von schweikerts -- anyone heard them?
Julian -- Thu, 04/19/2007 - 20:43
Does anyone here have experience with the various floorstanding VSA models currently available, particularly the 5SE? I note that VSA has chosen one dealer to serve as their internet sales point and they sell at reasonable discount off MSRP - regardless, I wonder how the various models seem to stack up against speakers from Wilson etc on which they seem to base their design. I once heard the original VR3's with my own gear (circa 1998) and was not terribly impressed but the new two-box design seems to have received positive responses in some quarters. There are few reviews in reliable magazines. All comments welcome.
(I just changed the header on this to ask if anyone has heard them as there have been lots of readers but no answers to my question of how good they were)
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I have heard the 4jr's and thought they were a very good pair of speakers for the price.
Fast and tight bass. IN fact the speed and depth of the bass is a standout.
Detailed, dry to neutral mids.
Detailed, sparkling highs and the prescence control does actually work.
Build quality was good.
ShengYa S10 CDP, SA-T3 Tube Pre Amp.SP- T300 and SP-333 Hybrid Power Amps, XINDAK FS-3 Loudspeaker cables, FA-Gold Interconnects, PC-03 Power Cables. Aurum Cantus Music Goddess Speakers, Bada LB-5500 Power Plant
Thanks Colin -- glad to know someone has actually heard the VSA line and can report a positive experience. Anyone else?
I have a pair of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab OML-2's (very similar to the VSA VR-2). And they may be as close as I ever get to owning a pair of Von Schweikerts, BUT...I would love to have a pair of VR-4SR's. BTW, I do love my MoFi's. I realize that doesn't help you any, but I couldn't resist posting as I have been on a bit of a VSA lust-fest lately.
I have heard several systems by Von Schweikert including the 4jr, the 4SR, and the now discontinued (much to my dismay) DB99's.
Each demo was wonderful for the given price range. The day I demo'd the 4jr (and I really didn't want to that day) I was listening to a newly arrived electrostatic speaker system. When I switched from the stat's to the 4jr's, I knew that I'd be disappointed with the apparent sluggishness of the cone speaker after listening to the stat, but such was not the case. I was quite pleasantly surprised (stunned even) that the 4jr's were every bit the equal of the stat in clarity and speed and were their betters in the low end. It was no match really.
As for the DB99, I don't really want to hog up all the space but I have a great story to tell about those speakers and Mile Davis's Kind of Blue CD. But that's another story for another day. In short however, this speaker amazed me. With Art Audio single ended Clarissa amps, this was maybe the most realistic sound I have ever heard from a speaker. Great low end with the "bass booster" amps and as pure a midrange as I have ever hoped to hear. When I heard they were discontinued, I was floored. You would think that just the Japanese single-ended amp market alone could have supported this jewel.
The 4SR's were way better than their price. Great speakers. Huge floating soundstage. Very natural timbers. Very much like live music.
But the thing that always bothered me about Von Schweikert speakers is that the company admits that it's link between the bass cabinet and the midrange/tweeter cabinet is not the best option. That only leaves you with bi-wiring or bi-amping the system. Given the price of cable and/or amps, that is not a thrilling option.
Also, it seems that the company has recently undercut the pricing of it's dealer base (and lost a lot of it's dealer base in the process) preferring to go to online sales or something. What does that tell me, the consumer? Go to the dealer, listen to them, then call us and we'll hamstring the dealer who worked so hard for us by offering better pricing. Not nice.
Another thing about the Von Schweikert speakers is that their cabinetry is not in the same league as say, a Wilson or Revel or...well, you know the usual suspects. That's sad, because from what I heard, they were every bit the equal - if not better - than all those others in sound quality. However, this was at least 2 years ago. Don't know the state of the affairs today because I have no dealer to go to hear them anymore.
T_Bop wrote:Also, it seems that the company has recently undercut the pricing of it's dealer base (and lost a lot of it's dealer base in the process) preferring to go to online sales or something. What does that tell me, the consumer? Go to the dealer, listen to them, then call us and we'll hamstring the dealer who worked so hard for us by offering better pricing. Not nice.
I know a dealer who helped put Von Schweikert on the map here in South Florida who was very disappointed by this move. Is this a sign of just how deep in the toilet high end audio is?