A few weeks ago I started down a path to replace my Aerial 10T speakers with Von Schweikert VR-35 speakers. Unlike most of my other 'nervosa' buys, this had little to do with any sonic dislike of my 10Ts. They have been part of my audio rig since 1996 - far longer than anything else I've owned. Over the course of those 16 years, I haven't heard any other loudspeakers that I felt could substantially improve on the 10Ts for a reasonable pricetag in my listening space. (well, yeah, I had listened to a few high-enders like the Aerial 20Ts, but that hardly qualifies as 'reasonable' to my wallet
But, life, the universe and everything does have a way of changing us. The 10T speakers had, of late, outgrown their welcome in my living room. They were never the prettiest speakers, but having them placed well out into the room with two little grandkids running around and having a 'concerned' spouse meant it was time to consider alternatives.
About my listening room - it doubles as our living room (i.e. minimal room treatment). The room is long (24') and narrow (12'). I learned awhile back that things sounded best in this room with speakers on the long wall stradling a fireplace hearth with sweetspot across the room in a relatively near-field listening triangle of approximately 9' sides. To find speakers that would work equally well but without dominating the room (or taking a sonic step back) was going to be a challenge.
Along comes Shane (HomeTheaterDoc) and the Von Schweikert VR-35 speakers. As if Albert Von Schweikert knew of my plight, these are designed to be placed close to the wall. We're talking inches from the wall where the 10Ts (and most full-range speakers) need feet. I'd read some very good things about them and When Shane mentioned he had them available, I jumped.
Initial impressions... (OK, we're not supposed to critically listen to new *anything* until broken in and Albert claims these puppies need 500 hours!) I couldn't resist. The soundstage was BIG. Taller & wider than what my 10Ts would project. The mids were quite engaging and more pronounced than the 10Ts but, like any new speaker, these were going to take some time to loosen up and shed a bit of glare. Compared to the 10Ts, bass was a bit fat and transient attack a bit sloppy. I can't deny that my initial reaction was somewhat less than I was hoping. The 10Ts are a tough act to follow. But break-in being what it is, I just needed more time (for both the speakers and my ears which had clearly spent many years becoming accustomed to the sound of the 10Ts).
Skip ahead a few more weeks, a lot more breakin hours and some futzing with speaker placement... The soundstage is now truly engaging, immersive and immense! The speakers just disappear leaving a glorious musical presence. Voices and instruments float in a 3D space and remain so even when sitting outside the 'sweetspot'. Mids and top-end have opened up & lost any last semblance of glare. Unlike many high-end speakers, the VR-35s cannot be considered highly detailed by any measure. Images in the soundstage, while well defined and placed, are not of the pin-point location variety. But there is a wonderful tonal balance top to bottom with no apparent discontinuity between drivers. Last but far from least is the bass. How low can you go! The bass is deep and far better defined than it was initially. In fact, I'd have to say that the bass is more dominant than the 10Ts (which says a lot!) albeit perhaps not quite as tight and fast... yet... but that has been changing a lot during break-in and I suspect more may come.
Turn out the lights late at night, insert your favorite music and the performance just fills the room totally carrying me away. From my perspective these are a music-lovers' dream speakers. When critical listening is called for, it's all there, but I find myself just engaging in the musical performance far more often than not. But to be clear, I would not say they romanticize the music. A bad recording still sucks and they easily convey upstream electronics. On a great recording, however, these VR-35s can just flat out sing!
At this point, they probably have 300+ hours on them total. If Albert's 500+ breakin hours is more fact than hype, there may be more in store. As much as I'm thoroughly enjoying them, I would like to hear the bass tighten up a bit, but then, a bit more futzing with placement may be all that is needed. Right now I've got them about 7" from the wall, and pulling them out a bit further into the room (when my wife ain't watching
may just do the trick.
This past week I sold my 10Ts, but before I packed them up for good, I had the opportunity to listen to them again for a few more hours as the would-be new owner had a chance to check them out. After plugging the 10Ts back in, it did indeed feel like coming home. I was struck by just how much my ears had become accustomed to the 10Ts and, for a short while, considered keeping them. But after the new owner left (offer made and accepted), I sat and listened to the VR-35s again. It wasn't until then that I realized just how much I thoroughly enjoy these new speakers. Goodbye 10Ts and thank you for some awesome years of tunes! You won't be forgotten, but then, perhaps not highly missed either given just how awesome the VR-35s are sounding!
