Hello Mr Lavigne!

Congrats! Your system is absolutely amazing! I love your room!

First of all I want to apollogise to disturbe you but if you can help me it will be much appreciated! Sorry to use this thread but I tried to sent you an email but I think it didn´t worked...

I´m thinking on buying new speakers for my ASR Emitter II exclusive. I have here in Europe possibility to make a good deal on the Von Schweikert VR-5SE but is impossible to test them with my gear.
Did you already listen to VR-5SE? What you think about this speaker? I notice the drivers are the same of VR-9s...

The only things I read about them is that people compared them with WP8 from wilson which is one of the others contenders. On my short list are also B&W800D and Sonus faber Amati anniversario. But the deal with VR-5 is very atractive compared with the prices I can find here for the others speakers on my list!
Do you think the VR-5 compete with this other speakers or are below this league?

I already listen to the B&W802D and Sonus Faber cremona and thinked they are over priced speakers with a lot of Buzz from the magazines. Don´t get me wrong they are good speakers but definitly over priced...And I think I will have the same sensation when demo the 800 and amati's.

Thank you very much!
Best regards
Mike

asradict January 08, 2007 05:05

Seethesound,

From reading between the lines on other forums I suspect that Mike might have sold the Von Schweikert VR9SEs in favour of the new Evolution Acoustics loudspeakers. I am sure that this in no way diminishes his enthusiasm for the Von Schweikert but when a speaker that better suits one's listening objectives comes along at a lower price the decision is easy.

Good luck with your musical journey.

Aaron

drajreynolds January 07, 2007 16:39

I'm 2+ years late to this party--and am waiting for my own VR9SE's (African Hazelwood) to arrive in March 2007. You (and so many others) love your equipment and room setup. Would it be a reasonable decision to simply emulate your setup and not try a difficult independent journey of gear matching?

seethesound January 06, 2007 23:18

I read your story and I believe the system great. From what is written, I can tell that you love music. You can also tell that you seek only the best and most natural sound. If that's the case, I see something askew. If you are interested to discuss this subject, I'll be glad to give you my opinions.

dandesigns December 10, 2006 16:19

Hey, Mike. My Darts are now pretty much fully broken in and....holy cow! I enjoy music again.

One update: I switched interconnects btwn the DCC2 (used only as a DAC now) and the Dart Pre from Kharma Supreme to Stealth Indra. If u have not audioned the latter, I strongly suggest you try it. The biggest thing which is so clear that it is unmistakable is that compared to any cable I have heard, the Indra has unique ability to simply make your speakers disappear in thin air. Yes, I said it. The sound stage explodes and you are no longer conscious of walls. I don't get it, but hear it most definitely. Try it, you may not like it but this quality of the cable is really noticeable in a very large way.

henryhk December 10, 2006 07:31

Hi Mike,

Wow, what a room and gear! I presently have the VR4 Gen II's in my small, 12'x13', bay area home. I bought these in '99 when I still lived in lg. house in Houston. I'm wondering about your thoughts on room size and what VS speaker would be a nice match? I've heard the 4jr's and yes, they are nice, but lacking so much at the extremes, kinda like what you mentioned about the 7 and 9 differences. I know you have a fair amt of VS experience and was just hoping to get your opinion.

Thanks
Chris

brdsmith December 02, 2006 13:43

Mike,

Thanks for the response and if you ever come to your grandmother's homeland, you're a welcome guest at my house.

Can't wait what you'll say of the VR-11. Enjoy the music.

Best regards

Daniel

feniks November 05, 2006 15:12

Hey - I admir your room (and the project as a whole!)

This is what it is all about, isn't it?

Keep it up!

Best regards,
Dewald Visser

dewald_visser November 05, 2006 14:28

hi Daniel, greetings to Croatia (i am 25% Croatian...my Grandmother on my father's side was 100% Croatian).

thanks for the kind words.

i think what i said was that the VR7's 'may' do some things better than the VR9's. that was my initial reaction to a different speaker setup than what i had been using. the VR7 designer (and VR9, VR11 and MM3 (final stage) designer too), Kevin Malmgren, had recommended a much wider speaker split than i had been using with my VR9's and i really enjoyed it.

i have since formed a more definite comparitive opinion regarding the VR7SE compared to the VR9SE. the 7's have the same tonal charater and naturalness as the VR9's. the 7's do space and layering as well as the '9's. but; the '9's have more clarity, the '9's are more extended in the highs, the '9' are more dynamic up and down the whole frequency, and the '9's have more articulation and foundation in the bass. any dynamic event in the low frequencies is more dramatic with the '9's. since my darTZeel amps only need to power down to 50hz on the '9's and the '9's are 94db-96db efficient as compared to the '7's where the darts must do the whole frequency and are only 92db efficient....the dart's are less stressed and more dynamic on the '9's.

btw, the '7' is still a fantastic speaker and only in direct comparison in my huge room with a speaker like the '9' is the '7' found lacking. i could live with and love the '7's.

mikelavigne November 03, 2006 13:58

Hi Mike,

First of all, I must say you have the most impressive setup, including the room, that I have ever seen. As I'm in a search for more bass, I have been recommended Von Schweikert speakers, but they are hard to come by in Croatia, where I live. Therefore, I would just like to ask you, as I have noticed in earlier post that you said that VR-7 may do some things better than VR-9, do you still stand by that statement, and can you comment some more on the VR-7. Unfortunately, both of them are still out of my league, but I may go for VR-5 or VR-4 second hand. Thank you very much and congratulations again on your setup.

Best regards

Daniel

feniks November 03, 2006 12:47

Yes...I have so far only 70 hrs on it and I can already hear its changing and improving....

henryhk November 03, 2006 05:42

Henry, i have had 5 different dart amps; three of which i had from brand new......they take considerable time to break-in (about 4+ weeks continuous playing). prior to break-in, the dart amp is closed in and lacking the micro-dynamic life that is it's strength. when that break-in happens there will be a significant change over a couple of hour period in the level of involvement of the amp.

one note; when the dart amp was first produced......they were run for a few weeks at the production facility in Switzerland and Herve communicated that minimal breakin was required. then when a large quanity was ordered by jtinn that long breakin time at the factory was not possible in the time frame that the amps were needed. so the breakin time was then the buyers responsibility.....which jtinn communicated to buyers.

i had the original test bed 'ugly duckling' pre; then i had the pre-production 'beta' unit; and finally the first actual production unit in north america (which is the one i now have). my unit was originally used at CES 2006 for 5 days; then it went to jtinn's house for a few days; and then to me....so i don't have 'right out of the box' experience with the dart pre. my feel for it is that there is not nearly the profound change in the pre as in the amp. i did notice that the phono stage did open up after around 100 hours but it was fairly subtle change.

mikelavigne November 02, 2006 08:34

on dart pre break in...perhaps so but I got the dart pwr & the pre simultaneoulsy and the break in period I have heard abt was re the pwr amp....Mike in your exp is that the case as well? Sounds great already so....

henryhk October 31, 2006 05:40

Joey, thanks for the kind words.

yes, i am 'still waiting' for the 11's.....since July. no definte word on when.

mikelavigne October 29, 2006 19:51

Mike,

Are you still waiting for the delivery of the 11s? If so, when will it be? BTW, I've always admired your dedication to this hobby... your room and your gear are testament to that fact.

Joey

joey_v October 29, 2006 16:37

hi Slipknot;......i say sanity be damned!

it's too bad you didn't introduce yourself.....next time please do.

in any case i admit i'm a bit smitten with Jonathan's speakers. i really want to hear what they can do in my room. just like the VR9's in that same RMAF room last year.....it was difficult to get the full measure of the refinement of the Evolution Acoustics MM3. OTOH just like the VR9's.....my room should be ideal for the MM3's.

what is great is that, like the VR9's, the MM3's are very adjustable (maybe even more adjustable in the bass than the VR9's). and i now am quite experienced at the dialing in process.

the tonal and bass balance choices at RMAF were not exactly the choices i would make. i want to hear it tweaked 'my way'.

on the MM3's i heard things i have never heard on extremely familiar discs. i have always loved that Accuton Ceramic mid-range driver from the Kharma's....using 2 of them allows more dynamics, detail and lower distortion. the speaker seems to be able to do it all.

for the last 5 years i have watched Jonathan develop this speaker and heard it at various stages. it appears he has something really special.

i hesitate to write in detail what i think about this speaker until i get it into my room and spend some time dialing it in. any speaker with the extention and dynamic capability of the MM3 will be a considerable challenge to completely tame in show conditions.

my expectations for the MM3 could not be higher.

stay tuned.

mikelavigne October 25, 2006 23:38

Hi Mike -
I saw you in Jonathan's room late on Sunday afternoon and meant to introduce myself to you, but I was too busy getting a final listen to the Evolutions. What do think of those behemoths? I seriously thought about placing an order for them, but sanity slapped me upside the head and I heard my very audio-tolerant spouse's voice going: "what are doing? you just went from Magnepan to Kharma because you thought the Maggies were too big".

slipknot1 October 25, 2006 22:39

Millikeith; thanks for the kind words.

i've been married 32 years to my wife "Saint Pam" . she is very understanding and supportive. i have put together my system and software over the last 12 years.

i work 55+ hours/6 days a week and this hobby fits my time.

i look at my level of involvement in this hobby like a summer home or sailboat (neither of which i would have time for anyway).

btw; there was a time i was thinking a $150 power cord was too damn expensive (and a silly concept to boot).

mikelavigne October 25, 2006 22:18

First off, your system is insane. I can't imagine what it must sound like in that room. Second, my wife would like to know if you have a significant other. She can't imagine that any partner would agree to all of this. I'm currently pulling all the stops for the ok to purchase a 150 dollar power cord!

millikeith October 25, 2006 19:51

hi Henry; congrats on getting the dart pre.

silly smiles are exactly what it's all about. sometimes i'm in the middle of a cut and i will realize just how much the dart combo is making the music more alive and it will give me that silly grin too.....even after 9 months.....it is still fresh and special.

personally; i did not notice a great deal of initial breakin on the pre other than the phono stage...which did noticably open up after 100 or so hours.

thanks for the music recommendation......that is what it is all about.

mikelavigne October 25, 2006 09:15

Hey Mike finally got my dart combo. Christ, right out of the box its amazing...and everyone seems to of an opinion that they take longer than usual to fully broken in...can't wait. Last night I was listening to Nicolas Payton's "Payton's Place" (highly recommended) first track zigaboogoloo got me up, nodding my head with big big silly smile on my face. Listening to music is fun again.

henryhk October 22, 2006 08:49

Rum,

what a surprise that a competitor of jtinn would attempt to compromise my integrity.....NOT! i guess all's fair in love and the High End. that is one good reason why i steer clear of the business side of this hobby. too many small thinkers with big egos.

to be honest, i have yet to ever have any problems with any transaction i have ever had (except no warranty coverage after a manufacturer went out of business....once). $19k would get me a bit upset; sorry to hear about that.

mikelavigne October 03, 2006 23:56

Mike,

Thx for the offer. So difficult to hear quality gear in an optimal setting. I learned that at the CES show.

No offence was intended. I have been looking at pre-amps and cartidges and it was suggested I visit with you regarding the Dart as you had the room to demo them and were a 'Partner' in Chambers. I guess I got strange info from a distributor I sure dont wanna get caught up in industry wranglings. Thx for clearing it up.

FWIW I'm real careful with purchases now and call and check on dealers/distributors as I was just ripped off for $19,000 on a purchase from a legitimate dealer. When I called to check with the distributor it turned out he was a known thief they just ommitted to tell me the first time I called.

Rum

rumney510 October 03, 2006 20:55

hi Rumney,

you would be welcome to visit my room if you like. e-mail me and we can work out the details. the dart pre is the real deal.

to be clear; i am a good friend of jtinn of Chambers Audio/Blue Light Audio but 'no' partner. i have 'zero' business interest's in High End Audio of any kind. i am a good customer of many of jtinn's products as we share similar sonic biases. sometimes i agree with jtinn on gear; sometimes not. in every case.....i pay for the products (and jtinn makes a profit). as a very good customer i do get the good deal that my business has earned. i have a similar relationship with a few other High End dealers that i have done lots of business with.

in the last year my (questionable) status as a (sometime) reviewer has earned me some 'accomodation pricing'.

if your 'partner' comment was made 'in jest' then just ignore my 'reaction'......when you post something like that on 'my' thread.....i kinda am forced to clarify things.

i took no offense in your comment (assuming offense was not intended) and look forward to hooking up with you soon.

mikelavigne October 03, 2006 00:49

Hi Mike,
I'm pretty interested in the Dart Battery PreAmp. It tough to hear in a well set up Room/system though. As your a partner in Chambers Audio would be ok to get a listen in your (great) Room or would you prefer to go through Chambers ?
Thx Rumney

rumney510 October 02, 2006 15:30