[RSE]

After hearing the VR22 at a demo meet by Albert and his team for the San Diego Music Guild club,  I was intrigued and wanted to hear more of this new speaker in a more living room like setting. An audio buddy and myself drove up to the Von Schweikert facility Friday arriving there at a late Friday afternoon. We were greeted by Albert himself and introduced to the equipment he was using (knew the names but have not heard the pieces). The VR22s were already hooked up so that's what we heard first. Albert played some musical tones of highs, mids and bass to hear what was going on in the speaker.  That was sensational sounding all by itself.

We both brought along our own music and took turns playing CDs. I have a Cello piece by Yo-Yo Ma that I know quite well but I have never heard it sound like that where the Cello just bloomed like listening to the instrument  played live before you.. very impressive.
Some of you might be thinking, it could have been the amps, the preamp, the DAC ...yes, yes, your right...all of the above, But ...the speakers were able to reproduce this amazing feature, something my current electrostatics cannot do, nor have past Aerial 10s, B&W 801, Maggie 3.6R,
Martin Logan Spires, Wilson W/P 5.  All very nice speakers, but this new VR22 had much more of what I'm seeking in a loudspeaker than any of those.
There was a livelines about them that I resonated with. I have heard the VR4 JR, but they did not impres me the way these little two way speakers just did.

Next we heard the VR33s. We played the same music just to hear the difference between the two speakers.  The VR33s are somewhat taller with the front baffle narrower than the 22s. The 33s has a more refined sound, the 22s punchier.  I think it would come down to room size in the end. For the serious listener the VR33 are the ticket, however; for plain fun and getting involved in the music with a small to medium size room (say 15x20)  the VR22.

Both are designed to be placed near the wall, so keep that in mind.

Just as were we leaving Albert set up a pair of  speakers to continue their break-in period. These Silver beauties were flirting with me the whole time we where there listening. I told my friend (when the VR33s were being hooked up)...I hope he doesn't hook those up. (you know the beautiful ones are always going to cost you somehow....)
Well, after hearing the sounds of some strange strings being plucked, pulled, played (literally 15 seconds)...I was in love!
I knew I shouldn't have hear those beauties.  The speakers...VR44....wow,wow,wow

On the drive home my friend and I were calculating what to sell to get those VR44s.

Anyway, those of you lucky enough to go to the Denver show will be in for a treat when you hear Mr.Von Schweiterk's new creations.

Now, I have some serious thinking to do about these. My wish...another model like the VR44 (love the looks) that's priced around the VR33 so they can be pulled out more in my room.

[roscoeiii]

Oh my, that is exciting to hear about the VR-44s. Can you say more about how they compared to the other two speakers? You mentioned that the VR-22 were punchier than the VR-33s. How did the VR-44 do in the punchy dept?

Basically could you flesh out the things in the VR-44 that led to your "wow, wow, wow" reaction?

[RSE]

Let me start by saying the VR33 we heard was the new upgraded version which has the same tri sandwich construction of the newer VR22.

The VR22 has an amazing electrostatic like top end, detailed, but not overlydone. I heard the air vibrations from sting instruments which to me always makes the recording seem that much more real.  Bass had real articulation. Actually the VR33 and VR44 had this same effect too.

The VR22/VR33 projects out into the room, the VR44 (these were not set up - just placed out in the middle of the room clear from the other speakers) there they projected well behind the front of the speaker. But with an immediacy that made it sound like that fellow playing the bass was in the room...spooky real.
Most speakers I've heard that project far back have great depth, width, etc; this is the first one that I heard that was intimate at the same time! I think that rear firing tweeter lent a hand.
Anyway, with the VR44 it was love after hearing just the first few notes. There is a saying ' when you know...you'll know'....I knew then, right there.

Recently I have heard the Wilson Studio 3, Vandersteen Theo and 5A, Aerial 7T. All very very nice speakers; naturally the one I fell in love with happens to be the most expensive...VR44.

The VR22 is Brad Pitt, the VR33 Robert Redford, the VR44  Elizabeth Taylor .

[drubin]

RSE -- can you expand a little on the differences you heard between the VR-22 and the VR-33?  You said the 33 sounded "more refined."  Curious to get a better idea of what that means to you.

Also, do you know if either of the models had the upgraded crossover parts and binding posts, and were they bi- or single-wired?

Thanks!

Dan

[RSE]

The VR22 we heard had dual binding posts, the VR33 had a single pair - both WBT If I remember correctly.

The VR33 has two 6" mids  with a 10" at the rear and I  believe the tweeter is the same style as the VR22 only a slightly higher version.  This equated to a higher level of detail and transparency to the soundstage in the 33s.  The VR22 is a two way design with an 8"  front firing woofer.  The soundstage appeared somewhat larger in the VR33 than the VR22 too.
The VR22 seemed to go just as deep in the bass as the VR33, although the specs indicate otherwise.

One of my favorite speakers at the Newport Audio show was Joseph Audio's Pulsar a two way monitor ($7K), when I heard them at the show I thought to myself
'this guy (Jeff Joseph) should be selling tickets'...they were that good.
I put the VR22 in the same league as the Pulsars, lucky for us the VR22s are half the price and you don't need to buy stands.

My friend and I took turns sitting in the couch's middle 'sweet spot', however; when I sat at the end I could still hear both speakers equally well. The middle imaged slightly better, but not dramatically so.  The speakers were aimed straight ahead not at one position.
Both had excellent pace / rhythm along and great dynamics , they involved you in the music.
As audiophiles when listening to speakers I think we tend to segment what we hear as to nice highs, deep bass, great vocals etc. but I noticed I was not doing that unless something very dramatic in the music drew my attention or I purposely concentrated on a piece. I was just enjoying the music and the experience. To me that says a lot.

Last night while playing some of the same music I played at the demo  I found myself thinking how it would sound in my room with either the 22s or 33s....

[es347]

I saw a post somewhere where a fellow audiophile said that Albert's white papers read like voodoo but he went on to say that having said that, Albert builds one helluva speaker.  I can attest to that having heard the VR33s, the VR4 Sr MKIIs and the VR5 Anniversaries MK1.5s here in my room.  They all sound incredibly good and, IMHO trounce anything at their respective price points.

[drubin]

Thank you, RSE. 

Dan

[Rclark]

The 22 is just a tweeter and an 8? Never seen a config like that before. The VR-22 links weren't all working on the site, I couldn't confirm this.

[es347]

I thought it was a 10" woofer in the VR22..

[srb]

I thought it was a 10" woofer in the VR22..

Woofer – Scanspeak (Denmark)  8” with Low Distortion Motor, glass fiber nanotube carbon-coated cone, elevated spider, long throw design, and copper clad pole piece. This is a “high speed” driver with optimized transient response designed to match the transient response and timbre of the tweeter.   This is the best driver we have ever tested for a two-way design.
 
http://vonschweikertaudio.com/wp-content/themes/organic_structure_free/images/products/manuals/VR-22%20Owners%20Manual%202011.doc
 
Steve

[mca]

Curious as to what amplification Albert used for the demo?

[Rclark]

I saw a post somewhere where a fellow audiophile said that Albert's white papers read like voodoo but he went on to say that having said that, Albert builds one helluva speaker.  I can attest to that having heard the VR33s, the VR4 Sr MKIIs and the VR5 Anniversaries MK1.5s here in my room.  They all sound incredibly good and, IMHO trounce anything at their respective price points.

 Better than Vaporsound, Tekton, etc?

 I am intrigued by the concept of maximum performance/price to the point where there's no veneer, just a fabric covering, so there must be something to it... Like the noise cancelling enclosure as well.

 An 8 though in the 22? I guess it must be a hell of an 8.

[RSE]

Albert had Channel D -200 Mk2  200wpc solid state amps hooked during the demo I heard. He also had some Jolida 211 tube amps 50wpc  (Mk2 also I believe) on the floor, but we didn't get a chance to hear those. The preamp was the new VAC,  he was using that CD player he likes so well but with a Jolida tube dac Mk2 ($499).

The sound the 'system' made with the VR22 was extremely impressive, with great dynamics, transients, speed, pace/rhythm and air.

But more than all the audiophile words, what I heard in the soundstage got my attention - different levels of loudness people were playing at. When I turn up the volume on my home system - everything seems to get louder. This system was able to communicate in a subtle way the variations of each performer's loudness level they were playing at. This alone tended to get me  immersed in the flow of music I were hearing. I guess I do hear that in my system somewhat  but not to this extent.

So much so that my friend and I are going to make a second trip up to hear the VR22, VR33 & VR44 again this coming week sometime. I want to hear what these sound like on tubes; and definitely listen to those VR44s at length.

I believe I heard about a VR25 that is in the works - a VR22 but with a wood veneer exterior.

[es347]

I thought it was a 10" woofer in the VR22..

My bad...8" it is!

[es347]

Better than Vaporsound, Tekton, etc?

 I am intrigued by the concept of maximum performance/price to the point where there's no veneer, just a fabric covering, so there must be something to it... Like the noise cancelling enclosure as well.

 An 8 though in the 22? I guess it must be a hell of an 8.

I hadn't heard of either of these speakers so Googled them.  They must be pretty good based on the reviews.  Since I haven't heard either I can't compare.  Actually I haven't heard the VR22s either but a friend who has spent considerable time with them said they are very good.  There are no poor sounding VSA speakers. 

[rich58b]

Funny, I thought Vaporsound was a joke, like vaporware is software that is promised but never gets made. But it exists!

[Rclark]

Anyone here hear the VR2100?

[es347]

Anyone here hear the VR2100?

????

[JackD201]

From the VSA archives Gavin

http://www.vonschweikert.com/vrtheater/VRT-2100M.HTM

[es347]

Never heard it nor heard of it.  I lead a sheltered life..