welcome me to the fold

Rclark · « **on:** 28 Apr 2011, 02:33 am »

I just got a TWO.2 off audiogon (paid a pretty penny for a slghtly used (less than 6 hours) demo unit, didn't save a whole lot, I paid in the 4's, people wanted that sucker!) and will be running them on a pair of GR Reseach N3's to be built. I have cabinets on the way for those, and, yeah, looking forward to the magicalness of it all.

Hopefully I can order a battery kit soon from the good MR. Gary Dodd, and get some Sonicaps in there.

eclein · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Apr 2011, 03:13 am »

Welcome!!!! You'll enjoy!

Jonathon Janusz · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Apr 2011, 03:20 am »

If I had the space to store a lot of speakers, I REALLY would like to hear the combo of virtue amps and GR N3 speakers.

Glad to see you over here! Sonicaps and platinum bypasses in my amp and loving it. I still haven't got the nerve to jump over to batteries, though. . .

Rclark · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Apr 2011, 03:24 am »

It was tough, I was going to go another route. But I figured this is my first real deal hifi, and I can't get a straight answer as to which is the better choice between this and my other, and I don't have to build a Virtue amp, and they look cool. I figure it's a good place to start.

xr2 · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Apr 2011, 03:45 am »

I just received a pair of N3s this afternoon. I'm powering them with a Virtue Two, and using a Rythmik sub to fill in the bottom end. They're in a temporary space, and the sub isn't dialed in the match then quite yet, but the sound from the speakers was quite seductive.

Another month and I can put them where they belong.

As a side question, I'll be in need of a pair of stands for them. Anyone have any recommendations?

Rclark · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 Apr 2011, 05:53 am »

Oh yeah? Cool! I've got a pair of N3S monitor enclosures on the way. Eventually want to build the TL as well just to have them.

I wonder how long until we can order battery packs and chargers? Actually, what's the ultimate way to power these things? Is battery still the way to go?

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Apr 2011, 05:59 am »

Welcome to the fold . .

HiFlight · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 Apr 2011, 04:43 pm »

Quote from: Rclark on 28 Apr 2011, 05:53 am

Oh yeah? Cool! I've got a pair of N3S monitor enclosures on the way. Eventually want to build the TL as well just to have them.

I wonder how long until we can order battery packs and chargers? Actually, what's the ultimate way to power these things? Is battery still the way to go?

I have tried the 60w and 90w 30v AC supply and the battery kit with my 2.2. Took me about 10 seconds to decide on the batteries!

Dr4Bob · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 May 2011, 06:11 am »

Welcome to the fold. I have just joined the Virtue family myself; my Two.2 has finally burned in with the new Omega A8s at about 300hr. A really fine product and nice synergy with new hempcones in the speakers. The only fault I could possibly find is a quiet hissing heard with an ear held close to the drivers (absent through the headphone amp) which by consensus seems to be result of the 30v switching power supply. It is inaudible when listening to music and at this point I do not feel a need to consider battery power, but then again I am no audiophile, just a simple music addict. I hope you find it to be as fine an amp as I have- of course the resale value is excellent on Audiogon, as you know, if not.

Cheers

Rclark · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 May 2011, 06:32 am »

It had better be good, I could have bought a built to the hilt ClassD kit for that money. 40 watts on battery power versus a lot of power and just as good an sq rep on a high quality PS.

But I do suspect that I will enjoy it alot.

virtue · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 May 2011, 06:50 am »

I envy those Class-D guys. If I could just sell a reference board without everything else that goes into it, we'd be BILLIONAIRES!

Mr. Clark, you seem to know a lot about a lot. So maybe you can help me out and I'm sure others would be most curious.

Please go and price out a nice custom enclosure (not a simple box), custom knobs (chrome), custom posts (as good as ours), subwoofer output circuit with power, POT and all the other stuff we put into these amps and get back to me on pricing. While you're at it, check out tooling in the USA, China, and Taiwan -- not for simple wooden stuff (Peachtree) but aluminum extrusions like ours.

We didn't pass along all those costs to our customers and ended up eating around $500 per amp at list (you paid used) for the first few productions. Most of my customers are very grateful for the public service which is Virtue and maybe one day you will be as well.

Rclark · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 May 2011, 07:00 am »

Seth,

I am very aware. I expect that your amp, with battery power, is going to absolutely slay. I didn't flip a coin and land on Virtue, I chose it.

That's what I meant. I do understand how it could have been understood negatively, as though I were forced into it. I did read over it and it looks bad though, sloppy, I apologize for not being clear.

To clarify, this is how I feel: The Virtue Two.2 on battery, despite having a disadvantage in terms of power output, will likely still be the superior choice. I can't know this firsthand, but after reading about a billion threads about both, I ended up choosing the Virtue Two.2 despite this single point.

I paid a LOT for that amp, damn near retail. So it wasn't like I got a super deal, I still could have slowed my roll and chosen something else.

There are alternatives to what you offer. Sometimes I think you are too emotional to run the forum. You take potshots at people. I've never seen anyone else do that. Again, you have an awesome product, and I am very excited to be able to run it. Very excited. You have no reason to fear discussing other products since yours is so good.

I will give your product a thorough and honest (and probably ecstatic, I'm 99.9% sure of this) review.

I may indeed end up biamping a pair of them eventually. I will likely buy that one, new.

oskar · « **Reply #12 on:** 8 May 2011, 05:12 pm »

I have not read anything Seth has written on this forum that I would construe as a potshot. At least not how I interpret that word. Enjoy your Virtue amp and know that it is the result of a total dedication and commitment to bring real value and great sound to all.

tabrink · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 May 2011, 03:45 am »

Seth is very passionate about his wares. I am passionate about his wares also.
And.. if I had to get "shot in the pot" I would want him to do it as I surely would have deserved it.
I wholeheartedly agree with you you and and know you will be delighted with your new amp. I have not a single complaint on any of my Virtue products and have only received good will and great service by his team. So the initial money is way lees important than the long term satisfaction of a well built product. The great deal is the great product.
I actually sense more emotion and pot shotty in your posts than anything bro Seth has put out but heck we all have good and bad days and here that stuff just does not matter. You are now one of us and I accept you good days or bad. Provide good feedback to Sethro and he will just make us better stuff.
So relax, don't stress and have some fun with your new stuff.
Welcome to Seth's circle and enjoy the Virtue world.

Rclark · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 May 2011, 04:13 am »

It should arrive tommorrow and I am truly very excited. I have complete confidence in my decision, but too bad I won't be able to fire it up for a week or two.

Next step is building the N3 and then building out my subwoofers, building my room treatments. I have a lot of work ahead of me.

Rclark · « **Reply #15 on:** 10 May 2011, 03:04 am »

It showed. It's tiny, far smaller than even pictures show. I've got it high passed at 80hz running my mm speakers without sub directly and I am laughing my ass off. This is gonna be great.

Edit: I have the high pass disabled now, but I have the volume pot bypassed and my XDA-1 is straight into it. I have my ERC-2 going into the little "sub" and the Two.2 is powering my speakers directly. It's pretty incredible, I can't lie. The mm satellites are getting the best power they've ever had and the MM sub is no longer burdened by satellites.

And this is with the stock power supply. The "use to burn in and as a backup" power supplu.

I can't imagine what my N3's with two sealed Brahma 15's will be like.

brother love · « **Reply #16 on:** 10 May 2011, 04:57 pm »

Congrats on your Two.2 acquisition. The One.2/ Two.2 may be small in stature (downright cute in fact), but man do they have serious “kick ass & take names” attitude (esp. that bottom end) but w/ a smooth tubelike sound! Seth makes fabulous amps/ CD players w/ major “bang for the buck” that are very attractive & stylish to boot.

Be sure to allow some burn-in/ run time before casting final impressions, ‘cause your Two.2 will certainly get better w/ time (& probably sound a bit worse as you initially break-in).

Since you have the N3S w/ dual subs & are talking about acoustical treatments, I strongly recommend that you invest in a Rat Shack digital SPL meter, download 10 Hz- 300 Hz tones from RealTraps website & run sweeps to your room. I owned GR Research N2x’s w/ One.2 30v PS & battery kit & a 12” Rythmik servo sub. Based on my frequency sweeps, best performance was running the N2x’s/ One. 2 full range & blending the servo sub xover to 45- 50 Hz. I measured 89 db level & the One. 2 volume knob was maybe at 11 o’clock or so & had room to spare (my room is 11’ x 18’ x 8’ w/ lots of openings).

I’ve since upgraded to GR Research N3 transmission lines w/ Virtue Audio Sensation M-451 w/ Sonicap capacitors & Dodd tube buffer w/ battery kit, & Virtue Audio M1 CD player. I loved the N3/ Sensation combo so much at full range, I ended up selling the servo sub to help pay for some of my upgrades. The Sensation purrs at any volume level I subject it to (within reason of course). I still own my One.2 for a planned 2nd system.

Keep us posted on your new best friends- Virtue Audio & GR Research. Hell, it took me 30 yrs. to get here & you are just getting started & reached the same pinnacle way early in the process. You did your homework & it is paying off.

Rclark · « **Reply #17 on:** 10 May 2011, 06:17 pm »

That's all great advice right there, you should pm me with your email so I can hit you up in a few weeks for further direct advice when this battle station is "fully operational".

And is there any software I should be investing in right away?

... I had my amp on all night playing albums I don't often listen to, jazz, Miles Davis and Coltrane, it sounds like the music is free to run now, and there is much more precision and the top end actually exists now (these are Altec Lansing MX-5021 multimedia speakers, and I have the satellites now just plugged into the virtue directly, instead of into the amp on the back of the Altec sub). I can hear hints of a 3D soundstage, and there is most definitely a seperation of instruments I didn't have before. It's pretty neat. Oh, and it got loud before, but now it gets L.O.U.D.

I estimate there are about 12 hours on the amp now since I've started runing it. It has the Auricaps inside.

It will be another great leap when my N3's are done, and probably yet another great leap when I get the room treated.

I expect further improvement with the battery kit as well... Or should I go 30V high quality PS? Or both?

There is a mild hum coming from the speakers when no music is playing. I'm hoping it's just the mm speakers and not the amp.

eclein · « **Reply #18 on:** 10 May 2011, 06:57 pm »

Hey welome!!- The amps are dead quiet, break out the 30/130 and run that in too, hook it up like your dreaming about and sit back and enjoy, no need to plan run in--order pizza, change CD, order chinese, change CD, order cheesesteak, change CD, sleep a couple hours, Change CD, continue.....

Thats all the direction you need here my friend...plug it all in and crank it up, do have any type of pre-amp around?? I turned my TWO.2 30/130 w/Auri's into an amp only with the jumpers and the 30/130 and making it an amp only were the best things I did. There are a few Piano M1 CD players I'm seeing used--I don't know why as they are out of stock for awhile and I think Seth may be close to exhausting his remaining inventory, a Virtue amp and Piano and like PBJ.........enjoy

Ed

brother love · « **Reply #19 on:** 10 May 2011, 07:03 pm »

RealTraps is an excellent source for info/ articles re: room treatments, speaker placement, listening position, room nodes, etc..

This link is for the "old school" frequency sweep method (SPL meter, listening to individual tones, recording results & experimenting w/ speaker placement/ treatments, then re-test):

http://www.realtraps.com/test-cd.htm

It really helps w/ understanding your room's net effect to the "sound" you hear or don't hear (peaks, nulls, boominess, etc.).

It also references more detailed software options, but I'm personally not there yet.

It takes a lot of research & effort to learn, but it will help optimize your new equipment to full advantage.