New here....VR-4 question....

fitness1 · « **on:** 17 Aug 2012, 05:57 pm »

I'm considering purchasing a used pair of original VR-4's with the silver wire option. I'm wondering if replacement drivers are still available in the event that something goes wrong down the road.
I posed this question to customer service through the website, but thought I'd ask here as well.

Thanks in advance.

fitness1 · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 03:51 am »

Well, I picked them up today....long day on the road and I have them hooked up, but I have to get them set up correctly.

More later

fitness1 · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 Aug 2012, 01:52 pm »

I got up early and got these set up correctly (up in the air about 8 inches to get the tweeters to ear level and measured out equally for toe-in and distance from the wall) I've got to say I'm pretty impressed. I've been listening to DQ-10's and B&W DM640's for the last 25 years or so as my standard.

This morning I went through my 18 reference tracks and was hearing more of what I wanted to and less of what I don't than I ever had. Joni Mitchell's voice on "Case of You" was just incredible as was Steven Kindler's violin on the opening track of "Fresh Impressions" with Georgia Kelly.

These live up to the reviews I read over the last few days while making the decision. I certainly don't think I could have done much better for the used price I paid!

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JackD201 · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 10:55 am »

Those look brand new!

fitness1 · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 02:03 pm »

the socks have some minor snags in them but overall the cosmetics of the cherry are great and functionally they are 100%. This was a pretty frivolous purchase for me, but I'm glad I did it!!

pjnad · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 02:11 pm »

I have a pair that I also bought used a couple of years ago; turned out that one of the midrange drivers had some issues. VSA was wonderful to deal with, I spoke to a tech on the phone, as well as to Albert himself. You'll be happy to know that, at least at that time, drivers were still available. In fact, they had upgraded the mids at some point and recommended that I use the later version, of course this meant that I needed to purchase two, but the price was very reasonable. They include silver solder and everything you need to install them, and it is not difficult.
I've been very pleased with the speakers and have had some fun getting them dialed in just right...re: the ports in the back, adding or removing some dacron stuffing to modify the bass response.
Good luck!
Paul

roscoeiii · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 03:02 pm »

I am curious why you decided to elevate these speakers? I would also worry about about cabinet vibration effects on the cinder blocks.

fitness1 · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 06:36 pm »

Quote from: roscoeiii on 22 Aug 2012, 03:02 pm

I am curious why you decided to elevate these speakers? I would also worry about about cabinet vibration effects on the cinder blocks.

Tweeter has to be at ear level for me to get the best out of any speaker.....just the way I've been listening for the last 35 years. Eight inches upward hit it just about perfectly. Not sure what you mean about "vibration" effects on the cinder blocks, but I'd rather have them on there than on carpet. There were no spikes with this pair....but I'm going to work on that.

fitness1 · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 06:53 pm »

Quote from: pjnad on 22 Aug 2012, 02:11 pm

I have a pair that I also bought used a couple of years ago; turned out that one of the midrange drivers had some issues. VSA was wonderful to deal with, I spoke to a tech on the phone, as well as to Albert himself. You'll be happy to know that, at least at that time, drivers were still available.

Thanks Paul....feel better now!

roscoeiii · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 07:05 pm »

Quote from: fitness1 on 22 Aug 2012, 06:36 pm

Tweeter has to be at ear level for me to get the best out of any speaker.....just the way I've been listening for the last 35 years. Eight inches upward hit it just about perfectly. Not sure what you mean about "vibration" effects on the cinder blocks, but I'd rather have them on there than on carpet. There were no spikes with this pair....but I'm going to work on that.

How high are you sitting? For tweeters to be at ear level on my couch, I need to sit up straight and mind my posture. Anyway, I asked because I would worry about the vibrational issues caused by putting the speakers up on concrete blocks. I'd think that something like the Auralex SubDude (if it can support all of that weight) would be a better call. When figuring out what to put under my speakers VSA was very helpful with recommendations for footers that were more effective than spikes for my wooden floors (cheap, vinyl furniture pads from Home Depot!). I know that these are not light speakers, but I might try both on and off concrete blocks and with different interfaces with your floor. It may be that this is more consequential than tweeter height. One reason I wouldn't worry as much about tweeter height is that the off-axis response is a strength of VSA speakers.

Interested to hear the thoughts of other VR-4 owners. And if you ask VSA about this, please report back here. For me, VSA has been a pleasure to deal with.

fitness1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 07:12 pm »

I've spent almost 15 hours in the last few days and there is a huge difference if I'm even 2" low or high on the tweeter to my ear. I don't know exactly how high I'm sitting in the leather chair in the picture, but I'm guessing it's higher than a couch. The only things in my room are the chair, the two speakers and the audio cabinet.

I'm so happy with what I'm hearing, I don't really want to change anything.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 07:12 pm »

And fitness1, welcome to AC. You will find this to be an extremely helpful and generous group of audio fiends.

Out of curiosity, what sources and in particular what amp are you using with these VR-4s?

I will shortly be writing up my impressions of my VR-4 Gen IIs with the Rogue Stereo 90 and the Butler 2250. Stay tuned.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 07:13 pm »

Quote from: fitness1 on 22 Aug 2012, 07:12 pm

I'm so happy with what I'm hearing, I don't really want to change anything.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, there is always room for improvement...

fitness1 · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 07:17 pm »

Well, my other obsession is high end acoustic guitars. I've learned over the last 35 years of playing them, and listening to high end systems that you can spend way too much time in pursuit of "perfection" (which we know doesn't exist) that you don't listen or play enough.

I'm also far from a rich man, so I've learned to be "happy with what I have" much more than most

roscoeiii · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Aug 2012, 07:38 pm »

I hear you. I am consistently finding myself thinking that the VR-4s sound better than what I thought I could afford. Clean bass down to 20 Hz? And not out of my tax bracket? Along with superb imaging and great off-axis response? Yes please.

TCGB · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Aug 2012, 02:59 am »

Awesome looking speakers and I bet they sound as good as they look! What are you driving them with?

fitness1 · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 Aug 2012, 10:46 am »

Well, this is where all you high end guys will laugh......Adcom 5300. I've had several other amps here when I was using my DQ-10's and I'm telling you it does just fine. I had PS Audio and others that had a lot more power, but I don't use it. As you can see from the pic I do very close field listening and my listening tastes don't inlcude much of anything that requires more current or power than the 5300 provides. I was running a vintage Crown Straight Line Two pre with it for the last 25 years, but replaced it recently with the Adcom 555 pre.

The biggest change in the sound of my system came recently when I finally let the old Adcom GCD-575 go and replaced it with a new Yamaha CD-S700....WOW, I never figured a CD player could make such a difference!!

I know many of you are probably thinking I'm not getting the most out of my VR4's, but I've always been a bang for the buck guy, and I can neither afford or justify some 3k boutique amp and preamp. I have other expensive hobbies too! Like I said above, I'm so happy with what I'm hearing, I don't want to change anything!

JackD201 · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Aug 2012, 12:54 pm »

Nothing wrong with Adcom my friend. Did you know the 5300 was a Nelson Pass design? So was the 555 for that matter.

fitness1 · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 Aug 2012, 01:07 pm »

Quote from: JackD201 on 24 Aug 2012, 12:54 pm

Nothing wrong with Adcom my friend. Did you know the 5300 was a Nelson Pass design? So was the 555 for that matter.

There was a time when I would have known/read about that, but there's a lot of info that's been flushed out of my lobes in the last 10-15 years

All I know is what I hear.....the specs, nameplates and reviews don't tell me much until I get the stuff in my room and get it set up like I always have.

Last night I listed to Sara K "Closer Than They Appear" on Chesky and the upright bass was just astounding. That's about the lowest note my systems need to reproduce!! I also put another reference track on - Holly Cole's "If I were a Bell"....same thing, upright bass was so realistic I could tell you which way it was leaning. The piano had an incredible amount of air around it and the violin was just hanging in mid air.

That's what I'm talkin' about

roscoeiii · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 Aug 2012, 10:08 pm »

And the OP's speakers are up for sale on Audiogon...

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-von-schweikert-vr4-silver-edition-dark-cherry-pair-midland-mi-2012-08-24-speakers-48640-midland-mi