Напольная акустика — Rockport Avior II

The Avior II is a three-way floorstanding loudspeaker from Rockport Technologies, hand-built in South Thomaston, Maine, carefully preserving the original Avior's distinctive silhouette while introducing a completely new waveguide-mounted beryllium tweeter, updated midrange and bass drivers, and an entirely redesigned crossover network. Rockport describes the changes as significant enough that the tweeter alone might as well be considered a new driver, together creating what amounts to an almost entirely new loudspeaker with greater transparency, resolution and dynamic expression than the first-generation model.

Key specs that matter

Frequency response is 25Hz to 30kHz at -3dB. Sensitivity is specified at 88-89.5dB/2.83V/m depending on source, into a nominal 4 ohm impedance, with recommended minimum amplification ranging from 30W to 50W depending on listing. The three-way, reflex-loaded design uses a 1-inch (25.4mm) beryllium-dome tweeter now mounted in a dedicated waveguide sourced from Scan-Speak, a 6-inch (152.4mm) carbon-fibre sandwich-composite-cone midrange, and two 9-inch (230mm) carbon-fibre sandwich-composite-cone woofers - all custom-designed to Rockport's own specifications rather than off-the-shelf units, a genuine rarity even among high-end loudspeakers at this level. Each individual crossover network is fine-tuned specifically for the exact pair of drivers it's installed alongside, wired entirely point-to-point to avoid the parasitic effects PC-board construction can introduce, using film/foil capacitors manufactured exclusively for Rockport, custom-made inductors and Caddock power resistors, with every component matched to within 1% tolerance before the whole network is potted and sealed in a chamber within the speaker's base. The enclosure uses a 6-inch-thick MDF front baffle combined with triple-laminated, constrained-mode-damped, variable-section-thickness curved side panels and a crowned top surface - Rockport specifically credits the considerable section thickness for enormous stiffness despite using MDF rather than more exotic cabinet materials, with large sweeping chamfers and ever-changing baffle dimensions virtually eliminating diffraction anomalies. At 46.5 x 15 x 24.5 inches and 220 lbs per speaker, finishes are metallic gloss or high-gloss paint, with a machined aluminium rear panel housing sturdy binding posts accepting both spade and banana connectors, and included carpet spikes and driver-protecting grilles. Price is $38,500 per pair.

Sound and use context

Expect an extremely low noise floor with coherent, fully resolved sound that maintains dynamic fidelity even at very low playback volumes - the twin 9-inch woofers deliver low, visceral bass without ever leaving a listener wanting for genuine low-end extension, while the beryllium tweeter, an element some listeners typically find harsh, was voiced by Rockport's design team to sound simply magical rather than aggressive.

Pairing

The demanding 4 ohm load and considerable resolving power reward clean, well-controlled amplification with stable current delivery more than sheer wattage - solid-state or valve-based designs both suit the Avior II well, provided current delivery remains stable into this impedance.

Alternatives

Rockport Technologies' broader loudspeaker range, including models above and below the Avior II in scale and price, shares the same core custom-driver and hand-tuned crossover philosophy, worth exploring directly with the brand or a specialist dealer given the considerable investment and largely undisclosed dealer network this flagship-tier speaker represents.