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VSA announces VR-11 XTC |
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JVC and MTV Choose Von Schweikert Speakers |
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New VR-4jr speaker model to debut at CES |
Von Schweikert Audio Introduces breakthrough technology: VR-11 XTC.
San Marcos, California
Von Schweikert Audio is proud to announce that a new breakthrough in speaker design, the VR-11 XTC, will be shown at the largest CES venue in Las Vegas, the Chateaux Ballroom at the San Remo Hotel, (T.H.E. Show), January 8-11, 2004.
In the design stage for 4 years, the VR-11 XTC model ($100,000 to $165,000) will define the state-of-the-art for many years to come. Featuring on-board Active Room Correction and a bandwidth of 10 Hz to 100,000 Hz, the VR-11 can produce a three-dimensional sound stage undistinguishable from live music. To demonstrate this feat, a live musical group, The Misty River Band, will be playing through the system Thursday through Sunday, Jan 8-11, at the Chateaux Ballroom, San Remo Hotel, site of THE Show, daily from 5:00 to 6:00pm.
In the November 2003 issue of The Absolute Sound magazine, the all-acoustic Misty River (www.mistyriverband.com) was given kudos for great sound and performance, prompting Albert Von Schweikert to hire them for the upcoming VR-11 XTC demo.
As the VR-11 XTC uses all-new technology to develop a realistic sound-field, using a live band as the source was a "natural," according to Kevin Malmgren, VP Engineering, designer of the VR-11 enclosure system.
The 7.5 ft tall tower utilizes 4-15" subwoofers, 8-9" midbass, 4-7" midrange, 4-1.5" Dual Ring Radiators, and 4-5" ribbon super-tweeters. Output level is 137 dB at only 0,7% distortion, enabling a dynamic range approaching a live orchestra. Dr. Royce Joyner, patron of Serial #001, is a regular concert-goer and insisted on purchasing "the best speaker in the world, cost-no-object."
To realize Dr. Joyner's dream, Albert Von Schweikert and the unique VSA design team lead by Kevin Malmgren, tested every available drive unit in the world to determine the final system parameters. The lucky purchaser can choose between passive analog crossovers or active digital crossovers, permitting phase coherent Time Alignment and "perfect" impulse and step response. Although the VR-11 XTC has enough bass power to shake an entire house, an active on-board Room Correction Unit designed by Rives Audio will ensure total accuracy in any environment. To enable the listener to choose his own frequency balance in the low to high treble ranges, military-spec mercury switches controlling a metal film resistor ladder is provided. Frequency response between 2 kHz and 100,000 kHz can be adjusted over a +/- 3dB range with the zero-distortion level controls.
The VR-11 XTC is 7.5 feet tall and weighs 900 lbs per side, but has a slender appearance. Many exotic wood finishes are standard, as is the built-in subwoofer amplification and electronic crossover.
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JVC of America chooses VR speakers for Video Room.
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Hollywood, California
JVC Video has designed the world's best movie projection and HD playback equipment, which was chosen by Fox Film and famous movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of The Caribbean, Top Gun, Flash Dance, Beverly Hills Cop, etc). To demonstrate their groundbreaking D-ILA light-valve projectors and HD playback decks, JVC has chosen Von Schweikert Audio speaker systems. Three JVC screening rooms in Hollywood use Von Schweikert VR-2 main speakers, LCR-15 center channels, VR-1 rears, and VR-S/1 Powered Mini-subs. We are proud to be associated with JVC and their technology!
MTV has chosen Von Schweikert VR-1 Studio Monitors for broadcast monitoring of their highly popular music television program. In addition, MTV has purchased a complete VR theater package for their Green Room.
Craig Jenest, evidently an audiophile, decided to replace their "name brand" monitors with "something better." After a search of the market, Mr. Jenest requested several speaker models for evaluation, and we are proud that MTV chose our VR-1 over many exceptional competitors! In addition, after several major stars such as Madonna and Bruce Springsteen asked about "those cute little VR speakers," MTV decided to install a full-blown 7-channel video system into the famous Green Room, where the stars wait for their turn in front of the cameras. Mr. Jenest, MTV's Line Producer, requested the Von Schweikert VR-2 for the front mains, and five LCR-15's for center, side and rear surrounds, along with twin VR-S/1 Powered Mini-subs.
After an audition at MTV, LA Digital Post, a film production company, purchased several pairs of VR-1's for their own studio, where they record film sound tracks. Not to be left out, Mercury Records also chose VR-1's for their studio use last summer. In the near future, you may be listening to recordings engineered with VR speakers -- this is exciting to us, as accurate speakers enable the recording engineers to use less EQ and compression to "sweeten" the mix.
We continue to hear great praise from recording engineers all over the country, such as Jim Merod of Blueport Records. Jim just purchased a pair of our LCR-15 three-way center speakers and a VR-S/1 Powered Mini-sub for his recording studio, where he replaced Apogee ribbon speakers. According to Jim, "the LCR-15 is so darn accurate that no other small monitor comes close." As he is a writer and reviewer as well as a recording engineer, Jim has chosen to review the LCR-15 and VR-S/1 for a new pro webzine called On Sound and Music (www.onsoundandmusic.com). The review is slated to appear in the January issue, and we invite all audiophiles with an interest in the recording arts to visit this great new site!
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New VR-4jr Model to Debut at CES.
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VSA has been promising a smaller version of the highly popular VR-4 speaker system, and we're excited to announce its debut at CES.
Over the past decade, many listeners have wished to own the VR-4 due to its realism, but the large size and "plain Jane" cosmetics put them off. Due to the huge demand for a "mid sized" package that would include the same awesome sound quality but with upgraded looks, the VR-4jr was born.
By the way, don't think that the moniker "jr" means "junior" in any way, it actually means "just right!" Yes, just right for your smaller room, just right for your wallet, and just
right for your ears!
(Thanks to Ralph Witte
for this great line!)
The new model, shown at the right in our Light Maple finish, is a two-piece stacking system, similar in design concept to its larger brother, but with 7" woofers instead of the 9" woofers of the larger model. No, the smaller woofers won't hit 16 Hz organ pedals like the larger model, but you can shake your house with 23 Hz bass drum whacks! More importantly, the bass accuracy is incredible, with detail so transparent that listeners have sworn they could hear "the fingerprints of the upright string bass player as he plucked the catgut strings."
As the photo shows, the midrange/treble unit is slanted backwards for Time Alignment, and to ensure sharp image focus, the baffle edges are highly chamfered to eliminate "edge diffraction." For spectacular "concert-hall" depth and image size, the jr model utilizes our famous Ambience Retrieval System with a rear-firing mid/tweeter driven by our exclusive ambience extraction circuit. In addition, all drivers were custom-built to our exacting specifications and are exceptional sounding!
Specifications
System Type:
Dynamic-driver four-way system using a triple-chambered transmission line and two-piece stacking enclosure system to eliminate resonance and ensure image focus.
Woofer Tuning:
The triple-chambered transmission line is a hybrid design composed of three separate chambers coupled to the room by a tuned vent at 25 Hz. The chamber filling is acoustic foam and Dacron. The 3"-wide damped vent tube extends bass response without the "one note bass" problem found in other ported systems. Dynamic range is incredible due to the large amount of low frequency air movement.
Cabinet and Bracing:
A one-inch thick front baffle provides exceptional vibration control and image solidity, while one-inch MDF fiberboard interlocking braces provide exceptional rigidity and freedom from boxy colorations. The internal damping consists of thick acoustic felt lining and Dacron stuffing to eliminate cavity resonances. Large carpet spikes are provided.
Size:
Midrange/Tweeter (12.5"h x 8"w x 20"d). Woofer (25.25"h x 8"w x 20"d). System (38.5"h x 8"w x 20"d).
Weight:
Woofer module: 52 lbs. M/T module: 26 lbs. System: 78 lbs. each (up to 128 lbs. each with lead shot).
Driver Complement:
2-7" mica-cellulose poly-laminate woofers, 1-7" carbon mica-cellulose poly-laminate midrange driver, 1-1" poly-tri-laminate silk-dome tweeter, 1-1" rear firing ambience mid/tweeter with fabric dome and transmission-line loading. All drivers use our proprietary Advanced Motor System with low distortion design.
Crossover:
Acoustic fourth order, at 200 Hz and 2.2 kHz, optimized for flat off-axis response and phase consistency over a wide Global Axis. Very high quality parts are used, including film-foil capacitors and custom air-core inductors that can handle up to 1500 watts before saturation, with computer-optimized internal wire.
Binding Posts:
Double sets of five-way rhodium posts enabling bi-wiring. Single wire can be used with optional Data Link connector.
Ambience Driver:
1" treated fabric dome with Wave Guide and transmission-line rear wave loading. Ambience circuit uses Dimensional Control (effects level) to compensate for room acoustics and soundstage depth. Provides a Global Axis polar response pattern to simulate live musical reproduction.
Frequency Response:
23-20 kHz, +/- 2 dB, 20 Hz-25 kHz –6 dB, (+/- 1dB at midband).
Impedance:
6 ohms avg. (4 ohms 20 Hz-150 Hz; 8 ohms 150 Hz-20 kHz).
Recommended Power:
20 watts up to 300 watts music power.
Sensitivity:
89 dB @ 1w/1m using 2.83 v (91.5 dB in room with boundary reinforcement).
Warranty:
Ten years Parts and Labor, excluding burned voice coils due to amp clipping. Transferable to second owner.
Finishes:
Available in four book-matched wood veneer finishes including African Hazelwood, Dark Red Cherry, Light Maple, and Black Ash. A satin-gloss polyester resin clear-coat protects the fine wood surfaces.
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