Spatial Computer Velocity Bridge VB1

Cdente, the VB1s should be delivered tomorrow. If so, I'll road test em' and report back.

Just got the VB1s today and plugged them in. I noticed an immediate change in the acoustic presentation. Not sure yet if the presentation is better -- just different. At first, I thought the VB1s burned a fog away and I started to really hear the music.

But after re-listening to some familiar CDs, for some reason, it seems as though the mid and low bass was rolled-off, and the midrange was a tad exaggerated. Kinda like when I tried driving my speakers off the amp's 16 ohm output taps a while back.

I am honestly not sure if my ears are simply used to listening to sonic swill. So to be fair to all, I'll do some more listening and will try and have the devices checked out.

I don't know what's inside the little black boxes, but it's passive. I suspect that whatever it is, it must have some combo of capacitive and/or inductive properties.

Be back ....

Cdente, I'll check out the Audiocircle thread. Just to be clear, I'm not saying one way or the other whether the VB1 is helping. All I'm saying is that my rig sounds different. For all I know, it may be better. I'll be back.

Cdente, I really tried them. I find the sound harsh. I even tried the VB1s with the amp's 4 ohm taps which should have offset some of the brightness I reported above. Still harsh, even hurt my ears a little.

If I didn't know better, I thought I heard some type of sibilance or distortion coming off the right channel. But that's just me. I checked the amp's tubes and all is ok.

I sent an e mail to ARC to get the official reaction, which may be just be, "no opinion at all."

If there are any other ARC tube amp owners out there who have tried the VB1s, I'd sure like to read their comments.

And I will check Audiocircle as you suggest.

Thanks for the tip. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Cdente, it could be a compatibility issue with my amp, which is a tube amp that uses output transformers. I really tried it out using different configurations. No luck. ARC has no opinion other than to say as a general matter that the less artifacts in the signal path the better.

Cdent, no. I only have the one amp.

I called ARC and Kal was just a touch miffed to be distracted with my inquiry. Kal explained that there hundreds of tweaks like this that come down the pike. ARC simply doesn't have the resources to devote any time to these types of inquiries. I felt badly having bothered him. On reflection, I totally understand Kal's point.

As I said, maybe the sound did improve, but my ears are so used to listening to sonic swill that I am not appreciating the improvement. What can I say?? Back to the swill ... charge!!

Lolligager and Cdenet, I do not doubt what you say. In my case, the reasons I am underwhelmed are likely twofold: (1) I am used to listening to sonic swill and have come to even enjoy it; and/or (2) the VB1 may perform differently with solid state as compared to tube amps. Other than that, I don't have any other explanation. But I am glad that the VB1s worked out for you.

Lollogager, ... I am inclined to send them back. The sound was so harsh, and the bass so compromised, that its hard for me to believe it could possibly get that much better. Btw, it may even be an unexpected interaction with the crossovers too. Who knows??? Don't go by me. I like swill.

Lolligager, the word "swill" is defined as:

1. liquid or partly liquid food for animals, especially kitchen refuse given to swine; hogwash.
2. kitchen refuse in general; garbage.
3. any liquid mess, waste, or refuse; slop.
4. a deep draught of liquor.
5. contemptibly worthless utterance or writing; drivel.

In the self-deprecating context I used the word, it means that I like sonic slop. :-)