PRODUCTS

SKIFF SERIES

skiff

sampan-FTL

sampan

KAYAK SERIES

kayak

discovery

windjammer

enterprise

OTHER

subwoofers

kayak armada

home-theater

brochures

dealers

home

 REVIEWS
A few years ago we set a very high goal for ourselves by declaring our products as the best small loudspeakers. Now, review after review have substantiated our claim that we make the best small loudspeakers. These achievements have not come easy so we have not rested on our laurels. We are hard at work doing painstaking research to maintain our leadership as the manufacturer of the best small loudspeakers so that you can enjoy revolutionary products like our new Sampan FTL.

The Sampan FTL goes up against the Magnepan 1.6QR speakers click to read new August 2007 review

---

      SKIFF SERIES

Skiff	"It is crisply delineated yet silky smooth, with excellent articulation and resolution. As good as the Windjammer was with woodwind instruments like oboe, flute, or clarinet, the Skiff may just edge it out in sheer beauty of woodwind sound. I'm not sure it's necessarily a more accurate transducer than my reference Merlin TSM ..." Marc Yun issue #154, Bound for Sound
	"...the Skiffs produce a remarkably linear frequency response over their entire range." " The Skiffs make "small is beautiful" into more than a cliché." "The more time I spend with the Skiffs, the less inclined I am to try bigger speakers."  (Steve Stone, enjoythemusic.com, 5/06)
	"...the Skiffs... are extraordinary. ... they offer a consuming musical experience; ...clarity and air in the mid-range, accuracy and a bit of 'forgiveness' in the upper octaves - and fully satisfying in the upper bass....The Skiffs respond happily to most amplification from... a little Teac 25 watt a side receiver - and, joyously, to an Arcam Solo. David Ogden Stiers: Actor; Director; Associate Conductor Newport (Oregon) Symphony Orchestra (see bottom home page)
Sampan FTL	"The Sampan FTLs, "...are absolute champs when it comes to soundstage portrayal, tonal accuracy, and coherence from top to bottom and musicality. I even found myself ... questioning the performance of my Magnepans in several areas when compared to the Sampan FTL..." (Craig Johnson in the August 2007 issue of Affordable$$Audio)
	"The Sampans slam and boogie like nobody’s business. ...They have a big, bold, expansive sound that comes right at you. It really takes some time to come to terms with just how much energy they can put into a room. There’s always a tendency to look up and say to yourself, “all of this is coming from those two little boxes? That can’t be right!"new review of the Sampan FTL by Paul Cervantes,  Ultralinear.net
	" It’s instructive to compare the previously reviewed Amphion Ion to the FTL. . ..The Amphion goes as deep as the FTL,... And though it images well, it doesn’t present the depth and holography of the FTL. Nor is it as coherent and immediately engaging. The Ion has it’s own strengths and appeal. but doesn’t possess the addictive coherency and flow, the magic of the FTL.   ...That the FTL manages to fit a nearly three foot [transmission] line in a box about a fifth of a cubic foot in volume is indicative of high quality cabinet design and construction."  Sonic Flare, April 25, 2007
	"In the Audio Two room, I discovered what may perhaps be the smallest loudspeaker I've seen since Radio Shack's Realistic Minimus 7 of the 1980's. The Role Audio Sampan FTL ($900 per pair) contains a single full-range 3.5" aluminum driver with underhung voice coil, measures just 8" tall, 4" wide and 9" deep, and yet is rated to deliver 40 Hz - 20 kHz response. How does the Sampan FTL deign to make such claims? Well, for starters, the diminutive speaker incorporates a genuine folded transmission line for extended bass response. Driven by a Connoisseur CD-1 CD player ($3900 Canadian with 6H30 output tubes) and SE-2 single-ended tube amplifier good for 9 watts per channel of 300B goodness, the little Sampan FTLs were dynamic and surprisingly extended at both ends of the frequency spectrum. Playing Rebecca Pidgeon, the speakers sounded much bigger than they looked. Piano transients were just slightly anemic compared to larger speakers, but vocals and acoustic guitar sounded full-bodied and robust."John Acton, Positive Feedback, AudioKarma Fest 2007. 4/5/07 Affordable Audio comment on the Sampan FTL AudioKarma Fest 2008 "Audio Two (Windsor, Ontario) surprised many listeners with the sound, size and price of the Role Sampan FTL speakers ($995). affordableaudio.org, Issue 16, April 2007 report on AudioKarma Fest ‘07
Sampan	"...the Sampans were magic."  "The Greatest Disappearing Act Since Houdini " "Even a respected Lowther cabinet builder ... said he could not believe the quantity and quality of bass that was being reproduced from such a slim little cabinet."  (Jeff Rabin, Ph.D., enjoythemusic.com)
	"... the true stars in the Role firmament are, for me (so far), the Sampans ...We listened, drop-jawed, to detail, a seamless soundstage, crisp warmth (Oxymoronic? Not in the least), and next to no sense of compression or congestion at climaxes." David Ogden Stiers: Actor; Director; Associate Conductor Newport (Oregon) Symphony Orchestra (see bottom home page)
KAYAK SERIES
Kayak	"...the Role Audio Kayaks best the LS 3/5as quite nearly across the board. When we consider that the final version of the BBC monitor was priced at almost $1500 the amazing value of the Kayak is fully understood."  M.L. Gneier, tnt-audio.com, Italy, May 2001)
	"Even when placed less than two feet from my listening position a pair of Kayaks not only become sonically invisible, but they produce a humungous soundstage that rivals my reference Aerial model 5A. The Kayak's image also has just as much lateral precision as the Areals. But unlike the Areals, and every other speaker I've had in my desktop system, the Kayaks just vamoose."  (Steve Stone, enjoythemusic.com, 9/05) scroll down for review
	The Kayaks are ... Amazing. David Ogden Stiers: Actor; Director; Associate Conductor Newport (Oregon) Symphony Orchestra (see bottom home page)
Discovery	"The Discovery and Kayak share many family traits. They both have superb high frequency rendition, astounding inner detail and low-level resolution, and remarkable depth recreation."  (Steve Stone, enjoythemusic.com, 9/05) scroll down for review
Windjammer	"they "image like lasers.... They looked very attractive like that -- not only did my wife not complain, she asked that they not leave.." Doug Schnider SoundstageAV.com
	"The Windjammers ... are my speakers to beat at the price point." Marc Yun in issue #148 of Bound for Sound
	"I could not sit and web surf with them [The Sonus Fabers] on in the background, they would drive me nuts, just like the Merlins. The Windjammers ... sound good with everything you put on.... I am again listening for more extended periods and enjoy having the music on..." Larry Rasmussenon audioasylum.com
	"Rarely have I heard a system sound so involving as the Windjammer/Purse combo with intimate musical passages...Subtle nuances in articulation and dynamics are communicated masterfully..." Marc Yun in issue #149 of Bound for Sound
Enterprise	"If you thinking about a floor standing speaker, and you are consdering all of the usual suspects of the high end, I cannot recommend strongly enough that you do yourself the favor of adding the Role Enterprise to your list of must hear speakers. You will not find a better speaker anywhere near its price (and yes, I have heard them all)." "The Enterprise’s svelte elegance allows for greater Significant Other Acceptance Factor than any other floor standing speaker I have ever used. Believe me when I say that pictures do not begin to tell the story of the Enterprise’s aesthetic charms." "The ingenious Role Dual Transmission Line™ allows the Enterprise’s twin woofers to do amazing things in the bottom end..." Paul Cervantes, ultralinear.net, December 2007
	"...the bass is to die for." "...they image like a son of a bitch..." "...the Enterprise are, almost, neutral to a fault..." "The Enterprises were able to deliver everything from the full wallop of Phil Rudd's kick drum, to Wagner's Teutonic Fantasizing..." Jeff Rabin, enjoythemusic.com, November, 2007
	"I was astonished by what a big sound came from these rather compact towers ...One thing I quickly noticed was the excellent imaging with the Roles..."I was impressed by the high quality fit and finish of the black lacquer and birch cabinets of the speakers. John Sunier, Audiophile Auditions, www.audaud.com, September 2004

The following is an unsolicited testimonial from David Ogden Stiers, the Actor, Conductor, and Director. We do not usually publish customer's comments but we though we should share Mr. Stiers' extensive experience with three different Role Audio loudspeakers with our customers. Role Audio is a labor of love and we really appreciate the satisfaction of our customers. We at Role Audio send our many thanks to Mr. Stiers. His comments are very much appreciated. His letter is reprinted verbatim, with permission.

Letter about Role Audio Speakers experience.

To: Mr. Erol Ricketts

Sir,

Your cordiality and warmth on the occasions we've spoken have been a very real part of the positive experiences I've enjoyed with Role Audio. Thank you.

To specifics: I've just ordered, as you know, another pair of the Skiffs. They are extraordinary. As I mentioned in a long-ago conversation, I use them in hotels/apartments for periodic residencies out of town, and I could not be more pleased. In those rare instances when I can 'open them up' they offer a consuming musical experience; full (not gigantic, in keeping with their size), nearly visible soundstage; clarity and air in the mid-range, accuracy and a bit of 'forgiveness' in the upper octaves - and fully satisfying in the upper bass. I use a Pinnacle SUBcompact 6 for deep bass and, since its' crossover allows up to a 150 hz setting (I use 140 hz just to take the low end pressure off the Skiffs; the Pinnacles' low end is down 3db at 28) it is sonically a near-perfect match - as well as of manageable size.

The Skiffs respond happily to most amplification from, for example, a little Teac 25 watt a side receiver - and, joyously, to an Arcam Solo. I'm planning a system of the Skiffs, Antique Audio 25 watt monoblocks (Wave AV-25 DT) and either an Adcom or an Anthem pre-tuner with a Pinnacle riding low. I'll report, if you'd like, when I've had some time to assess the set-up.

The Kayaks are in place as nearfield monitors in my home Tascam CD/ DAT/Cassette archiving system. They, too, are subwoof'ed. Amazing.

But the true stars in the Role firmament are, for me (so far), the Sampans which you kindly had modified for me by using the original Skiff 3.5" driver. They were first evaluated (no sub) with the Czech Philharmonic/Karel Ancerl performance of Stravinskys' Rite of Spring, employing modest amplification. We listened, drop-jawed, to detail, a seamless soundstage, crisp warmth (Oxymoronic? Not in the least), and next to no sense of compression or congestion at climaxes. (That recording is analog from the early 60's, so some distortion was inevitably audible; not the fault of the speakers - played, as they were, at a fairly conservative level.)

The Sampans are now set up in my bedroom at home, supported with a small Totem subwoofer* (not particularly powerful or extremely deep - but musical and truthful) and they handle everything from big band and small ensemble jazz (Jazz at the Pawnshop, all volumes; Kenny Burrell; Bob James; Claude Bolling - small ensemble and big band; etc) to Ravels' Daphnis et Chloe (Munch/Boston). Mahlers' Symphony #8? Mmmmmmmm, maybe not. Big system for that. But the Mahler 4th; 1st; even 3rd - ?Tell me when it's time to press play and I'll be there.

A frequent critical observation from your quoted reviewers can be summed up in the phrase "the speakers disappear". And it is the truth. While my needs have not brought me to the larger Role offerings, I think I can assume with nearly absolute certainty that they support - perhaps even surpass - the quality, utterly satisfying sound and remarkable value of the speakers I've come to rely on and which give me such reliable sessions immersed happily in the Art of Music.

Many thanks, Mr. Ricketts, and please give my regards to the designers and craftspersons who bring these speakers to service of music lovers.

Gratefully,

David Ogden Stiers

Actor; Director; Associate Conductor Newport (Oregon) Symphony Orchestra

*and driven variously by Arcam Solo, Music Hall integrated amp, Adcom pre-tuner controlling a pair of 45 watt p/p EL 34 monoblocks and anything else I feel like throwing at them. They remain blithely musical and satisfying.