Yes, the Acora Acoustics room was the first room I visited at AXPONA 2024–I really had to get a good look at “Acora in Amethyst.” At the Florida International Audio Fest in February, I fell in love with the Sunset Fire finish on the flagship VRC-1 loudspeakers, and I couldn’t wait to see what new surprises Val Cora had in store for the Chicago crowds.
Words and Photos by Marc Phillips
So here it is, Acora in Amethyst lit from within in the most spectacular shade of blue. It almost seems like it was chucked out of a volcano through sheer force. It’s an electric look for the Acora Acoustics SRB monitors I reviewed a couple of years ago. There’s only one issue with Acora in Amethyst–I was so obsessed with getting a few shots of this beautiful creation that I forgot to spend some serious time listening in the Acora room. I kept thinking that I’d return, I always do, but AXPONA has become such a big show that my promises aren’t always kept. I try my best, but I’m only one person. (Don’t worry–the PTA team has more to say about this room.)
So here’s what I missed, aside from my obsessive need to hear “Chocolate Chip Trip” through the big VRC-1s ($218,000/pair). That Acora in Amethyst SRB is more than just an Acora Acoustics SRB. That pedestal, which I wrongly assumed was a fancy new stand, is actually an additional bass module. This new subwoofer is known as the Bedrock, and it turns the SRBs into something that approaches the VRC-1s. Price for the SRBs with the Bedrock in a standard (i.e. granite) enclosure runs $38,000, but this illuminated Amethyst version will cost you a total of $85K. That’s a big jump in price for a cosmetic option, but I would gladly pay that amount for this kind of visual kick in the pants.
Acora in Amethyst shows the exciting new direction Acora has taken in the last year or so–they’ve proven they can make fantastic speakers made from granite (and, quite recently, quartz), and now they can make their speakers look absolutely stunning as well. Looking forward to what’s next!
If you would like to hear even more coverage from AXPONA 2024, check out our recap report and highlights from our audiophile-oriented show The Occasional Podcast. You can stream the episode direct from the embed below, or from your favorite podcast platform including iTunes, Android, Google, Deezer, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more.
