Role Audio Skiff Speaker Review

[Red_Red]

Unfortunately I don't have any option like that in Klippel software.

This could possibly* be done in a few clicks with VituixCad for example.

(*I say "possibly" because we would have to see if there is a type of file in the Klippel software exportable to VituixCad... but I think it should be possible.)

 

[norman bates]

What is causing the peak at 1.5khz ??????

And I agree, seeing the dispersion graph, I think there may be a tiny whizzer in there.

To be fair, a good 3.5" tang band isn't cheap these days.

 

[amirm]

What is causing the peak at 1.5khz ??????

Driver/cabinet resonance.

 

[norman bates]

maybe dampening would knock that down................

 

[fpitas]

maybe dampening would knock that down................

Perhaps. Fixing a $50 speaker is kind of fun. Fixing a $500 speaker is annoying.

 

[kemmler3D]

For $500 you can get at least two sessions of psychotherapy to deal with the frightening reality of speakers like this being sold for $500 and touted as "accurate". A better value in my opinion.

 

[Hart]

Those Era speakers were pretty good—marketed by Peachtree Audio, correct?

Originally marketed by Michael Kelly under the Era name, then Peachtree, yes. I think they were probably one of the better small speakers at the time, probably surpassed by better technology today.

 

[musicforcities]

Yes, it is by far more filters than I have ever deployed in a speaker.

Lol. I guess by far Most filters per cubic cm of speaker cabinet.

Ok…what troll gave this a great/golfing panther rating?

$500? Madness. Utter lunacy.

I think I could almost build a line transmission array of 3” speakers for this money.

What is the market for this thing? It’s not a lifestyle sort of product. It’s not low profile for wall mounting (eg, the little Martin Logan 4). It’s not an active near field and it needs lots of power due to low sensitivity. So….

You could get a pair of those tiny RadioShack Optimus minimus speakers off eBay for $50 and they would be better. Or like any of the dreaded Bose distortion box’s likely sound better in use as at least they distort on purpose to create big sound in little space effect. Or like Sonos 1 or even a a pair of Amazon echo dots for that matter for casual music listening.

I don’t get it….

 

[musicforcities]

Doubling down on the same "diligence" as with applying the sticker For me, this looks like a warning "don't buy thi

Ah!!!!! The sticker comments allowed my to realize what is going on here:

This is a Hipster speaker, and the crooked sticker is virtue signaling it’s authentic-ness hand made ness.

And The sound it creates is supposed to be enjoyed IRONICALLY, to recreate craptastic Pseudo-“vintage” sound when music was “real” and “organic”.

It is also designed to only play early Beck and Andrew Bird

 

[G|force]

Some consumers would consider it more of a legitimate product if it was $600 instead of $500

[edit] We have a role to play at Role Audio, like were acting badly as a true to life bad actor, solely to fill a spot in a bit to a narrow audience of misinformed dimwits. Maybe thats harsh on audiences.

 

[AndreaT]

From the manufacturer’s web site:

“The skiff represents the holy grail in loudspeaker design. It uses a single full range driver which means it is a true point source, it is perfectly time coherent, minimum phase, and has no phase or driver integration problems. The Skiff is simply one of the most accurate loudspeaker you can find at any price.”

Measurements tell otherwise. Holy lemon perhaps? If you spend just a bit more you can purchase a Genelec 8010A.

In the next few days the site has announced a price drop…ASR review effect?

 

[JSmith]

Oddly, in the US and Canada a skiff is a flat-bottomed boat, like a skiff that tows one end of a fishing net:

Interesting... here it is;

16ft Skiff - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A 16 ft Skiff is a class of three-person sailing dinghy with twin trapezes and a large asymmetrical spinnaker.

... we have "skiff clubs". I don't wish to be a member of the Role Skiff Club though.


JSmith

 

[pseudoid]

@amirm,
Would there be a way to demote a badly performing hardware from appearing on the ASR main landing page, after a certain amount of days or if HeadlessPanther gets more than 89.9% of the first 100 votes?
It may not too appealing to new visitors.

 

[TonyJZX]

i find this one a bit funny in that obviously this thing aint fit for purpose, nor was it fit for purpose 20yrs ago

i have always come across small speakers like this but they were cheap and either UV treated plastic or alloy and designed for one thing... and i can forgive that they dont sound good but sound ok for voice

but on the other hand this company has been making then for 20 yrs and people are buying them at $500 a pair so in that light... as they say in the movies "if people keep buying them then I'm gonna keep making them.... does it work? does it sound good???? like who cares in the end... as long as there's profit to be made"

 

[JSmith]

this company

Their marketing is not overly honest though;

"Tones are pure and pristine..."

"...stealth high-end audio at its finest."

... the Skiff can fill most rooms with large scale, accurate, full range, non-fatiguing music with surprising bass response. And its bass roll-off pattern allows seamless integration with subwoofers.

The Skiff

"Tones are pure and pristine..." "...stealth high-end audio at its finest." Price per pair satin black: $495 Baltic white birch: $545 natural birch: $545 finishes satin black $495.00 USD Baltic white birch $545.00 USD natural birch $545.00 USD For the first time since its...

roleaudio.com

JSmith

 

[Tangband]

maybe dampening would knock that down................

Why would you? - its compensating for the stereosystem faults when using two speakers listening in stereo = not sure if the sound would be better on all recordings flattening out the peak at 1,6 KHz .

With one speaker only - sure.

 

[thewas]

Why would you? - its compensating for the stereosystem faults when using two speakers listening in stereo = not sure if the sound would be better on all recordings flattening out the peak at 1,6 KHz .

This works though only if it hasn't partially compensated in the production and sitting at the sweet spot as in other positions they will be a peak there.

 

[DanielT]

There's a brand of spherical ball speakers. I cannot remember who they are (not Gallo). Canadian perhaps? Anyway, I picked up a pair for $1/$2 for the pair. That was on the half price sale at our local oppo. (op shop/thrift shop). I took them to Dad's to play with, and haven't got them back since!...

For vocals, they are incredible. Absolutely phenomenal. No bass, but who cares, they are the size of an orange.

edit: Orb Audio. Check those little demons out- they are amazing.

View attachment 312844

Reminds me in the appearance, the shape of a pair of DIY 3d printed speakers with Tectonic TEBM35C10-4, which I heard at a DIY fair. The guy who built them has them as rear speakers in his home theater system. I was most impressed by their ability to be so widespread with the sound and they were also really good for vocals.
(sorry for the blurry picture, I'm terrible at photography)

Cost for those, if you exclude the 3d printer he already had. A pair of Tectonic TEBM35C10-4 around $20-30. Plastic for printing. Don't know how much such printed plastic can cost, but probably not that much. In any case, much cheaper than the $500 that the Role Audio Skiff costs.

This driver was in the DIY 3d printed sphere speakers:

Tectonic Elements TEBM35C10-4 Miniature BMR® Driver Review

Tectonic Elements TEBM35C10-4 Miniature BMR® Driver

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

 

[AudioSceptic]

Right, amir had a typo 5o, I read it as "or", but apparently he meant "to"

5 is close to t on the keyboard so I read it as "to".

 

[AudioSceptic]

Nah - fifty years ago (nearly) we in the UK had the Videoton Minimax and Keesonic Kub - admittedly two ways but both with way exaggerated highs...

The Minimax at least had the virtue of being cheap, almost too cheap to be true. Was it made in what was then Yugoslavia?