Soundscape Product Listing
Von Schweikert
"THE VIRTUE" VR-4 JR Mk II
Reference Grade Two-Piece Speakers
Retail Price: $5,695
Development of the Mark 2 Version of the VR-4JR Released August
7, 2006
By Albert Von Schweikert
Although
our VR-4JR speaker system has been awarded the highest accolades by seven international
magazines over its past four years in production (unchanged), development of
our latest model VR-5SE ($25,000/pr) resulted in numerous technical and engineering
advances that provided the opportunity for significant trickle-down enhancements
to our lower priced models.
These new refinements and advances in technology are now implemented in the newly released VR-4JR Mk2 as well as the new VR4SR also now in the Mark II stage. Over the past years, production, materials, fuel, shipping and assembly costs have all dramatically risen. In response to these conditions we have sought to offset higher costs by providing significant improvements in our products. So while these collective changes have resulted in a new MSRP (manufacturers suggested retail price) of only $5,695/pr. the new VR4JR MK II is a significant leap forward in performance, smoothness, articulation and transparency over its predecessor while still offering enormous value compared to any other speaker in its price class.
Improvements and changes in the VR4JR Mk II:
1.
Tighter bass with higher clarity, achieved with a new woofer featuring significantly
improved laminate material; the new coating is a ceramic damping material that
replaces the older Bextrene plastic laminate coating; the new coating adds additional
stiffness and damping very close to that of our aluminum and magnesium coned
woofers supplied with the VR-4SR and VR-5SE models.
2. Improved transparency and clarity in the lower midrange, achieved by new internal woofer-chamber damping materials. In addition, customers are now supplied with 20 pounds of factory-installed sand to dramatically reduce cabinet resonances in the vital lower midrange area.
3. Greater midrange transparency and clarity achieved by improved internal damping of the upper midrange module; this mod includes a high-tech combination of multiple new absorption materials to vastly improve the overall vocal clarity and transparency.
4. Higher power handling and reliability achieved by the addition of a new active circuit protection system against voice coil failure and/or burnout. This variable-state device monitors and holds constant the input voltage to the voice coil and is not a user-replaceable fuse or other part that can wear out or cause sonic degradation. In operation, the circuit is sonically "invisible" but will give owners added protection for their investment.
5. Improvements, changes and refinements in the crossover networks to provide more detail and dynamics especially in the mids and lower ranges. There are also a number of other production refinements made in this model.
UPGRADE COST:
Due to the complexity of these changes all modifications must be done at factory.
Upgrade cost from VR4JR to VR4JR MK II is $990.00 (shipping not included).
The VR-4jr is a two-piece stacking speaker system utilizing the world's finest cabinet design: a time-aligned, decoupled sat/sub for incredible tweeter, midrange, and woofer transparency, as well as unparalleled soundstage reproduction. Clarity is enhanced with custom-made Low-Distortion drivers with the best available Transparency Factor. The engineering target was to design a highly accurate, laboratory-grade system with the ability to be used as a professional reference monitor. Studios using VR-series include Sheffield Labs, Musical Fidelity Sound Labs, A&M Records (Herb Alpert), and Walt Disney Studios (Alan Menken, winner of 7 academy awards). Many recording engineers brought these speakers home, including Robert Harley, now editor of TAS, and Herb Alpert, creating an audiophile demand. A reference monitor must have wide bandwidth, low distortion/coloration, with convincing three dimensional depth and realistic sound staging. The VR-4jr is highly optimized for this use and is highly musical as well. Imaging and depth are state-of-the-art due to our proprietary Ambience Retrieval System and Global Axis Integration Network. "VR-4 " indicates a Virtual Reality design emphasizing four dimensions of sound reproduction:
Amplitude: A speaker system used for reference monitoring
must meet a +/- 1dB tolerance level.
Phase: Consistent phase between drive units and slow rotation is desired;
no out-of-phase drivers;
Time: The drive units must be time coherent in the ear's sensitive 3ms
range.
Space: The speaker design must replicate a palpable three-dimensional
sound stage with depth.
SPECS:
- 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.
FINISHES
|
|
 Dark Cherry |
 Blonde Maple |
 Black |
Add
a pair of VR-2's & LCR 15 for a home theater system.
(download our electronic brochure: click here)
Von Schweikert Audio
930 Armorlite Dr.
San Marcos, California 92069
Phone: (760) 410-1650 Fax: (760) 410-1655
All Prices are effective January 1, 2006
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Product Name |
Model |
Link to Info |
Retail Price
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|---|---|---|---|
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VR-1 Stands only
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VR-1 Stands only - $250
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-
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$250
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Our Business Hours are:
Monday - Friday 11am to 7pm Pacific Time
Saturday 12pm to 5pm.
We are closed on Sunday!
About Von Schweikert Audio
Von Schweikert Audio was founded by legendary speaker designer Mr. Albert Von Schweikert. A CALTECH trained speaker designer with a focus in Electrical Engineering he has over four decades in speaker design and is widely regarded in the industry as one of the pre-eminent speaker designers in the world. Companies such as Disney, Steinway, A&M Records, Sheffield Sound Labs, Mobile Fidelity and JVC have all sought Mr. Von Schweikert for his expertise in superior speaker design.
As a kid, he built his first speakers from kits, and modified stock drivers. He studied violin and piano, played electric guitar and worked on Time Delay Spectrometry with the famed Richard Heyser at the California Institute of Technology. While at CALTECH in the 70's, he delved into computer-based development of speaker design and psycho-acoustics, where he gained new understandings of sound radiation and how this was perceived by the listening audience.
After he left CALTECH University he worked with numerous different audio companies and was responsible for quite a few, and sometimes very spectacular speaker designs. He was in charge of more than one hundred projects, and while many of them don't display his name, most were very well known companies. As one of the world’s most experienced speaker designers he's worked with Bose, JBL, ESS / Heil, Eggleston, Apogee, Cerwin Vega, Counterpoint, Jensen, NHT and many others.
In the mid 90’s Von Schweikert Research moved the whole operation from the West Coast to Watertown, New York. The business enjoyed strong growth there until in 1999 a large flood destroyed most of the company. Financially strong investors urged the company to move back to California where "Von Schweikert Audio“ – abbreviated as VSA – was founded.
VSA has speakers in current production that range from $1,000 to $150,000 and the current product line-up includes nine models: from the compact VR-1 up to the monstrous VR-11. Center and surround-speakers and also several subwoofers top off the line for home cinema lovers. With an expansive global dealer base, the company has been enjoying strong and continuous growth while still pioneering innovative new designs and technologies for accurate and realistic sound reproduction.
With over 30 industry awards and a veritable "Who's Who" of famous clients, Von Schweikert Audio is THE speaker of choice for those who demand the world's very best.
over the phone or by E-mail.
ORDERING ONLINE
click here!
ORDERING BY PHONE
If there is no authorized dealer in your area you can order directly from Soundscape with a 10-day, satisfaction, money-back guarantee.
US and Canada, 1-800-450-HIFI (1-800-450-4434)
Outside the US and Canada, (707) 578-4434
Monday - Friday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM (PST)
Fax: (707) 578-4436
Last Update: February 13, 2007
1044 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone/707-578-4434 or 800-450-HIFI
marcs@sonic.net
