[SoundsGood]

SOLD - Obsolete message, cannot delete it.

[JackD201]

Does this mean you're going back to 5 Anniversaries Frank?  How about a straight swap with Gavin (es347)!   

C'mon Gavin! You know you want it!!!!!!

[es347]

Tempting but I'd have to hire a team of Egyptians to get them down to my listening room.

[JackD201]

I've got a pair of custom 9s already but I sure can ask around for you Frank, that is unless Gavin finds a way to get a contingent of WWE dudes to help him out first.

[es347]

The chief concern is my inability to handle the higher level of nirvana.  Scary.

[fplanner2000]

GAVIN-

Get the 7's - you'll kick yourself if you don't.  The price is definitely a deal.  As far as getting them down some stairs, remember that gravity is your friend!  they are not really the difficult to move with a bit of help.

[es347]

You realize that you guys are killing me...!?

[JackD201]

Anyone else notice how well Frank's burl finish will go with Gavin's decor? 

[douglesc]

GAVIN-

Get the 7's - you'll kick yourself if you don't.  The price is definitely a deal.  As far as getting them down some stairs, remember that gravity is your friend!  they are not really the difficult to move with a bit of help.


The 7's use the same mid range as in the 11's and 9's and what I might add was in the 5se as well, but remember the 5 is in the 9's catagory except for the super tweeter, boy I don't see it, that is the 7's out doing the annies. Plus you through in the fact that piano black is my favorite finish period, bar none.    I have to say that the 7's he is selling are a good deal. Also I am not trying to talk Gavin out of it except to say from a performance issue both are in the same league.

[es347]

"but remember the 5 is in the 9's catagory except for the super tweeter, boy I don't see it, that is the 7's out doing the annies"...

Finally!..the voice of reason.  It's a no-go fellas.  I checked with my interior designer and she said absolutely no burl!  I must admit that it would be cool having those big ole monoliths in here, casting their rather long shadow but..."I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that"..

[Mike11]

SoundsGood,
Are these the same burled walnut VR7 SEs that were sold from the website www.higherfi.com just a few months ago? If I am not mistaken that pair had to have 1 of the drivers replaced and sold for under $15,000. If this is a different pair of speakers, are you the original owner? When were they manufactured? With the new VSA warranty quoted from the VSA website " In addition, our 10-year warranty is no longer transferable and is only valid to the original buyer. A valid sales receipt from an authorized VSA dealer will be required for any service requested under our warranty."
Were they purchased from an authorized dealer?
Mike

[JackD201]

Hi Mike, as Albert clarified here the warranty policy refers to the discontinued vr-1,2,4jr, ts-150 and vr-S1.

[fplanner2000]

Douglesc - FYI - I sure don't buy the line that "the 5 is in the 9's category except for the supertweeter", nor that the 7's won't "outdo the annies".  What have you been drinking/smoking?

The 5's lack the servo-bass driver of the 9's and also lack the double 11" bass drivers and supertweeter of the 7s.  You obviously have never actually ever compared these 3 speakers in the same or similar systems, or you wouldn't have made your comments.  There  is NO WAY AT ALL THE ANNIES ARE IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS THE 7'S - not even close.  To suggest otherwise is simply incorrect.

This is the voice of REALITY, without the obvious "marketing hype".  In fact, a number of owners chose the 7s over the 9's as more of a "purist" speaker, with similar or even BETTER results if properly setup.

Mike11 -  The pair of 7's on Higherfi sold for $16K+ and they don't look like the same pair Frank is selling, but I could be wrong.

[es347]

FPlanner just ruined my day.

[douglesc]

Douglesc - FYI - I sure don't buy the line that "the 5 is in the 9's category except for the supertweeter", nor that the 7's won't "outdo the annies".  What have you been drinking/smoking?

The 5's lack the servo-bass driver of the 9's and also lack the double 11" bass drivers and supertweeter of the 7s.  You obviously have never actually ever compared these 3 speakers in the same or similar systems, or you wouldn't have made your comments.  There  is NO WAY AT ALL THE ANNIES ARE IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS THE 7'S - not even close.  To suggest otherwise is simply incorrect.

This is the voice of REALITY, without the obvious "marketing hype".  In fact, a number of owners chose the 7s over the 9's as more of a "purist" speaker, with similar or even BETTER results if properly setup.
========================================================================
The Von Schweikert web site says they are close to the 9's in transparency. I've read this else where in there own literature.
I have heard the 9's and I do know that they as well as the vr7, the vr9, vr11 and the vr5 annies all share the same tweeter (the scan speak model) the difference being the ribbon super tweeter.
The 5's do not have one.
When I listened to the 9's on various material they were no doubt very good, of the best I had ever heard, that said there were times I felt like I could hear the super ribbon tweeter which I did not like, my feelings are that if you can hear that ribbon tweeter it is too loud, it is not suppose to be heard IMO. It is just suppose to add air, that is all IMO.
The same goes for the powered sub that the 9's have IMO they are not suppose to be heard or stand out, blend and disappear is their job. If the sub is standing out and you can hear it, it is too loud.
Being the scan speak tweeter goes to 40k and is one heck of a tweeter, I feel it does not need a ribbon tweeter,(this is my opinion and I would not push this on any one else)  I feel the same way as for the bass in the vr5 annies as I feel they are not lacking for bass and really do not need a sub AT THE speaker. (A rear sub set up behind you, set out of phase turned down low enough so it is blending and not being noticed is another matter.)
In essence if you feel the 7's are in another league then ok, to be honest, it is almost like I am hearing you say that the 7's blow away the 5 annies. ok then to you they do.
To me I would either go for the 5's or the 11's, at least that way with 11's with their dual mid ranges you really would get a bigger sound stage with substantial more dynamics. But boy are they big and the cost. whew

[es347]

Hey guys let's not get into whizzing contests over which VSA speaker is the best.  To be honest, if I could afford it, there would be a pair of piano black VR9s sitting in the spot my VR5 Annies currently occupy.  Doug's point about hearing the super tweeter and the subs as separate and distinct sources is moot (no offense Doug!) given the incredible amount of adjustivity (my word) the 9s have.  From some owner accounts that flexibility can drive you nuts but once you hit of the right combination, all those drivers meld into a point source and you achieve nirvana.  I have not heard the 7s but I'm sure they sound great and I would be surprised if they didn't edge out the annies in certain categories.  But for what I have invested in my VR5s I really don't think I could improve my sonics by going with any other speaker out there at or near it's price.  I don't recall what the 7s sold for new but what ever it was, it was not in my price range.  Heck even the annies aren't in my price range but they are here to stay...unless Albert will swap me for those 9s.

[fplanner2000]

GAVIN-
I stand by everything I have said - Douglesc has obviously not heard the 7s.  The bass slam and dynamics within the musical presentation of the 7s are simply not present in the annies.  Period.  IF you have any doubts, ask Albert.

AS far as ruining your day, this could actually MAKE your day if you pull the trigger on the 7s.  If you do, you will thank me and your 501's will thank me as you will hear what they can REALLY do!

I was originally interested in the 9s as well (due to their extreme adjustability and great reviews) when I got the 7s, but living with the 7s has removed any interest in the 9s for me.  I've discovered that I have plenty of adjustability with the 7's in my sonically challenging room and have what I consider a more "natural and organic" sound than what I've heard out of the 9s.  I'm pretty sure if Albert had put more marketing support behind the 7's, they would have garnered comparable reviews to the 9's.

Anyhow, its fun to at least talk about this stuff.  I'd suggest trying to at least hear the 7's somewhere if you get the chance.  If you come to Denver, you can hear mine.  Good luck!  Also, btw, I think they retailed for something like $70K.

[JackD201]

Hi Mike, the pop up was taken down some time back to address precisely what you, as well as many others, brought up.

Soundsgood, it looks like you'll be a candidate for Unifield 3s if even 5s are too large for your new place. You're going to miss the subterranean bass of the 7s though. Something a good REL can remedy to a certain extent I bet. The Unis would love the Atmaspheres for sure so if you're headed in the Unifield 3 direction you might reconsider parting with those beauties for the time being.

Fplanner, the 7s came out before the 9s and 11s which also came out before the 5s. The 7s filled a specific niche, one that catered precisely to "purists" who would rather stick to conventional set up techniques than accept the engineered conveniences of having a few knobs. Having said that, no the 5s are not in the same league as 7s even as the 77 remains in development. By the same token, the 7s are not in the same league as the 9s. You yourself experienced how you needed two VAC 300.1s to get them singing on a whole new level where a single pair would have done for a pair of 9s. Violetmachan also found that moving up to his massive and beautiful Tenor amps proved to be the key to his success. 7s despite their high sensitivity still need gobs of quality power to get the large magnesium woofers under control. Even Cor uses the larger Kron amps with their 7s, the minimum being the outstanding Kron DX. Same goes for Soundsgood who uses high current Levinson 334s for the bass. Hence the recommendation to Gavin who's MAC 501s are definitely up to the task.

The bass of the 9s are quicker because of the smaller and lower mass drivers with the twin 9s in a sealed enclosure as opposed to the twin 11s in their double ported QTLs and go lower at +/-3dB because of the 15" diamonds that also increase total driver area with a kilowatt per side to boot. Though they share the same midrange driver as the 9s and 11s as well as the 5 Annies (take a close look the annies differ only in color. They are still the custom Audax Aerogel designs as opposed to the SR's "friendlier" AADs) the super tweeters are different too. The 7s use a smaller ribbon and the silk dome for ambience. The 9s use the larger ribbons that can handle a wider dynamic and frequency range front AND back.

Undoubtedly steps can be taken to bring a 7 very, very close to a 9s performance but in the same room and system the 9s which sold for only 10k more the last time the 7s were on the active roster the 9s would have a clear advantage especially in terms of ease of presentation. The 5s would edge out the 7s by a hair in bass speed but would fall short everywhere else when slotted into a system optimized for a VR-7 SE.

What you have that I am seriously considering is that gem of a player of yours. APL Esoterics are friggin' awesome. Coming from someone that has been using Emmlabs for years that is no joke.

[fplanner2000]

Thanks for the complement Jack. 

The only reason the 7's require more power than the 9's is of course due to the powered sub in the 9's.  I've heard the 9's 3 different times, and each time came away happy that I have the 7's.  I suppose in a room much larger than mine (20'x19'), the extra bass and larger super-tweeter might tip me toward the 9's if they were set up properly, but that is not my current situation.

When Albert came over during RMAF 2008, he asked, only half in jest, if I'd mind bringing my setup to his big exhibition room, thinking that my 7's in their setup sounded much better than they were able to get the 9's to sound in a big room at RMAF 2008.

I guess my point here is that the 7's properly set up and with enough good power are a lot closer to the 9's than the 5's are to the 7's, IMO.  When you factor in that the used 7's are being offered here at under $20K (vs $25K for the annies and $90K +/- for the 9's).to me it becomes a no-brainer if space and budget allow. 

RE APL:  I believe I have the only APL stand-alone SUPER-DAC prototype in existence.  It has 20 2nd generation AKM 32-bit chips per side, double Class A tube output stage, 96/211 upsampler, etc., etc., etc.  Pretty much the same internal DAC topography as his newest APL-4.0SE - I'm simply doing it with 2 boxes instead of 1. Consequently, I can't upsample SACD through the DAC(thank you Sony), but I can live with that in return for the added flexibility of 2 boxes. 

The new APL piece is very rough-looking, as many prototypes are, but Alex promised to transplant it into the finished production box with additional inputs, etc.when production starts up.  It is paired with an Esoteric UX-1 upgraded to UX-1pi (retaining the original transport) as well as an Esoteric rubidium GO-S clock.  I now have about 350 hours on the DAC and its finally opening up nicely.  Its starting to sound better every day, and its got another 100-150 hours to go before it finally settles in, according to Alex and others with these 2nd generation AKM DAC chips in their players.  Alex's ability to get the most out of a digital signal continues to amaze me.  For my patience and trust, I've been rewarded with what has to be 1 of the best, if not THE best DACs in existence today.  And its still not fully broken in.......!!  I feel very fortunate to have this DAC in my system.