Von Schweikert VR-4 Gen.III speakers with 2012 Upgrade

[tmazz]

Buy enough beer scotch and we can fix anything.   

There...that's much better. 

--Jerome

Tomato, tomoto.......... 

[StereoNut]

Thanks for all the offers to help with the stereo set-up at my house.  I am overwhelmed by your desire to drink and wreck the place - uhmnnn, I mean help!  Yeah, that's it help!!!  

Aside from my never ending wall mount saga, I actually got to listen to my "new" speakers a little bit last night.  I essentially just put my amp, pre & CDP in my rack and hooked the speakers up for a test run.  I just wanted to know that they "traveled well" and played properly for my own peace of mind (considering they shipped completely cross the country back to me from California) to make sure that nothing was damaged in transit.  

Obviously, the biggest thing was I was dying to hear them!

It's way too early to really give a "full review", but initially they sound pretty damned good.  Interestingly enough, there's nothing that really "jumps up at you" upon first listen.  They definitely sound more coherent than my "old" speakers.  I guess to sum up right now... they have a more natural presentation overall, with less Hi-fi "pyrotechnics" going on.

Of course, I haven't worked out finding the proper position within the room yet (I just "plunked" them down in the same general spot as before) nor have I bothered to put all of the footers, etc... under all of my electronics like before - so this initial listen isn't a true "apples to apples" comparison.  

I'm sure that not having my electronics set up and playing over the last two+ weeks hasn't helped things any right now either.  Von Schweikert Audio says they gave them some break-in time there before shipping them back to me, but they tell me that they need a full 500 hours on them to really show their stuff.  Hopefully, we'll see (hear) as things progress.  

Time will tell.

T.B.C.

[TomM]

Hey Bill,
      Looks like your right on course.Keep us posted.




 TomM 

[StereoNut]

Hey Bill,
      Looks like your right on course.Keep us posted.

 TomM 

Thanx, Tom! 

[rollo]

  Oh yes on course just 40 over par.  We love ya Big guy. Now how long to we have to wait for the "speaker placement thread" ? 


charles

[StereoNut]

  Oh yes on course just 40 over par.  We love ya Big guy. Now how long to we have to wait for the "speaker placement thread" ? 

charles

What's +/- 40 between friends!   

I can assure you that speaker placement will be so annoying to dial in that by the time I have things "set", the last thing I'll want to do is document and explain the ordeal!!!

Be careful...before I recruit you for help with the speaker placement and make you suffer along with me! 

[BobM]

Speaker placement party!  Wooo Hoooo.

[steve]

Congradulations Bill. I have auditioned a number of Albert's speakers, including model 4 upgraded to 5s, and they do sound very nice. Now for the long wait to fully breakin.   

Cheers.

[StereoNut]

Congradulations Bill. I have auditioned a number of Albert's speakers, including model 4 upgraded to 5s, and they do sound very nice. Now for the long wait to fully breakin.   

Cheers.

Thanks!  Albert says they need 500 hours on them!!! 

[mdconnelly]

I only recently got to 500 hours on my VR-35s.  I haven't a clue why VSA speakers need 500 hours but I'd have to say that was pretty true for mine.   I didn't track the hours closely but I'd say it wasn't until 3+ months of routine play (2-10 hrs/day) that they really started to strut their stuff.

Now, truth be told, that may just be how long it takes my ears to break into the sound of new speakers.     Whatever, I'm extremely pleased with my VR-35s now despite one or two wtf moments along the way. 

[Emil]

Thanks!  Albert says they need 500 hours on them!!!   

and why is that? Never heard that for other speakers. I'm sure its true or Albert would never say it.

So, if you're lucky enough to listen for 2 hours a day you wont hear there full potential for 250 days.
I cant wait that long

Wonder if other speaker manufacturers would ever admit to that for fear of losing sales

[StereoNut]

Mike: I'm glad to hear (pardon the pun) that your experience matches up to what V.S.A. is telling me to expect.  I guess I have a lot more to look forward to!?!

Emil: Like Tom Petty said "...the waiting is the hardest part!"

I know a lot of people don't believe in "break-in" and I am NOT trying to twist this thread into a debate over that - so please, lets not!  FWIW, I personally think that speaker "break-in" is more credible than any other A/V component because there's physical movement of the drivers involved. Feel free to disagree, just not here.  

With that being said, I asked V.S.A. from the very beginning to give my speakers a good break-in before sending them back, even if it meant I had to wait an extra week or so. When they packed them up, the "tech" that worked on my speakers told me they had put about 150 hours on them before they were ready to ship.  I guess that's about right because other than the grill cloth "socks" being put on at the very end (they were waiting for the material) the speakers were actually fully re-built close to 2 weeks prior to shipping - although, I can't say how they did it. (10 weekdays x 15 hours per day... 6 weekdays x 24 hours per day... who knows???)  Regardless, I still have another 350 hours to go!

Hopefully, time will tell!

[tmazz]

"But honey, I have to listen to them 5 hours every night. I need to get them through the break-in period before the 90 day warranty expires just in case something is wrong." 

"You know I would much rather take you to the mall tonight to shop for new shoes, but i have no choice, this simply has to be done."   

[StereoNut]

"But honey, I have to listen to them 5 hours every night. I need to get them through the break-in period before the 90 day warranty expires just in case something is wrong." 

"You know I would much rather take you to the mall tonight to shop for new shoes, but i have no choice, this simply has to be done."   

Smooooooth, Tom.  Real smooth!  I like it! 

[Emil]

I know a lot of people don't believe in "break-in" and I am NOT trying to twist this thread into a debate over that - so please, lets not!  FWIW, I personally think that speaker "break-in" is more credible than any other A/V component because there's physical movement of the drivers involved. Feel free to disagree, just not here.

I never said i didnt believe in break in.. Just wondering why so long that's all? Honest question.

I'll go to my room now