IS there anything more I can do for my VR-7's?

fplanner2000 · « **on:** 31 Mar 2012, 08:46 pm »

For instance, is there a MK 2 mod like for the 9? I've already put in bypass caps for the mids, tweets and supertweets - wondering if there have been speaker or crossover improvements beyond what I've already done that would make a strong positive impact upon my sonic living room. Not interested in "different" or additional "room treatments" at all, but want to see if its even possible to improve upon what I've already got(maybe the midrange speakers themselves, for example, or killer caps in reworked crossovers, etc.).

Thanks in advance.

Harve
Denver

es347 · « **Reply #1 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 09:09 pm »

Hey Harve..

Part of the VR9 upgrade was replacing the midrange drivers as I recall. Jack, jump in at your convenience.

JackD201 · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 02:36 am »

It's violet_machan that should jump in, he's got the full Mk2 upgrade (mids, damping material, triple layer damping, new XO's)

fplanner2000 · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 12:05 pm »

I wonder what just popping new mid-range speakers in would do, without touching anything else?...What are yours, Jack? Thanks.

fplanner2000 · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 01:47 pm »

I don't see anything on the website talking about the MK2 VR-9 upgrade, nor the VR-7 at all.

JackD201 · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 04:23 pm »

Hi Harve,

Changing the driver alone won't do. I held the two in my hands and while they look the same from the front except color, from the rear, they aren't the same at all. The crossovers don't look remotely alike. Different parts, parts count and layout. What I can say is that I examined the parts and Half of these are bespoke stuff that I have never seen on the market like small value caps the size of my fists and trust me, I can name most popular commercial cap and a resistors from Vishay-Roederstein, Jensen, V-Cap, Mundorf, Clarity, Audience, Duelund unmarked. (I spotted some Mundorfs, Claritys and what looked like V's but were different in construction). I wasn't allowed to take pics of these. Heck, part of the deal was that I couldn't keep the old ones. I have the full monty Mk.2 package.

The website by my estimation is overdue for a revamp by about four months. I remember Albert telling me recently that they are reformatting and ditching Flash because of the proliferation of IOS (iPhone, iTouch, iPad) users out there and IOS doesn't support Flash. I believe it's in the works as we speak. HTH.

Jack

fplanner2000 · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 06:37 pm »

Thanks Jack - I appreciate your input, as always. What I have right now is really good, but I think I can get even more out of the midrange, which VAC is famous for but I think may be the weakest link in my speakers. I know Albert has made advancements there since I've had my speakers and wonder whether they would be barely noticeable or in the category of "game-changer". I'm also am not inclined to be shipping these to Albert, or anywhere else for that matter.

What was the effect of your Mk2 mods on your 9s?

BTW - going to visit Kevin H. next month in Fla. Hopefully hear the 450's.

violetmachan · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 11:48 pm »

hello harve

looks like we are the last of the vr 7se passive brigade!

I have had the mark 11 upgrade done in early 2010......ie new midranage drivers ,new caps along with resistors to bring the lower midrange a little forward and with a much more forceful punch and slighly recesss the high end. I did not have a full factory upgrade ( logistics of living in england and the factory in california) which includes strenghten the cabinets with granite lamination and new crossover and all new wiring with the vsa signature cable wires.

My upgrade was very specfic to get the best of my living room as the vr7se in its original format was not very coherent ( unable to blend the woofer cabinet sound to that of the monitor) in my very lively room.......so with detailed planning and discussion with albert the upgrade was done.

The upgrade does take a while to start spilling its magic.Coincidentally the arrival of my tenor 2piece preamps and the tenor 350m monoblocks driving the vr 7se seems along with the vsa signature cables seem to have come together very nicely for me......

With all the flaws in my living space/ room " branded as acoustically bright buy most audiodealers"......you will be surprised at the sound from the system....the large speakers just meltaway....just sings and sings pure music which is soo real almost palpable.

I just returned from a live concert of joe bonamassa......heartstoping sound and really melts the guitar!!........I am sure no standing system will recreate the exact sound...and thats not the aim of my sonic adventure.........but was mightly impressed with what I heard at home when I played some of the songs I had heard live.

I have spend sometime with albert and manny in westcorvina listening to the vr9se setup...which is sublime.......but the vr 7se in pure passive form at times equals it and even exceeds the performance in scale.

If I had the option of sending the speakers back to albert in california and and having a full factory upgrade....I may be tempted......but as my system stands, flaws in sound do not come to the forefront......it just sings lovely music......and thats all I am interested.

The only option I will consider is if albert plans to sell his vr 9se passive prototype........! with my tenor monoblocks , tenors preamps and emmlabs xds1!!........thats just a thought.

So harve as you have already had the caps done have the new midrange drivers installed .....you could do them yourself with albert giving you instructions....they are voiced much better.....ie for me in my very lively room.......which is not a issue any more

Or the other magical option do a jack " thriller in Denver"........I would be happy even if it was one of alberts apprentice for the full upgrade!

Must say the vr9se and vr7se are stuning speaker.......sad that the Vr 7se is dead in its twobox passive state.....heard a birdie say the vr 77 will up and running as passive and active forms.......

any leaked photos!!

good sonic surfing harve

passive violet

fplanner2000 · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Apr 2012, 03:51 am »

PV - Thank you very much for your detailed report of your VR-7 experiences. It sounds like the Tenor arrival marked a new sonic level for your system, combined with the changes to your 7's. My room is not "bright" at all, so I'm not sure the same sort of midrange speakers would get me the more organic sound I seek.

I have a hunch I may have taken my 7's as far as it makes sense to take them, both logistically and economically, for the time being. There are some additional cabling demos from source to pre I will be doing in the upcoming several weeks, as well as placing a new SR Transparent Base under my source as suggested by several who know my system very well. The Base is supposed to be something quite special - we'll see what it does.

Thanks again for your helpful comments - they lead me to realize my speakers might already be in a similar ballpark - I listened for several hours this afternoon and couldn't wipe the smile from my face. My friends think I'm crazy to touch ANYTHING - they don't understand its the nature of the beast...

Then of course there are always the VAC 450 monos .... which would require a lottery win at this point...

fplanner2000 · « **Reply #9 on:** 21 Apr 2012, 04:48 am »

Happy Update:

Changing the ICs from source to preamp within the SR line yielded a much greater sonic improvement than I expected. System got significantly more musical and organic, resolution and clarity increased, and bass got tighter, a bit deeper and seemingly faster, if that makes sense. The total presentation got considerably more balanced - the funny thing is that I didn't realize there were several imbalances until the new ics "fixed" them. My speakers have finally really "come alive".

The 7's are singing like never before - I am going through my CD's with a new appreciation for what these speakers can really do. Didn't realize my ics (Tesla Apex) were a choke point until I put in the new demos (Element series: Copper-Tungsten-Silver) between my CD player and preamp. Sound-stage also got wider, deeper and the imaging got even better. As a few of my audio buddies remarked, witnessing the pretty substantial improvements in so many areas - "WOW"!!

Thank you again for all your helpful comments. I no longer feel the need to "improve" my 7's - as a matter of fact, I wouldn't trade them for any other speakers right now, including the 9's (sorry Jack) or 11's. OTOH, I haven't yet heard the 9's in Mk 2 form....., but what I have right now is definitely something special.

Delacroix · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Apr 2012, 11:08 pm »

Well, having had the pleasure of hearing your rig Harve, I think I could live with your 7s for years..so I am pleased that you are happy. I suppose this reminds me of how easy it is for good speakers to just reflect what's in front of them. I have little problem hearing changes in components and even, sometimes, cables (yikes!) with my 5SEs so I suspect the problem for all of us is determining just when the limiting factor of our rig is the pair of speakers we are using or something feeding them....like you, I dread the day I'd have to ship mine off for updating, and mine are half the size of your monsters!

fplanner2000 · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Apr 2012, 11:23 pm »

Thank you for the kind words. My system as you heard it, while decent, was nowhere NEAR the sound I am getting now. Since you guys were here for RMAF a few years ago, I've changed out the front end to the APL- NWO -Master (I only had pieces before) and rather dramatically upgraded both my preamp and my cabling. The sound is now ridiculously not bad. Plan on coming over if you go to RMAF - you'll see(hear) what I mean..

The 7's are not leaving my house unless I sell them at some point. They won't be shipped anywhere for "updating" - way too much brain damage and I know very good techs in my area that have worked w/VSA before.

JackD201 · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Apr 2012, 06:35 am »

You know me Harve, If you're happy, I'm happy

fplanner2000 · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Apr 2012, 11:33 pm »

Thanks Jack. For now, I'm happy.

I never in a million years thought I could get my sonically challenged living room to sound decent in the first place. To be able to take it up a bunch of "notches" with the help of yourself, AVS and the others on this forum is something I'm truly appreciative of. IF you're going to the RMAF in October, please let me know. Thanks again.

JackD201 · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Apr 2012, 06:35 am »

Think nothing of it my friend

Unfortunately RMAF is out for me again this year. I'll be going to Spain in November so as they say, "funds do not permit".

es347 · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Apr 2012, 10:51 pm »

"funds do not permit"?? For a guy that owns half of the Philippines?

Holli82 · « **Reply #16 on:** 30 Apr 2012, 04:36 am »

He's trying to buy the other half

JackD201 · « **Reply #17 on:** 30 Apr 2012, 01:05 pm »

You guys have me mixed up with somebody else!

es347 · « **Reply #18 on:** 30 Apr 2012, 07:46 pm »

Yeah it was some other JackD201

fplanner2000 · « **Reply #19 on:** 20 May 2012, 04:27 pm »

I just decided on the best thing I can do for my 7's - a pair of VAC Statement 450's.