Breaking the $100k barrier - A new statement Loudspeaker for $50k

[Ron Resnick]

Thank you for that report, Gary! It seems like it was a fun and productive trip!

 

[gleeds]

Family photo
It's been a busy week at the shop! Three pairs of VR.thirty are ready for testing and burn-in.

The emerald green speakers on the bench are Ultra fives headed for NYC. They are painted a sea mist green picked by our client. Next week, we are set to build Ultra.sevens and Shockwave room correction subs to match with the sevens. Damon and I thank everyone for the support.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...Gary, what color is up on the rear bench? Looks too dark for Arizona Bronze, but those fluorescent lights will shift colors, for sure.

 

[gleeds]

...Gary, what color is up on the rear bench? Looks too dark for Arizona Bronze, but those fluorescent lights will shift colors, for sure.

Porsche oak green Mark. They are pretty dark but also quite handsome.

 

[ceedee]

To our friends in The Netherlands, your orange beauties just arrived from the paint shop and are stunning! Damon, of course, would not send me a photo without putting drivers in temporarily to give you a better sense of them

View attachment 145386View attachment 145387

Nice Garry, can't wait to see them in person.

 

[Holli82]

They sound as good as they look

 

[Hearken Audio]

The latest pair of VR.thirties is being readied for shipment to our partner in Canada, Northstar Audio, in Toronto.

I'm biased toward this neutral colorway since it was selected by my wife, Debra, a noted interior designer trained in NYC who is now practicing in our new hometown on the Newport Coast. This Aston Martin paint color, Arizona Bronze, has become our best-selling colorway. The next pair of the thirties to be built will be in Porsche Oak Mettalic and a set of Ultra.fifty in Ferrari sea midst green metallic. Both should be stunners! On behalf of Damon and the team, we thank everyone for their support.


View attachment 145729

Hey, I know these guys. They are breaking in for the Montreal show in a few weeks

 

[gleeds]

A fun side-project.
In our front sound room, a pair of Ultra.fives are being broken in and tested for a client with a low-power tube amplifier.

Lampizator Horizon DAC
WestminsterLab Quest preamplifier
Aurender N-20 server/streamer
Trafomatic Pandora monoblocks - Class A output 40 watts/channel

The Ultras pictured used our Foundation 800-watt hybrid bass amplifier module, which is powered by an exquisite Trafomatic tube amplifier of relatively low power, with exceptional results.

Anyone wanting to power our speakers using the Foundation system combined with a low-power tube amplifier should feel free to experiment. Of course, no 300B 7-watt amplifiers, but any high-quality amplifier in the 40-50-watt range should perform well.

P.S. The paint is a specially requested rare Ferrari color.

 

[gleeds]

Our Canadian distribution partner, Northstar Audio, exhibited a pair of VR.thirties in Aston Martin Bronze, with WestminsterLab electronics and MasterBuilt cables, at last weekend's Montreal Audio Fest. The digital front end is not shown, including the new Rockna Wavedream Reference Signature DAC and Antipodes Oladra server.

Great job, Ian and Matt!

 

[gleeds]

THE BEST DRINKS, FOOD, AND MUSIC AT AXPONA ARE AT PERRY'S RESTAURANT
FRIDAY EVENING APRIL 11TH between 5 and 8 PM

Dear WBF members and friends,

We are headed to Axpona. Damon Von Schweikert and I are holding a special off-site event Friday evening for press, retailers, and friends. To thank WBF owners and members, Angus, Damon, and I would like to invite members of Whats Best Forum to join us for a fun and casual evening.

Unfortunately, space is limited, so we can only accommodate the first twenty (20) members that RSVP.

PLEASE RSVP TO:
jennifer@vonschweikert.com

Those attending Axpona who cannot participate in the event, please join us on any day of the show in room 480. Our room will feature the new Von Schweikert VR.thirty loudspeaker, WestminsterLab electronics, and the all-new Rockna Wavedream Reference Signature DAC.​

 

[gleeds]

The photo just sent by our friends Cor and Cor from Musical Reality and ERC in the Netherlands is the special pearl orange '30s VR, which has recently arrived at their salon. The lighting is not perfect, however, I think you can appreciate their brilliance nonetheless. Powered by the powerful Accustic Arts amplifier and Ideon digital front end, I'm sure they're making a mighty pleasing sound. These same speakers will be on demonstration at Hifi Deluxe in Munich from May 16 to 18; more details will follow.

 

[ceedee]

The photo just sent by our friends Cor and Cor from Musical Reality and ERC in the Netherlands is the special pearl orange '30s VR, which has recently arrived at their salon. The lighting is not perfect, however, I think you can appreciate their brilliance nonetheless. Powered by the powerful Accustic Arts amplifier and Ideon digital front end, I'm sure they're making a mighty pleasing sound. These same speakers will be on demonstration at Hifi Deluxe in Munich from May 16 to 18; more details will follow.


View attachment 149425

 

[ceedee]

Closer look on the VR.thirty, see you in Munich.

 

[KeithR]

Looks like that pair should be in Austin for a UT fan

Wishing y'all the best in Munich

 

[gleeds]

Looks like that pair should be in Austin for a UT fan

Wishing y'all the best in Munich

Great idea, Keith! Thanks for the good wishes.

 

[gleeds]

Just completed a stunning pair of the VR.thirties Big Brother, our flagship Ultra 7s in Steinway black gloss. Next, another set of VR.thirties that are headed to our partners in the Philippines shortly.

We've had a run of orders in this classic finish lately, and I must say, combined with the Accuton cell woofers, I'm loving the way they look. Imagine a small form factor loudspeaker with 22 HZ in-room bass extension and much of the DNA of the mighty Ultra 7.

For those who haven't read it, I'll post the TAS review by Andrew Quint later this week, which Damon and I feel presents a balanced view of their character and how they compare to the considerably more expensive Magico M2, with matching subwoofers, which are AQ's present reference.

Thanks all.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...man, if I still bothered to shave, I could shave in that gloss! Nice.

 

[QuadDiffuser]

Interesting to see the before and after. From grille-less, to “with grilles”!

 

[gleeds]

A photo of a black piano thirties with grill on. Pretty stealthy!

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...ah, so it *is* alien tech. I knew it.