[Tweaker]

Anyone heard this speaker? I've read nothing but high praise for them but would like to get some input from fellow forumites. I can get a brand spanking new pair for $540.00 which seems like a very good deal, but I have no way of auditioning them before buying.

[chadh]

I owned a pair for a couple of years:  used in a system with channel islands VMB1 monoblocks (gaincard style chip amp, rated at 40w/channel).

I don't know what to say other than that I really liked them.  They had plenty of bass for such a small speaker, and a very sweet treble.  I could have lived with them for a long time - but I moved and needed floorstanders, so had to sell mine.

Chad

[Tweaker]

Thanks, every bit of info helps. One reviewer described them as been incredibly fast. Is that something you would agree with?

[chadh]

Incredibly fast?  To be honest, I'm not really sure what that means.  And even if I guess, I really don't know enough speakers to say.  Compared to my current Omega Super 3 XRS, I don't feel the VR1s stand out as being fast.  But for all I know, the XRS is itself "incredibly fast."  I have an older pair of KEF monitors in a second system.  These have a tendency to sound a little muddled, as though some sounds were coming through slowly and others not.  The VR1s certainly never had any of that kind of problem.  Everything always sounded crisp and clear and well defined.  I just don't know where in the great distribution of audiophile products the VR1s would sit in this dimension.

One of the things that appealed to me about the speakers was the availability of the VRS1 sub that would match.  The thing I consistently heard about that sub was that it was very, very fast and very musical.  To me, that meant there was a ready made upgrade path if I wanted to fill out the bottom end, especially as I knew I liked the sound of the VR1s.

When I bought mine they listed for $1000.  I paid about $660 for a B-stock pair.  I was thrilled with the purchase.  My feeling is that, for $560, you can't go wrong buying these speakers.


Good luck.

Chad

[Tweaker]

Incredibly fast?  To be honest, I'm not really sure what that means.

Well, you just described the sub as being "very, very fast"... maybe I should have said very instead of incredibly.
To be specific the reviewer stated that it had a lighting fast transient response. The description on the VR website claims that "if you love ribbons and electrostats you'll love these". Just trying to see if that's what your experience was or if it's just hyperbole. The reason I'm putting emphasis on that is my last three speakers have been Maggies, Acoustats and VMPS Rm2's, in that order. It's a characteristic I value.
Anyway, I appreciate the input. I think I'll spring for a pair and see how they work out. I've been wanting to scale down to a sub/sat system for some time now. Just got a sub so it looks as though the VR 1's will complete the puzzle. So damned many to choose from and none I've heard in the local shops have made much of an impression.

[ooheadsoo]

Haha, he said he "heard it was very fast."  He didn't describe it that way himself. 

[Tweaker]

I stand corrected.

[chadh]

To be specific the reviewer stated that it had a lighting fast transient response. The description on the VR website claims that "if you love ribbons and electrostats you'll love these". Just trying to see if that's what your experience was or if it's just hyperbole. The reason I'm putting emphasis on that is my last three speakers have been Maggies, Acoustats and VMPS Rm2's, in that order. It's a characteristic I value.

You see, this is my problem...I had a neighbor with Martin Logans, and heard them a couple of times in the background while dining at his place.  And then heard some more Martin Logans at a swanky store where I was distracted by how bad the whole system sounded.  That's my complete experience with electrostats.  I'm just not in a position to make the comparison.  I wish I had a handle on all of this stuff.

Chad

[Tweaker]

  I wish I had a handle on all of this stuff

 
It's ok, the fact that you don't probably makes you less prone to being an audio neurotic.
If I wasn't so neurotic I wouldn't have felt the need for this post, I would have just bought the damned things
But by God, that's what I'm going to do and I'm kind of excited to hear how they work out.

[chadh]

I hope you come back and let us know how you like them.  What other goodies are you going to be using with them?

Chad

[Spirit]

Hey Tweaker:
I own a pair of the Vr1's.  My comments -
1: Excellent little speakers.  For the $500 dollars you can't go wrong.
2: the finish on these speakers is beautiful. 
3: I bought a used pair of VR stands on A'gon.  That allowed me to take them off my book shelf.
4: Here is an interesting link if you ever decide to upgrade them:
http://www.referenceaudiomods.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Von_Schweikert_VR1_Mods&Category_Code=MODS&Product_Count=42
These are great guys to talk to.  You might want to give them a call.  Since they know the speakers from the inside out, they can give you the main reasons why they decided to modify.
Good luck

[chgolatin2]

I LOVE the VSA line, personally I have the VR2's great sounding speaker, considering upgrading to VR4jrs!    overall very very good speakers, I wouldnt buy anything else PERIOD!

[Tweaker]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm pretty jazzed now. I just got off of the phone with a very nice guy named Chris at VS and the speakers should ship out in a day or two. I have a HSU VTF-2 MK3 sub I recently purchased and I'm thinking this is going to be a heck of a system. Now I am going to start rethinking amplification. I am passive bi-amping my RM2's with a pair of Van Alstine Omegastar amps and since the VR 1's are so efficient I can start thinking about some of the low power digital amps, or SET amps. I've got a little Sonic Impact class t amp sitting in a drawer that might be interesting to try. Lots of possibilities.

[nickspicks]

You'll be happy w/the VR1.  Great little monitor that shares the VSA sound.