Soundscape Product Listing
Von Schweikert
"THE VANTAGE"
VR-5 SE Reference Grade Speakers
~Hand-crafted in the U.S.A.~
Retail Price: $25,000
(no extra charge for premium finishes)
Click to view Frequency response Graph for VR-5SE
Von Schweikert's
VR-9SE has had a significant impact on the high end audio scene lately, prompting
customers and dealers to demand an affordable version of this incredible speaker
system. Priced at nearly the cost of a new Mercedes-Benz automobile, the VR-9SE
is not for everyone, but its smaller brother, the VR-5SE, may be just right
for you!
The VR-5SE utilizes the same 9” Magnesium-coned woofers, Aerogel midrange, Revelator Dual-ring tweeter, and crossover as the VR-9SE – the savings comes from the elimination of the powered 15” sub and the ribbon super tweeter. Naturally, the elimination of the powered sub results in the loss of bass power below 20Hz, but results in a significant size reduction -- can you live with bass that extends down to only 20 Hz?
Since Von Schweikert's custom Dual-ring Revelator tweeter with Neo motor has a frequency response extending up to 70kHz, few people will miss the VR-9SE’s ribbon super tweeter.
What everyone will not miss is the incredible transparency
of the VR-5SE – yes, VR-9SE territory … Based on the legendary VR-4 design that
has garnered 17 rave reviews world-wide over the past decade, you will notice
that the VR-5SE shares the same Time-Aligned, phase-consistent enclosure design.
Of course, we kept the famous stacking midrange/treble module and quasi-transmission
line woofer loading, called legendary by various magazine reviewers. Where the
VR-5SE differs is in the implementation of a cost-no-object lesson in engineering
—no expense was spared on the hand-made European transducers, luxury crossover
parts with Teflon capacitors, and the WBT Signature platinum plated binding
posts.
As mentioned above, the VR-9SE was Von Schweikert's “role model” for the VR-5SE in every aspect, and in a direct A/B comparison, sounds identical throughout the important midrange at only 1/3 of the price! If you have a small listening room (or even a small concert hall) and require a speaker system with the utmost transparency, dynamic range, and holographic image focus, you have found your speaker system. Available in four wood veneers, including African Hazelwood, Dark Red Cherry, Ebony, and Indonesian Sycamore; Steinway piano black finish also available. Learn why we say “Every Listening Session Will Not Soon Be Forgotten…..”
VR-5SE Specifications:
- System Type: Dynamic-driver four-way system using a triple-chambered quasi-transmission line.
- Size: 4Midrange/Tweeter (14"h x 11”w x 24"d). Woofer (29"h x 11"w x 24"d). System (44"h x 11"w x 24"d).
- Weight: Woofer module: 103 lbs. M/T module: 50 lbs. System: 153 lbs per side. With wood crate: 205 lbs.
- Cabinet & Bracing: A two-inch thick front baffle provides exceptional vibration control and image solidity, while MDF interlocking braces provide rigidity and freedom from boxy colorations. Large spikes are included.
- Woofer Tuning: The hybrid design is composed of three separate chambers with a tuned vent at 20 Hz. The 4"-wide vent tube with 7” flare extends bass response without the "one note bass" problem found in other ported systems. Note that the bass response is user adjustable +/- 3dB for room compensation, see Owners Manual.
- Decoupling System: The front and rear baffles as well as the top cap are separated and mechanically isolated from the main enclosure by industrial rubber adhesives. This eliminates the main source of resonance, which can color the sound in competing designs.
- Binding Posts: Double sets of WBT Signature platinum plated binding posts from Germany, set up for biwire.
- Driver Complement: 2-9" Magnesium-coned Excel woofers from Norway, 1-7” carbon Kevlar-cellulose Aerogel midrange driver from France, 1-1.5” silk dual concentric ring Scanspeak Revelator tweeter from Denmark, 1-1” rear firing ambience mid/tweeter with fabric dome and transmission-line loading from Denmark. All drivers use Von Schweikert's proprietary Advanced Motor System with low distortion design.
- Extreme-Duty Woofer: A magnesium cone with larger voice coil and magnet for extra power handling, extra clarity, and more bass impact.
- Crossover: Classified crossover design and crossover points, optimized for flat off-axis response and phase consistency over a wide Global Axis. Very high quality parts are used from France, Germany, and the U.S., including V-Cap Teflon and Hovland film and foil capacitors, Solen film-foil capacitors, Solen Perfect-Lay inductors, Goertz copper foil inductors, metal film resistors, and Analysis Plus internal wiring.
- 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: 20Hz-70 kHz, +/- 4 dB, 30Hz-30 kHz +/- 2 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 500 watts music power. Sensitivity: 94 dB @ 1w/1m using 2.83V.
- Warranty: Transferable ten-year Parts and Labor, excluding burned voice coils due to amp clipping.
- Finishes: Available in four book-matched wood veneer finishes including African Hazelwood, Dark Red Cherry, Sycamore, and Ebony wood. Steinway Piano black finish also available, optional. ...
(download Von Schweikert's 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
|
Product Name |
Model |
Link to Info |
Retail Price
|
|---|---|---|---|
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VR-1 Stands only
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VR-1 Stands only - $250
|
-
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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
