic forays into audioland is an unwavering astonishment that grown adults can lavish such time, attention, and money on the experience of recorded music. The bemusement evokes a favorite bumper sticker: "Pray for me: my husband collects baseball cards."

In "Sound…

Rockport Technologies Merak II loudspeaker & Sheritan II subwoofer

No one has ever accused Rockport Technologies' Andy Payor of under-engineering a product, and this set of gleaming black beauties is no exception. The system is available in two configurations: as the two-way Merak II for $19,500/pair, including sturdy custom cradle-stands with integrated crossover; and as the Merak II/Sheritan II, a three-way, two-box floorstander that, to afford them at $29,500, will reduce some to living in the speakers' shipping crates. You could do worse for housing than checking into the Sheritan Rockport: The wooden crates are almost exquisitely finished.

While…

Rockport Technologies Merak II loudspeaker & Sheritan II subwoofer Page 2

The two-way experience: Rockport Merak II
In many ways, though not all, the relatively small Merak IIs repeated the Antares' stunning performance. Their sonic picture was startlingly big, seamless, and well-proportioned, the inert cabinets "hiding" the locations of the speakers better than any other design (the Antares excepted) I've auditioned—though the WATT/Puppy 7s come close. The front baffles were simply not in the equation, the three-dimensional soundfield never landing on or hovering near those two black boxes.

My listening sessions with Rockport Antares were my first…

Rockport Technologies Merak II loudspeaker & Sheritan II subwoofer Page 3

There was so much bass that I called Andy Payor for an explanation. He just thought it was a function of my room's preference for side-firing woofers, and suggested positioning options that might yield a better balance. (Payor knows my room well.) I found spots that minimized the bass output, but still there was too much. I wrote a first draft of the review, which originally ended with my calling the Merak II/Sheritan II "kind of the Dockers of fine, full-range loudspeakers: an ample cut and a comfortable fit."

A few days later I got a slightly panicked call from Payor, who asked me if…

Rockport Technologies Merak II loudspeaker & Sheritan II subwoofer Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Merak II: Two-way, stand-mounted, moving-coil loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" ferrofluid-cooled soft-dome tweeter (Dynaudio Esotar), 7" plastic-cone woofer (Audiotechnology). Crossover frequency: 2kHz. Frequency response: not specified, -3dB at 40Hz. Nominal impedance: 6 ohms. Sensitivity: 87dB/W. Power rating: not specified.
Dimensions: 20" H (38.5" with integral stand) by 12" W by 22" D. Weight: 140 lbs.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: 9933 & 9934.
Price: $19,500/pair, including none-optional stands.

Sheritan II: Reflex-loaded subwoofer…

Rockport Technologies Merak II loudspeaker & Sheritan II subwoofer Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog sources: Simon Yorke S7, Kuzma Stabi Reference, VPI Scoutmaster turntables; Kuzma Air Line, JMW Memorial (9") tonearms; Graham Nightingale II, Lyra Titan, Lyra Helikon SL cartridges.
Digital source: Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD player, Alesis MasterLink CD recorder.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, Krell KPE phono preamplifiers; Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista kWP preamplifier.
Power amplifiers: Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista kW, Wavac SH-833 monoblocks; Music Reference RM-200.
Cables: Interconnect: AudioQuest Cheetah, Sky. Speaker:…

Rockport Technologies Merak II loudspeaker & Sheritan II subwoofer Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

For practical reasons, most of the measurements were performed on the Rockport Merak II alone, sitting on its dedicated stand (which carries the crossover). Where measurements include the contribution of the Sheritan II subwoofer, this is indicated in the text.

The Merak's voltage sensitivity was to specification, at an estimated 87dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is the average figure for the 550 or so speakers I have measured in the past 15 years. The speaker's impedance graph (fig.1) reveals a rather lower magnitude in the treble than in the midrange and bass, with…

Jim Fosgate: Of (Surround) Sound Mind

Jim Fosgate fits the category of Classic American Inventor to a T. This softspoken, quietly intense man has earned 18 patents and founded three successful electronics companies. In the late 1970s, he pulled out of the car audio business to follow his quadraphonic bliss, and designed the Fosgate Tate 101, arguably the finest quad decoder of the era. He also created the best-selling matrix surround processor of all time, Dolby's Pro Logic II, and in 2003 won an Emmy for the Development of Surround Sound for Television. He now serves as a senior executive consultant for Fosgate Audionics, a…

Jim Fosgate: Of (Surround) Sound Mind Page 2

Guttenberg: Jim, this is getting a little weird...

Fosgate: My working method is a little unusual. The first thing I do with any design is program the circuit into my brain and emotional system. Mind you, I don't actually build prototypes or put any of this down on paper—at this point I'm working through the details of the circuit in my head. I had to finally force myself to build the first Dolby Pro Logic II prototype. I guess I was afraid that it wouldn't work, or that the whole thing was just a head trip.

Guttenberg: I've heard the first prototype was an all-tube design.

…

Audio Odyssey: Ken Kreisel of M&K

With 25 years of experience in sound recording, audio retailing, and loudspeaker design and manufacturing, Ken Kreisel has insightful things to say about just about any audio-related subject. The president of Miller & Kreisel Sound Corp. (M&K), Kreisel pioneered the satellite/subwoofer speaker concept that laid the groundwork for the home theaters of today. M&K's most recent offering—the S-150THX surround speaker system—is reviewed in this issue (see archived article).

Kreisel wasn't content to simply ship his latest offspring to Santa Fe for review; he took us up on a…