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Von Schweikert VR4/Amp combos that work?

I'm interested to hear from VR4 Gen III or VR4 SE owners who are satisfied with their present amplifiers and why. I am using a Bryston 14B SST with a First Sound Presence Deluxe II preamp, and EMC 1-UP CDP. While the system sounds very good, I feel the sweet spot is small. This small sweet spot is contary to what I have read regarding the VR4 SE's and I'd like to know if you other Von Schweikert speaker owners have amps in your systems that give you a larger sweet spot. I spent considerable time setting and positioning the speakers until I found the location that afforded the best soundstaging and sweet spot without definite "Left/Right" channel distinction and I'm wondering what might be done differently. Thanks in advance for your input.
tvad
10 responses Add your response
sbank's avatar
sbank
2,038 posts
 
I used vk-60 with VR4.5s successfully for about a year. Saw it demoed this way by a dealer, and bought it eventually. The high current design of the BAT made the 60 watts seem like plenty more. Nice match.

Spencer
klh007
313 posts
 
I've used a Bryston 4BST w/great results,big expansive soundstage w/tight impactive bass.
bigshutterbug
332 posts
 
I agree fully with the comments of Rcprince on these speakers... I am VERY happy with my VR4HSE's, which I have had for quite a few months now. I spent many an evening for the first 3 weeks finding JUST the right position for them in my room. An exhausting experience, but well worth the effort! Also, try replacing the stock spikes with a set of the smaller 1.5 AP-C threaded brass cones from Star Sound.
Thye make a noticeable improvement in midrange dynamics and bass detail.
These speakers mate extremely well with most high quality amps I have tried, tube or solid state. The Spectron Musician II was my favorite solid state amp I have tried, but I prefer my new VAC Phi amp on them for my personal tastes...Enjoy!
tvad OP
9,467 posts
 
Rcprince, they are firing straight ahead. I'm new to the high-end speaker world - previously owned Aerial 7B's - but I find the imaging to be very accurate with the VR4's. Certainly on par with the Aerials.
rcprince
2,830 posts
 
Tvad, that's probably a good observation. The Von Schweikerts are wide-dispersion speakers, they should be quite spacious-sounding with a large sweet spot, although perhaps not as pin-point in the imaging as some other types of speakers. Do you have them firing straight ahead instead of toed in? I think they work better that way.
tvad OP
9,467 posts
 
Very interesting. It would seem the VR4's work well with a wide variety of amps, which makes me think it's the speaker set-up rather than the Bryston amplifier that's the cause of the small sweet spot.
rcprince
2,830 posts
 
The late Valerie Kurlycheck (aka Anna Logg) used a BAT VK 75SE with her VR4 Gen IIs; the sound was outstanding. She also had an older BEL 1001 that sounded good with them as well, but the BAT was something special.
sedona
144 posts
 
I had the Vr4 Gen III with a Bel Canto 200.2 and it sounded fabulous.
jtinn
1,123 posts
 
I have heard them with Ayre, Sim, TacT and Spectron and they were all quite good. Although it appears as your amplifier is the weak link in your system, I am a bit surprised as to your comments regarding the "sweet spot".

If you care to email me your phone number, I would be happy to walk you through my version of how the speakers should be setup and placed.
driver's avatar
driver
746 posts
 
I have the GenIII's & at first had an Ayre V-3, then upgraded to an Ayre V-5x, with a combined time of 2 1/2 years so far.

I just heard the VR4jr's at the CES hooked to a Spectron amp, which is what Albert uses to voice his spkrs. It was an excellent combination.

Like anything, trust your ears.
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