Von Schweikert Audio VR-4 Gen II — seldom seen and amazing! PRICE DROP #2

I can hardly bear to part with these, but they are just too big for my new, redesigned space. So here goes. NOTE that I will drop the price now and again until these sell, "Dutch auction"–style.

The Von Schweikert VR-4 Gen II speakers are almost never for sale, and perhaps never again in this condition. The legendary VR-4 Gen II is one of the great speakers of all time, and one of the great bargains of all time. The VR-4 Gen II was produced in Albert Von Schweikert's facility in Watertown, New York, before a flood halted production and Albert relocated the company to southern California.

It was not uncommon in early VS speakers for the wooden end caps and spacers to degrade, so I had a professional carpenter make replacements for all six pieces from paela, a type of Mexican cherry, which you may know as its close relation, chakte viga, an Indonesian hardwood. The wood is in near-perfect condition on the top and sides. The bottoms show some wear, but only on the side that is actually on (i.e., facing) the floor! :) The cloth "socks" are in superb condition, with no tears, runs, or pulls. The glue holding the socks at top and bottom of the four modules is near-new.

Consider that these were hailed as a holy bargain when they were introduced at $4000 per pair. The cheapest speaker in the current VR line, the VR-44, retails for $40,000. Many years ago I wrote reviews for a major audio publication, meaning I could hear hundreds of speakers at shows, and I could get almost any equipment at an "accommodation price" of 50%. I NEVER heard a speaker priced under $10,000 that made me want to part with these — and that was nearly 20 years ago. I don't need to tell you what's happened to high-end speaker pricing since then.

The VR-4 Gen II's frequency response specs at -3 dB from 20 (!) to 25k Hz, and only ±1 dB in the midrange. The dual-box design of the VR-4 Gen II, along with the rear-firing tweeter, combines the uncanny, reach-out-and-touch-it imaging of the best mini-monitors with the bass response of a huge, dynamic speaker. You will never go back to a small speaker after hearing these — except for smaller size there is simply no advantage to a small speaker. They sound best slightly toed-in, but they are not terribly placement-dependent.

The dual 8-inch bass drivers can be powered by amplifiers up to 600 watts per channel, though their 91 dB sensitivity allows them to sing with amps of about 30 watts or more (in a small or medium-sized space). With sufficient power, it is nearly impossible to reach their limits. At 7 ohms (nominal) they are an easy load to drive. They sound terrific with either solid state or tube amps in front of them — I've tried dozens.

Von Schweikert has so much faith in these speakers that he offered a FIVE-year, transferable warranty. (Obviously that doesn't apply to this pair any longer.)

The VR-4 Gen II is merely great on its own, but the use of the old Vibrapods between top and bottom modules takes them to another level entirely. See the review link below. I tried them with hard supports, and the Vibrapods were much, much better. I will include a set of 12 Vibrapods — 6 per side — with this pair.

IGNORE SHIPPING CHARGES! Audiogon still only allows one box per listing, so this doesn't make sense. We'll have to work it out depending on your location. I have the original boxes — shipping weight is two 50-pound boxes and two 85-pound boxes. If you're nearby and you have a sufficiently large vehicle, I'm willing to meet you within a reasonable distance of DC.

Additional feedback is available under the user name "phantomtides" at eBay or fredmiranda.com (a photography site at which I've sold many items.)

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Reviews:

In the presence of the VR-4 Gen. II, the understanding of the music becomes intuitive. The VR-4 assumes the job of the koan, placing the music as Buddha and allowing you, the listener, to assume the role of Kashyapa. The understanding comes directly and without effort. They are an instrument for divining truth... This speaker's ability to completely get out of its own way and resurrect only the recorded performance is unrivaled in this extremely competitive price range, finally bringing previously unbelievable levels of performance below the $4000 mark. It, in fact, bests some well-known entrants from some very respected manufacturers selling for nearly twice as much. I still find it next to impossible to give over to the music and do anything else when my system is playing with the alluring Von Schweikert VR-4 Generation IIs. From me, there is no higher recommendation. —Greg Weaver, Soundstage, http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/weaver15.htm

Greg Weaver's follow-up: http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/weaver18.htm

"Easily the best all-around speaker I've ever heard in the sub-$5,000 price range. Despite their being rather large boxes, sonically they disappeared right into the room. Had the transparency of Maggies & Magneplanars and the bass depth and tightness of a good $6,000-$8,000 dynamic cone —AudioReview

"I just purchased a second Conrad Johnson MV55 Amp for the purpose of bi-amping. That with the CJ preamp and valved CD player, sets the stage for an audio experience that must be heard to be believed. The VR4's truly exceeded my expectations, which is rare." —AudioReview

Review of the Vibrapods between top and bottom modules of the VR-4 Gen II: http://www.vibrapod.com/Reviews/tas.htm

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Here are the specifications, according to VS literature:

System Type: AIR™ (Acoustic Inversion Replication)

Circuit Type: GAIN™ with DRI™. Blend points

Enclosure Type: Two-piece stacking

Driver Complement: Aperiodically damped with dual enclosures & dual rear vents

Bass Driver: 2 - 8" super-duty polypropylene with custom epoxy treated cone, rear cooling vent allows 600 watt peak power dissipation

Main Driver: 1 - 5.5" woven carbon fiber, cast basket, ribbon edge-wound voice coil and a Norsorex surround, hand made, picked for reference grade frequency response

Tweeter: 1 - 1" damped aluminum dome with transmission line chamber, extra heavy grade ferro fluid for cooling and damping

Rear

Ambience: 1 - 1" aluminum rear ambience driver

Frequency Response: 20Hz - 25kHz -3dB (+/- 1dB in midrange)

Impedance: 7 ohm nominal

Sensitivity: 91dB @ 1 watt, 1 meter

Power: [Not specified]

Finish: Natural High gloss cherry hardwood or Satin Dark Red Cherry Hardwood [since replaced, as described above]

Dimensions (h x w x d): 46" x 11" x 19"

Weight: Each speaker: 135 lbs

Woofer enclosure: 85 lbs

Midrange/Treble Enclosure: 50 lbs

Warranty: 5 year transferable (parts and labor)