[illenema]

Hello just found this forum. owned a pair of vr-8's for years.
How many vr-8 owners do we have here??

[hi5harry]

This is going to be a small group. I'm in!

[illenema]

That was a quick reply. we have much to exchange im sure!!
Anybody else.
Well for starters i was looking for the vr-6 for a long time, finally called the factory. They had a Pair of the vr-8's sitting there they took in trade.
This was the factory in San Marcos i think it was. We drove from las vegas And picked them up from albert. Took everyone from the factory to load them up 5 people. I had these hooked up to a very wide range of solid state and tubes units which we will get into im sure!  Hello from Las Vegas

[illenema]

Did you know Albert has a vr-8 upgrade package. yep 10K. Includes new midrage/tweeters and a upgrade to a 15" self powered woofer and upper bass becomes a 10" kevlar midbass.  According to Kevin Malgren at the factory

[JackD201]

Did you know Albert has a vr-8 upgrade package. yep 10K. Includes new midrage/tweeters and a upgrade to a 15" self powered woofer and upper bass becomes a 10" kevlar midbass.  According to Kevin Malgren at the factory

Kevin left a long time ago. Best check with Joe or Damon at the factory 

[illenema]

Its best to contact Albert Directly about this upgrade. Damon doesn"t know the details and just will have to find out.
The vr-8's are huge.
Maybe Albert will chime in about the upgrade.

[HAL]

I have a pair of VSR VR-8's from the Watertown, NY factory.  Had them since they were new.

The upgrade is interesting but at the latest price almost what I paid for the speakers.  Getting them to the west coast and back in one piece is another issue.  If it were a DIY version that would be fine, but it required cabinet work when I asked.

Have fun with them! 

[es347]

I have a pair of VSR VR-8's from the Watertown, NY factory.  Had them since they were new.

The upgrade is interesting but at the latest price almost what I paid for the speakers.  Getting them to the west coast and back in one piece is another issue.  If it were a DIY version that would be fine, but it required cabinet work when I asked.

Have fun with them! 

That is a sticking point for sure.  Most of the VSA speakers are not what you would call compact and light weight.  The damage is a concern for sure, to the speakers and to one's lower back. 

[illenema]

Vr-8's are a blast. These were purchased after using Vr-4, Vr-4IIISe.
They need high power to really sing. I have used the following solid state on them. Plinus 250III, Several Large krells, Very happy with the Bells Large amps ect. Tube units really made these shine. Used Canary Reference Ones, Rogue Zeus, Rogue 120's, Hurricanes, Vtl 300, 450, and others. each amp clearly sounded very much different. all in all the best amp was pry the Rogue Zeus Single amp. Bi-amps  Was the Belles 250 and canarys for the highs. Speakers dominated the room. plinius kicked some butt as well.

[hi5harry]

I also think the VR8's are a fantastic speaker. They were HP's reference for a long time and he wrote a glowing review for Fi magazine about their virtues.
 I would never update a speaker that Albert worked on so hard to make his "statement". Remember, they have carbon fiber mids, basically the same tweeter that Wilson still uses in his high end speakers, a rear fireing tweeter as well. These were cutting edge 15 years ago. I think the last pairs sold were over 20K ten years ago. I did update my Focal tweeters to the newer model. I think the new Focal stays togeter better on very loud passages.
 I strongly agree that evern at 96 db effecient, THEY LOVE POWER!! I have found the Spectron amp a great choice. I know that at 500 lbs a side, I won't be selling mine ( a can't move them). I am shocked to hear of 3 sets in this forum. Audiocircle is way cool!

[Jon L]

This thread sure brings back memories.  These things sure were HUGE and sounded that way, too 

[es347]

Interesting how Albert was into the modular "transformer" look some 15 years ago and Wilson is still hanging on to it.  Not that the aesthetic takes precedence but the WAF cannot be ignored. The look of the current VSA product line is beautiful by comparison. 

[illenema]

I also think the VR8's are a fantastic speaker. They were HP's reference for a long time and he wrote a glowing review for Fi magazine about their virtues.
 I would never update a speaker that Albert worked on so hard to make his "statement". Remember, they have carbon fiber mids, basically the same tweeter that Wilson still uses in his high end speakers, a rear fireing tweeter as well. These were cutting edge 15 years ago. I think the last pairs sold were over 20K ten years ago. I did update my Focal tweeters to the newer model. I think the new Focal stays togeter better on very loud passages.
 I strongly agree that evern at 96 db effecient, THEY LOVE POWER!! I have found the Spectron amp a great choice. I know that at 500 lbs a side, I won't be selling mine ( a can't move them). I am shocked to hear of 3 sets in this forum. Audiocircle is way cool!

Very nice.

[illenema]

This thread sure brings back memories.  These things sure were HUGE and sounded that way, too 

Those are the ones. I am really starting to miss those. Only other pair I have ever seen for sale was on Agon about a year ago in the utility gray cabinets.
One might be surprised on how well they image up close and personal. The lowbass performance was something else. I loved the Older Belles OCM-250 for bass Completely killed large krells at its rating below 40hz. For one of the best deals on the planet would be the 120Watt rogue mono blocks.

[illenema]

This thread sure brings back memories.  These things sure were HUGE and sounded that way, too 

Those are the ones. I am really starting to miss those. Only other pair I have ever seen for sale was on Agon about a year ago in the utility gray cabinets.
One might be surprised on how well they image up close and personal, cymbals were always the correct height not like the 6ft high tweeter might suggest.  The lowbass performance was something else. I loved the Older Belles OCM-250 for bass Completely killed large krells at its rating below 40hz. For one of the best deals on the planet would be the 120Watt rogue mono blocks.

[SundayNiagara]

I believe there were 2 pair sold here in south Florida.  The first pair were driven by Threshold, (Randy Patton era) gear. 

[McTwins]

Must say that I have heard these monstrous speakers and the sound was nice.