Verity Audio Sarastro - Anybody heard

I listened to the Sarastros at the recent Montreal show and would have to agree with the impression that the ribbon tweeters did not appear to integrate well. They were also quite strident sounding and the whole setup which used a large solid state amp, Ayre I think, was not very musical. The Lohengrin was there only on static display.

By contrast, the Parsifal Encores were in two systems and sounded much better than I've heard them before. In one setup they were driven by Nagra solid state mono amps. In another room they were being used to demonstrate the Tenor 150 stereo hybrid amp which was driven by the EMM Labs DCC2. The latter setup was helped by being in the best proportioned large room at the show with the speakers about 15 feet apart. The Parsifals had no problem filling this room with glorious sound.

I'd go with the Parsifals over the Sarastros and spend the difference on fine ancillary equipment.

I'm with Brian. At this price I definitely suggest checking out the Rockports. Very much worth a trip to Rockport, Maine, in my opinion. Incidentally, it would be a great time of year to go too.

I had a few great opportunities to spend some time with both the Lohengrin and the Sarastro. The tweeter integration issue is just nonexistent. I think that both loudspeakers are fabulous and very musical. I finally bought the Sarastro three months ago and wouldn't hesitate to buy the Lohengrin if I could afford it.

I was also a bit sceptic at the beginning. But now, I spent enough time with the Sarastro to confirm that it is an amazingly coherent loudspeaker. Some are misinterpreting what's going on. Verity has made this ribbon tweeter airy and open. It is no comparison with any kind of normal dome tweeter (soft or metallic and even beryllium). It is so much better. But I do understand that it can be confusing. Poorly integrated tweeters are usually noticeable because they sound separated from the system. They often have crossover points located at rather low frequencies. Low enough to allow perceivable differences in speed and tonal balance between the tweeter and the midrange. I remember hearing the old Celestion 3000. It was suffering from an improper integration. The Meadowlark and the Newform also have this problem. On the other hand, the Aerial 20 and the Verity's stand far away from this typical integration problem. One has to be careful. We are so used to associate a ribbon tweeter with an integration problem that we tend to use the same argument every time. And in my opinion the Sarastro and the Lohengrin tweeters integrate perfectly well. More often than not, a high quality equipment, possess the defaults of its qualities. In other words, it is extremely difficult for ultra high end loudspeakers to exhibit their normal performance in show conditions. And this is logical. More you increase the performance potentiality of a product more critical the whole setup becomes. The potential exists and can only be reached with special care. Such a product needs special attention. Amongst crucial aspects that I discovered, I found that the break in time is extremely important. Better is the product, longer it takes to break it in. Unfortunately, Manufacturers often neglect this aspect and often bring new products to shows. When brand new, it does sound harsh for a while, but don't be fooled by this improper tweeter integration issue. If you are patient enough, if you dedicate yourself to optimize everything then you get something fabulous. The highs sound sweet and delicate and give a seamless feeling of unlimited extension. The tonal balance and homogeneity are just perfect. I heard the Sarastro at the Montreal show. The first day I listened to it, the sound was ok but not impressive. I went back the last day and the Sarastro was doing things I never heard from any other loudspeakers before. Only three days for such an improvement. Imagine having it for more than a year? Even Soundstage Magazine pointed that out. I tell you, even though I love the Parsifal, the Sarastro is another league.

Over the years, I discovered that high performance products are extremely revealing for what's going on at the up front equipments. Moreover, even when fully broken in, it usually takes them awhile to settle after being moved. With high performance products, any evaluation under show condition should be done very cautiously. Too often we (including myself, I have to admit) are misjudging such a piece of equipment at first taste. I found the Sarastro and the Lohengrin to be really revealing of what's going on before them. Such highly dynamic loudspeakers won't be forgiving equipment or setup limitations. And believe me, these speakers are extremely transparent and are only revealing what's going on before. As far as the Sarastro is concerned, playing with my setup made all the difference.

As I said, I had the chance to spend sometime with both the Lohengrin and the Sarastro, getting excellent support from the people at Verity, and decided to acquired the Sarastro. In my own opinion, both are extraordinary products. The Lohengrin is offering the best bass performance I have ever heard. Its top to bottom coherence is flawless and so dynamic ! The Sarastro is also one of its kind being very coherent and highly dynamic too. I really love it. For a product of that size, it offers a phenomenal and precise bass performance. In both cases, the ribbon tweeter is really natural. If you have the chance, try to listen to Keith Jarret, "Live at the Blue Note" playing "Autumn Leaves" and pay attention to the percussions. I have heard the most natural and alive reproduction of cymbals I have ever heard. So much better than my old BW 800.

I now own the Sarastro Loudspeakers. I will post more detailed info later. But for now, with hundresd of hours on these ladies:

Re tweeter integration/harshness. As I ABed some front end components I heard some harshness with certain components, and with certain recordings. This is a complete non-issue now with Sim Audio Moon Andromeda front end. If you hear harshness (other than a very loud piccolo playing it's high C note), check your front end as it is, imo, likely your cd player or your DAC....it is NOT these speakers.

And re: Integration problems.....NOT. Not with Chesky discs, not with Jazz, not with Opus3 discs, not with old Mercury Living Presence ("Howard Hanson the Composer and His Orchestra"), not with simple material, and given that I am now enjoying orchestral work where I didn't before because it was not integrated and was smeared, not a problem here either: I now enjoy musical integration as well as great soundstaging fore-aft and laterally -- also in choral works which before were intolerable.

Timbre -- great. Guitars sounds like guitars. Bowed double bases sound bowed even amidst competing bassoons. The timbre of Johhny Frigos violin is different when he is instrument face on the mike vs lateral....like it is supposed to be. Want to be able to distinguish clearly the different timbre and location of the oboe vs the base clarinet in an orchestra? The Sarastro will do it for you with the right upstream stuff. Snares sound like snares, field drums like field drums, and cymbals......I won't tell you because you will immediately drain your bank account to buy these. I dare say one could distinguish a Steinway from a Baldwin on a well-miked recording.

And all the rest: dynamics--fantastic. Base extension...they are rated to 25 Hz but I get substantial base down to 22Hz.....prepare to get blown away by any recording of a classical piece called "The Vikings".

Female vocals ....sweet, full, round and so musical.

And one "pro" reviewer wrote something about "boomy" base. I am no pro reviewer, but if he comes to my room he will with humility have to retract his comments and probably move to a new listening room or invest in some sound treatments or perhaps reevaluate his choice of preamp or speaker placement. These are low and tight even with Daniel Lanois' production and mixing of a hugely boom-risky wall of sound on "Wrecking Ball". Low. Tight.

Nice.

I am a happy camper.

I also bought the Sarastro!

One of the finest speakers I have heard at any price point. My previous speaker was the Kharma 3.2.

I definetely encourage someone to have a listen if he wants to move at that price point.