Very detailed, huge sound stage, go down to 20 hz.

None except keep cats away

Seamless sound between drives. Tall wide and deep soundstage. Excellent tonal balance between drivers. Deep, extended bass. Easy to drive.

None yet.

I was looking for a backup speaker for my Acoustat 1+1 Medallions. I haven't heard much that would make me replace them that was "reasonably" priced. Besides, most box speakers gave me the impression the sound was coming from "the boxes over there". Not like electrostats or planar speakers. Also, image height/width/depth was a consideration, along with all the other "audiophile" jargon that describe good sounding speakers. After auditioning them, I was mildly impressed until I put on McCoy Tyner does Coltrane CD. I took the speakers then and there. Got them home, hooked them up and become more impress. Especially in the transparency of them. They just disappear (as my Acoustat's). The sound between drivers is seamless. Soundstage just as the recording presents it. The low end far exceeds the Acoustat's with power and authority. I am very happy with the tonal quality and dynamic range of these speakers. A great buy! The came with Black Diamond Racing Isolation plates between the mid/tweets and woofers. Associated Equipment: Counterpoint SA 3 Pre Amp Counterpoint SA 22o Power Amp Counterpoint SA 2 Head Amp VPI/Koetsu analog Parasound CDP w/ART DI/O Dac And various Monster, MIT, Esoteric, Canare, Distech, Vampire, Home Depot wires and interconnects.

Similar Products Used:

Acoustat 1+1's, Mirage M1's.

Great imaging and layering of music. competent full-range response. Macro and micro dynamics are on the money.

Best when bi-wired and given breathing room including front and back. Moderately-efficient. Unfortunately, Albert is not currently producing speakers because of the devastating floods of 1998.

Initially was introduced to this speakers in 1996 by musician-friend who had first looked at the Vandersteens and then had his opinion swayed by this new-at-the-time line.
Model I acquired was the demo with plum finish (nice), and it didn't hurt that before I bought the pair, Albert Von Schweikert had dropped over to give a demo and tweaked them some more for show. What makes the earlier models different from the latter is a plasticene liner that gives the overall cabinet in my opinion, a much tighter and resonant-resistance effect. While playing a recording of Carmen on vinyl (Marilyn Horne), the children's choir was not only perceived in front and back of the speakers but could be visualized coming down perimeter stairs while singing and then disappear by walking behind the rest of the performers on center stage. I can't think of many speakers that could pull that off. Currently using two GTA SE-40 amps in monoblock with upgraded tubes and Audible Illusion 3A preamp. Head unit is VPI MKIII with JMW Memorial. I'll probably live happily with this system until Albert pulls another miracle out of his hat with another revolutionary design or idea. I'm willing to wait.

Makes my ears feel happy!

There is a God and his name is Albert Von Schweikert.

Great with tube equipment. Excellent speaker, great dynamics at low volume.

I have had these speakers for 1 plus years. I use a Audionote 300b amp and an Aronov i960 6550 based integrated amp. My room is treated with acoustic panels, a must in any home in my opinion. My friends love the VR-4's with the 300b amp.

Many CD's can be a bit harsh due pushing of the treble range at the time of the recording. This is also so on my Coincident Conquest speakers in my office. The VR-4's are very real at low volume.

Since my last review was canned, probably due to some of my comments concerning things other than speakers, I will tone this one down. I believe the VR-4s are an excellent speaker at their price point. I listened to every speaker I could audition in the price range of the VR-4s. I did not compare them to speakers costing far more money (I would have compared VR-6s or VR-8s). I bought the VR-4s. In my opinion, they do everything well. I have been very happy with them. Was that okey?

After hearing the Von Schweikert Research VR-4 loudspeaker at a local dealer, I was very impressed. Then my fiancee and myself went to the Hi-Fi show in New York in May. We had the opportunity to listen to the Silver edition of the VR-4. All I can say is WOW! I knew I just had to have this speaker. Our speakers at the time were Definitive BP2000s. They were soon replaced by the Silvers. The BP 2000s were not nearly as musical or tonally accurate as the VR-4 is. My system currently consists of an Anthem Pre-1 preamp, Parasound C/DB 2000 Transport, Parasound D/AC 1000, AR ES-1 turntable (long live vinyl), with a Goldring Eroica cartridge. I am bi-amping the speakers with a pair of B&K amplifiers. An EX-4420 for the bottom and an ST-3030 for the top. This seems to work very well. The amps are very smooth and I have tons of headroom. As for cables I am using Audioquest Crystal on the bottom and DH Labs Silver Sonic on the top.(great cables, by the way) I cant say enough good things about the VR-4 Silver, they are excellent in al the usual ways. Imaging, soundstage, dynamics its all there in spades. For the extra grand over the standard speakers I think you get a little more openess and detail. I forgot to mention the difference for those of you who arent familiar with them. The silver edition gives you double runs of Audio Magic Sorcorer internal wire. I think the difference is worth the money. It is definitely what pushed me over the edge. Highly reccomended.

Midrange, detail, bass, natural, etc.

A little bit on the dark side

Well, since Von Schweikert went out of busines (but is now back), people were selling their VRs. I picked these up at a dealer for $1400, which might be a little bit more than you might pay in a private sale, but not much, and I saved the cost/hassle of shipping (had to pay sales tax so it was about even I guess.) Anyway, I don't think you can get anything comparable new in the same price range, and not much used either. These speakers are big, full range, and natural. They produce excellent mids and bass goes deep. They don't have a mid-bass hump (so if you are not used to full-range you may feel you are missing something, that is an artifical boost in the 80hz area that many speakers provide.) Another effect fullrange speakers have is they may sound slightly rolled off in the treble. That is just due to the speaker presenting a fuller tonal picture of the recording. That said, I do think the VR-4 is a little on the dark side. However, you can play with the rear-firing tweeter attenuators to get better response. You may want to turn them down all the way if the speakers are fairly close to the wall, for more clarity in the highs. They give you some flexibilty due to the attenuator. In summary, let me just highlight the strengths of the speaker: Very natural and balanced; full-range; sounds good even at low listening levels; detail;--in fact, they do almost eveything well. They may not be the best in any single area but they are an excellent complete package. Only drawback may be the size/weight, but if you are looking for true full-range speakers, the VR-4 is an excellent value on the used market.

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm, Vandersteen, etc.

After numerous trips to dealers through-out the south I still wasn't happy,really happy, with any of the speakers I heard (and my wife was getting tired
of listening to all those things). On a trip to Miami we listened to some
Thiel 3.6's and liked them but it wasn't "love". I went to see Don Caruso at
Audio by Caruso to audition the McCormick DNA 1 amp. To demo the amp he used
the VR 4's and they blew me away. Every type of music I brought to listen to
(from jazz to classical) sounded like I was having a private concert. I
brought my wife in for "another"listen. After ten minutes of listening, she
turned to me and said: "Buy Them"! Yes, they require some attention as far
as placement for proper balanceand imaging ,but, if that didn't concern you
then go buy some speakers from XYZ discount house. Any state of the art in-
strument should have proper support (DNA 1 power drive, Rotel PA and Rotel CD
with DH Labs speaker wire and interconnects anf BDR cones and THE Shelf under
the amp and the cd player) but what a fantastic sound you get. Want to impress
your friends, play Michel Camilo-"one more once", crank up the system and hold on for the ride of your life. Also, Patricia Barbers "Cafe Blue" will leave
you in awe-you feel like your in the club with her. Another great demo of the
speakers is the XLO-Sheffield Test and Burn CD. All the cuts on the second half
of the cd truely shows the true majesty of these speakers. Are there better
speakers out there? I'm sure-but how deep are your pockets? I never get tired
of listening to them and actually wish that I had more time to sit and listen to them. I have never regretted buying them(nor has my wife and she even tolerates
them taking up some room)and I'm glad I listened to Don and bought the VR4's and not the others. Enjoy them like a fine drinj

The 4.5 is something to behold for this audiophile. It is so revealing of what is coming down stream that it usually is the mistaken culprit of what is the matter in a system poorly set up. Believe me I have been there and done that. This speaker when coupled with the right equipment doesn't need to be evaluated, just experienced. Allow it to dissapear, and enjoy the music. Unfortunatly, audiophiles on the most part are incapable of enjoying the music once they hear something so very good as a properly set up pair of these loudspeakers. You fiddle around with different cables, cones, placement, line-conditioners,etc. We seem to have been born that way. No matter how good it sounds, you just gotta screw it up to get it better. The VR 4.5's in the right setup; Mietner Bidat(moded, built in preamp),Sony DVP S-7000 DVD Player,(Best transport available period! See review in Planethifi.com),Z-Systems Digital Equalizer, Balanced Audio Technology VK 1000 mono's, Electra Glide Power Cords, and a host of other important tweaks. All rounded together in my system it is something to behold. I've had plenty of experienced listeners in NYC say it's one of the best and purest sounds they've heard regardless of price. I know it's very good but what makes it scary is no matter how much I get the front end together, the speakers are always up to the task of showing me exactly what it is that I've done. What more can be said of the Von Schweikert VR 4.5's? There are folks that prefer BMW to Lexus right? Does that mean a Lexus is no good? The VR 4.5's are like the Lexus 400 sedan. New, hard-hitting and taking no prisoners!