Alta Audio Alyssa Speaker System

Description

MY TAKE: In a word, surprising! For a modestly-sized stand-mount two-way design, the Alyssa rocks! Thanks to Alta’s proprietary XTL* Bass (patent pending), bass extension is remarkable (32Hz +/- 3 dB). It goes very deep, but remains tuneful and accurate throuout its range. The ribbon tweeter is beutifully integrated and provides crystalline highs with a sense of fatigue. Lovely speaker! - Galen Carol

ALYSSA SPEAKERS -

Alyssa is Alta Audio’s new compact loudspeaker that combines compact dimensions with intimate detail and deep, natural bass response, for sonic output that is typically associated with significantly larger floor-standing speakers.

Standing only 14.5” H x 9.6” W x 14.25” D, Alyssa was developed out of a company mission to design a compact speaker with the sonic attributes of a full-size, high fidelity floor-standing speaker.

Designed to bring out the best in any musical genre, Alyssa exposes every detail of a recording, from the subtlety of a solo acoustic performance to high-volume Jazz, Rock, and Hip-Hop, with room-shaking bass that remains pure and clean.

An Audiophile Perspective -

Alyssa features a ribbon tweeter that creates a 3D soundstage to expose the most minute details of a well-recorded piece of music. Combined with Alta Audio’s proprietary midrange/woofer with a titanium former (bobbin), the result is smoother dynamics, exceptional power handling, and overall improved frequency response. The fourth generation, high resolution, pure aluminum tweeter is responsible for the speaker’s exceptional clarity and dynamics —immediately noticeable for being precise and fast, with a flat high-end response that extends over an octave above the scope of human hearing.

Alta’s 6” woofer includes a 3.1” diameter long-throw voice coil that employs a high-powered motor for smoother airflow that blends seamlessly with the ribbon tweeter, resulting in a standard-setting bass response.The benefit of using titanium in the construction of a woofer is that it adds stiffness and is exceptionally light, allowing for a larger voice coil that ultimately contributes to a demonstrable improvement in sonics, especially when listening to analog and high-resolution digital recordings.

Alta’s proprietary XTL* Bass (patent pending) tuning system relies on specialized sonic geometry to tune Alyssa’s cabinets like fine musical instruments, for bass response that is clear, fast, deep, and powerful. To ensure the cabinet is free of resonances that cloud and distort music, Alta Audio’s exclusive DampHard multi-layered, multi-density material extends the clarity of the bass while maintaining the overall dimensionality of the music.

*Extended Transmission Line — Alta Audio's proprietary technology that applies sonic geometry to tune speaker cabinets as if they are musical instruments, delivering an accurate, fast, and powerful low frequency response.

REVIEWS:
 

The Absolute Sound: "Audiophiles have many choices when they look for a high-resolution loudspeaker that delivers a lot of detail. They can also find many loudspeakers with sunny musical dispositions. But in my experience, finding a loudspeaker that can deliver high resolution and inner detail yet remain musical while doing so is as common as a unicorn. In my systems the Alta Alyssa loudspeaker did exactly that. I could listen all day at reference levels without fatigue; yet, during that time I never felt as if I was being spared any of the micro-details.

"Longtime readers know that I rarely go gaga over anything I review, but I must admit the Alta Alyssa loudspeaker is something special. For many audiophiles it could well be the loudspeaker that enters their listening rooms and never leaves. It is simply that good." - Steven Stone

Stereonet: "Final Verdict: The Alta Audio Alyssa is for audiophiles - The Alta Audio Alyssa is a sonic masterpiece wrapped in a compact and elegant form. They offer a luxurious and intimate listening experience with a lush midrange, deep bass and detailed harmonics, outperforming my expectations for a stand-mount speaker of this size. It’s a more forgiving, a touch warmer, and less fatiguing listen than many speakers, but never woollen, boring or subdued, making it a superb choice for long, immersive listening sessions, even at low volumes. This is a speaker for those who prioritise musical balance, tonal richness over extreme analytical detail and a fantastic option for those who have an eclectic music taste.

Alta Audio Alyssa: A winner for “Bloody Good Speaker” Awards

Positives:

·      Rich and textured midrange—vocals sound natural and full-bodied

·      Great deep bass, surprisingly deep for a bookshelf speaker, fast and articulate

·      Smooth treble, detailed but not strenuous

·      Excellent cabinet construction and finish

·      Probably works well with solid-state and tube amplifiers

·      Works well in medium and even larger sized rooms

Audiophilia: "An acoustic-friendly room translates into more attentive listening, which in turn becomes a more enjoyable listening experience. Couple this with quality high-end speakers and you arrive at listening nirvana. I believe the Alta Audio Alyssa Loudspeakers are well worth the $5000/pair MSRP. As such, if this is your budget, I encourage you to seek them out and audition. Other audiophiles and reviewers were right—there’s little to dislike about the Alyssa speakers. I’d be hard pressed to find a better speaker in this price range for what they can offer your system. Highly recommended." - Jesús Gonzalez Monreal

Stereo Times: "The Alta Audio Alyssa’s are the only speakers I’ve reviewed that promised great sound and delivered even more than I thought possible. Thankfully, it didn’t take a full 100 hours of break-in for them to provide a great listening experience. If you have 50 watts or more at hand, you will be pleased with the sonics they bring to the ear. The Alyssa’s were designed for a room-filling, sound experience. For the money and Alta Audio’s build quality, they come highly recommended! Do give them a demo." - Tim Barrall

P.S. If everything goes as planned, I plan on doing a second review of the Alyssa’s when they reach 500 hours. According to Mike Levy, that’s when the Alyssa’s will offer a whole new sound experience. As it stands now, they’re my pick for Most Wanted Component 2020 award winner." - 

Audiokey Reviews: "Conclusion: The Alta Audio Alyssa is an exceptional loudspeaker in every way if you covet true to life imaging, authentic texture, and genuine, foundational bass without compromise.  If one can do them justice spacewise, and you are the type of listener who appreciates coherence and natural musical expression, these are a must audition. Michael Levy and Alta Audio in our estimation have a class leading product on their hands. We can’t think of another two way monitor at its price point we prefer. We can’t think of another monitor at its price point that we prefer. We award the Alta audio Alyssa the GOLDEN KEYNOTE AWARD."

Winters Audio: "It’s no surprise that the Alyssa has become a big hit among those in the know. Its integration of deep bass, clean midrange, and silky treble creates a unified, emotionally engaging whole. At £5,000 (rising to £5,500 in November 2025), they are possibly untouchable at the price."

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS -
 

Frequency Response:32Hz to 47kHz +/- 3 dB

Sensitivity: 87.5 dB / 2.83 Volts @ 1 Meter

Impedance: 4 Ohms

Power Requirements:50 to 150 Watts per channel

Height:14.5 inches, 15 inches with spikes

Width:8 inches at top, 9.6 inches at bottom

Depth:13.25 inches at top, 14.25 inches at bottom

Weight:28lbs