To all the VR owners out there, past and present, when or as you felt the desire to press on to another quest for speakerage, Exactly what did you press on and get?
Was it a big diff?
A little diff?
Glad you did it?
or wished you hadn't.
though I felt a need to ask other VSA owners these questions, anyone can chime in and perhaps we'll all get some other perspectives about loudspeaker changes.
thanks Tvad The 401 tubes interest me. I had misunderstood the write up ... thinking you had to predetermine the tube complement (s) up front... not that most any tubes could be used with it.
Before I made the move to VSA 4JR's I was set to buy the Maggies 1.6, which I still love and would not mine having. But the Vons seems to give me the sparkle of the Maggies plus a real bottom end too boot. Also had a chance to audition the Hyperion and for my ears the Vons came out on top as well. But hope is not to upgrade the speakers for quite some time. I would love to hear more folks thoughts on the Moscode amp. Especially those who power the VSA speakers. And what pre amp is being deployed with the amp.
"...burr on the leading edge perhaps"; "not the best for background..." were parts that stuck out to me. The MF amps I've heard didn't do much for me, so the comparison to an MF amp, well, I just wasn't keen on that bit. Newbee pointed to another aspect.
I guess for the hassle and fact it would have taken every dollar I had and those above pints I just passed. I did give much thought to it as the tube type options sure could make a diff, or so I thought. Money pushed it away from me mostly.
The fat lady hasn't sung just yet.
really, though as this is about moving on speakerage wise, obtaining one quite easy to drive by all accounts does open the 'amp door' pretty wide now. I'd be more nuts not to delve into that region, remaining solely back in the higher power area. Seems silly to do that. I'd have kept the VK500 were that the case.
About that auditioning thing? I pray a lot too. If it turns out not well, it won't be my first time being thrown out of the saddle.
Tvad, Perhaps the possible 'aggressive' issue arises out of Wes Philips' rave review in Stereophile in the section of the review "What is best in music is not to be found in the notes". He compares the Moscode with the MF amp which he sez has sweeter tone some times than the Moscode. The Moscode more accurate perhaps? Anyway he hears something and is trying to describe the difference. When I first read this I thought it might be reviewer speak code. I was glad to see that it was not an issue raised by anyone else, that I'm aware of anyway.
Tvad that $5K price tag played a little bigger part in my lossing interest in it. I forgot that bit as I've considered so many ways to go and amps and their prices... it's all jumbled up now. but what's happening now seems overall better.
the choice as I saw it was a hot to go amp, (70/70), and so-so speakers for at least a year or more. OR higher eff speakers with solid feedback at a good price, and an amp with great feedback and press with more the sonic pallet I'm looking to acquire.
As the first dealy died, the second deally began to breathe.
RE how do you audition stuff? A: I does what I can... usually not much beforehand however. I mean I do audition stuff as I am able to get a lift and more important, convince a friend to drive an hour or so and hang out, then drive me back. So not terribly much but some. Surely of what I've bought, only two pieces, (I don't count the HT stuff) was auditioned. The JRs and the Thor. the JRs are leaving tomorrow. The TA 1000 MK II is a keeper for sure.
But to answer that Q directly... "Miserably little, and nowhere near what I would were roaming the countryside less an obstacle"
Maybe I'm easy to please. lol. Maybe I've a guardian angel. Thus far things have worked out mighty well, all things considered... or I'm very lucky. ...and I keep getting told "we got enough writers." so that reviewing gig seems a foregone issue.
I am all ears to another plan. one I can afford and accomplish.
tvad, Listening to the thing would have been better. Always.
There are a couple other makers of amps out there with which you can make those arrangements, or at least I've been told personally by a few that could happen... Did you bother to try any other home demos, or just do the Moscode?
I mean if you can try another amp at home for the shipping expense, why pick just the Moscode? try 'em all and damn the press. OR do some homework, ask folks you trust with similar tastes, and go that way. In fact as I've said for some time now, I wanted to go lower powered with richer harmonics and more akin to the SET amps. I saw no refference to those prefs in the article. I think what I'm reffering to is in the conclusions area of the review.
In effect, I am doing an in home trial. Aren't we all? Always? A few other circumstances played a part as well, or the amp I'm about to do about a year trial on would have had a different name on it too.
Although true enough, the 'try before you buy' bit that becomes so often retorted around here is not what presents itself first very often. Other things rise up as advantageous and prevent following that tact. Of course I speak as one with limited funds. were I with deeper pockets, found with greater ease with in the area of transportation, and didn't mind unpacking & repacking and shipping issues. Yep. I'd be all over it.
I spent near three hours online at Fed Ex trying to arrange a shipment. the last hour of which was with technical assistance... and the technician couldn't do it either. So after 3 agents got into the mix... finally it was worked out.
For myself, I've enough headaches. shipping and receiving can and often do provide me more regularly. that's why my door is hinged, and not a turnstyle. They come in but they never leaves... well not for a while.
Duomike Impressive. that's the first account I've heard about Avantegard or horns themselves, being lesser susceptable to room acoustics. I'll try to remember that bit.
Oz I am astounded. What? No Sonata IIIs? I understand them to be far different than the IIs. Sure do want to hear how the SE do with your amp.
Tvad I really did think about that amp. I got the impression that it simply wasn't going to work to my preffs. I just saw it as a bit too agressive for me.
"I want to move towards as Tvad said, another aspect of dynamic designed loudspeakers... higher eff, with an easier imp for use with a broader range of amps"
This is what I might do too. I love my HSEs, but I think my 100 watt RM9 strains to drive them sometimes. I am taking delivery of a pair of Coincident Super Eclipse IIIs today and we will see how they stand up to the VR4s.
in 2000 I went from VR6 to Avantgarde DUO for a simple reason. I moved to a new appartment with a very large room with a lot of echo. I was never sure how long I'd stay in that place and didn't want to invest a lot in room treatment. Someone suggested to look at the Avantgarde horns which are less sensitive to bright sounding rooms. Meanwhile I have them for 7 years (now with Omega drivers)and will never go back to conventional speakers. regards Michael
Alain my sincere apologies for the gender misplacement if indeed that is applicable. 95% of what is posted online, I hear rather than see... I heard the pc say, Elaine. I apologize. I also wish I had the province to hear the Hyperions or had seen more press about them during my search. I believe the only Hyp unit I saw press on was quite old and a lesser model.
Personally, I want to move towards as Tvad said, another aspect of dynamic designed loudspeakers... higher eff, with an easier imp for use with a broader range of amps than the JRs afford me. Also is a prefference for standard biwireing use, and more a straight forward setup and implementation.
So for some time, I'm going to go with the Silverline brand and hopefully it will be a step in the right direction, surpassing the performance of the VR4 JRs. Time will tell.
Other thoughts about recent speaker upgrades and their effect are still more than welcome in adding to the info base herein.
Well, lets see, I've had JRs for a little over a year or so now. I started the thread. it asks what other vSA owners have moved on or up to... I should think perhaps I'm curious about upgrading. Huh? Maybe? If not then why point to VSA owners past to more present experience? I really did think it obvious online press and reviews weren't giving me the same level of info previous owners might.
Perhaps had I placed the words "In looking for sutable replacements for my JRs... I've been looking...". would have helped.
I was in no wise being derogutory as to Elaine's comments, but remarking as to her apparent fascination and happiness with her Hyperions, and her regard of same.
I really can't see how you could misread me there.
Better? Catch up some there pardner.
To aprise you more of my past experience (s), from recent memory only, I've had easily seven or eight pairs of speakers from six or seven speaker manufacturers over the past ten years. Half of which were in the 4K retail ranges. One of which is/was VSA made. I'll not add to those figures any which I simply auditioned outside my own home.
Consequently when I say the VR4 JR's are 'overachievers' I'm pretty sure I know where of I speak... so when another relates their next stop on the speaker trail was had without regret one... I say again... "Wow! That's some statement!"
I'm looking for input here friend, not asassinating people for their choices. What good would that gain anyone?
I think Alain wrote "never looked back", not "did not look back"...:)
Now, I am not sure what you meant by
I've been looking online, naturally, at Heperion, Proac, and tons of others, litterally. With no outlets for demo-ing, sensitivity and load were key for me. Along with some greater ease of operation, and hook ups
If you meant that you based yourself on on-line specs and reviews, how can you make such a bold statement that your speakers are "overachievers"....making such a statement without having personal experience in this price bracket (Hyperion, Gallo 3.1, Gershman RX20, etc.) is bringing more credibility to those who think that some brands - VSA being one - sell on reviews and hypes essentially.
"... and didn't look back" Wow. There's a statement.
To be sure, the JRs are overachievers. Mine have sounded their best ever just recently with some system changes. There's no getting around their res, detail, and coherency, despite twin cabs... and getting the type of bass they put out from such small drivers is fairly remarkable.
That said, and to substantiate my card carrying certifiable condition, I've been looking online, naturally, at Heperion, Proac, and tons of others, litterally. With no outlets for demo-ing, sensitivity and load were key for me. Along with some greater ease of operation, and hook ups.
The VSA that made sense on paper was the DB99 OR 100, the admission fee is beyond me for sure... but it seemed appropriate for use with ANY amp (s) regardless the power output. I didn't care much for having to vaccumm them too much either.
Looks like if/when I change speakers, Hyperion will be on my list to demo. They look very similar to the Verity's and if the sound is close,I could save a few bucks. I like the fact that lower powered tube amps can be used with them. Hopefully by the time I start looking, there will be a dealer in my area. This will be a while, I'm still very happy with my VR4jr's.
I sold my VR4Jr for a pair of Hyperion 938 and never looked back. Not that I did not like the VR4Jr but the 938 are out of this world. Upgrading while saving money, how often does this happen?! Alain
I can also see changing brands too, Tvad. Simply to gain some greater ease of use via standard configurations.
Hiend2 VR4 to VR8? yayyy you. Now that's a real step up, I would think. Figured why waste time, huh? Just get on up to the penthouse and dig the view. howwever at that price level, there is some serious competition elsewhere... so then
Why did you stick with VSA in getting the VR8'S? mONEY OR WAS IT SIMPLY THE SOUND?
I started with a pair of VR3's. I liked them but decided I wanted a little better (deeper) bass. I settled on VR4genIII's. I like them even better (alot). Since I was building a dual purpose room (stereo/HT), I decided to go with all VSR. I added a LCR15, kept the VR3s and put them in the rear (there's no speaker better for what they go for used IMO), and added a VSR Tower of Power. I'm very satisfied with this and don't have any ambitions to upgrade at the moment, but if I do it will be to another VSR Model most likely.
I have another dedicated room in which I have a comparable system and am running Totem Mani-2s there. They're a nice contrast to the VSR sound.
I havn't made the change yet either, but I just sold my vr4sr's and I think I will be upgrading to the vr5se's (which I hear are almost as good as the vr9's) or the Escalante freemonts
I haven't wanted to make a change yet, but I will mention a few speakers that I would definitely consider. Not in any order: B&W 803d B&W 802 Verity Audio Parsifal Talon Audio Firebird VSA VR4sr I like the question and look forward to seeing some other responses. Jeff
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