So Long VR-9 SE Mk.1s

JackD201

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Apr 20, 2010
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The PHI series VACs were lookers for sure! Kevin's a great guy to boot. I wish the guys at Alto Audio hadn't beat me to his line. The 300.1s are one of my favorite high power tube amps (that I could afford anyway). :)
 

JackD201

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Pictures Jack.....PICTURES!

The countdown begins! Less than 24 hours now.

I'll choke your e-mail with full frame RAW images Gavin. Hahahahahaha!
 

Dimfer

Member Sponsor
May 8, 2010
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simply put, Albert is one lucky designer/speaker manufacturer to have a dealer like Jack. A guy who knows what he's doing, knows how to verbalize his thoughts (not very easy for most people), has very deep pocket and a good guy to boot.... and surrounded by many people like him.

I think it is only now Albert will truly comprehend how good his speakers can be.

now Jack, will volunteering to polish your & your brother's exotic car collection earn me an invite to your room again, and perhaps the the Emperor's lair?

I know Jack is wearing his hobbyist/audiophile hat when he wrote the review.
 

jadis

Well-Known Member
Apr 28, 2010
12,361
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Unfortunately not Micro. I think I could manage to borrow Randy's REF210s for a day or two but Coltrane would never let his 610's out of his sight, hahahahaha. I could also see if I could borrow REF150s from Senor Lito, the local ARC dealer. We're all pretty tight anyway. I just referred a good client to him a week ago.

Jack,

We heard Randy's VR4MKII (or was it III?) a few years back with his Ref 110, stereo single chassis, though in brand new out of the box condition. A few months later I helped him fit Black Sable KT88s on the amp, removing the stock SED 6550s. Off the bat the sound was silky smooth and very beautiful, of course influenced a lot by a Koetsu Gold Urushi. ;)
 

JackD201

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Apr 20, 2010
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@Jadis

Is Randy a member here Phil? That's right they were Ref110s. I was too distracted by all his paintings! What were dafos' amps? The 210s were what Lito went to show with with the Koetsu-EMT front end right? I loved that room!

@Dimfer

Deep pockets? Me? You know my style bro. I'm totally old school. I save,save,save,save and save then cut a hole in my pocket. Hahahahaha. Deep pockets are for guys that have my total net worth in their petty cash fund. The good thing with this style is , financially inefficient as it may be, I've got zero debt. The bad thing is, whatever cash I have is earmarked! Impulse buys are not allowed! :)

As for you Ding, you don't need an invitation to my place. Although I will not refuse any gifts of RUR CDs burned from your MP Drive hehehehe.
 

jadis

Well-Known Member
Apr 28, 2010
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@Jadis

Is Randy a member here Phil? That's right they were Ref110s. I was too distracted by all his paintings! What were dafos' amps? The 210s were what Lito went to show with with the Koetsu-EMT front end right? I loved that room!

Jack, Randy is not a member here. I think he is too preoccupied with his paintings and other hobbies. I think Dafos had the Ref 110 as well. I'm not so sure bout the mono's used but it probably was a pair of VT 200s, with the Black and the EMT table. Lito wanted us to replicate that room's sound the succeeding years but I was afraid that we might not achieve that again. One of those magical synergies in audio.
 

es347

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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The countdown begins! Less than 24 hours now.

I'll choke your e-mail with full frame RAW images Gavin. Hahahahahaha!

That works for me bro!
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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Some pre-op phone cam shots to whet your appetite Gavin

Lotsa Parts and Tools



Nines



Elevens



Their flight is arriving ahead of schedule. 6 hours to go.............
 

MylesBAstor

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
11,236
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New York City
The PHI series VACs were lookers for sure! Kevin's a great guy to boot. I wish the guys at Alto Audio hadn't beat me to his line. The 300.1s are one of my favorite high power tube amps (that I could afford anyway). :)

I always kinda liked the Rennaissance series' looks :) Great sounding too for their time! Kevin always gets the mids right :)
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
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That he does Myles. He's been getting tighter bass too. :)
 

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
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Some pre-op phone cam shots to whet your appetite Gavin

Lotsa Parts and Tools (...)

Are these just the parts to upgrade a single pair of 9 and 11s? :confused:
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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Whew! What a day! I swear the father and son tandem are machines. They've finished three bass modules already, including testing and measurement.

Those are parts, tools and necessities for two pairs of nines and a pair of elevens. I had absolutely no idea how much work was involved in upgrading these speakers. No wonder these are supposed to be factory affairs. More surprising was the amount of detail they've put into the upgrades. Even the screws for all drivers and plate amps are being replaced with box heads just because these look better and don't strip.

Best of all I'm still trying to digest all the information as we got a full explanation for every single step. Lots of laughter and loads of audio history going back seventy years. I didn't take any pics today but I'll have my camera tomorrow. Off to bed!!!!!

:)
 

es347

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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Midwest fly over state..
I always kinda liked the Rennaissance series' looks :) Great sounding too for their time! Kevin always gets the mids right :)

Great sounding too for their time! ?? ..for their time? But not so today? Huh? IMHO the thing that separates Albert's speakers from the pack are his crossovers. All of his speakers are extremely coherent from top to bottom to the point where you would swear you were listening to a single driver.
 

MylesBAstor

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
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New York City
Great sounding too for their time! ?? ..for their time? But not so today? Huh? IMHO the thing that separates Albert's speakers from the pack are his crossovers. All of his speakers are extremely coherent from top to bottom to the point where you would swear you were listening to a single driver.

Well I think that Kevin has markedly improved and refined his amplifier designs and sound. I don't see what's wrong with saying that. After all, the Rennaissance is now what a 10 year old design--and my remark doesn't denigrate the amp's sound--just puts it in perspective with current designs. I'd say the same thing about the cj or ARC amps too. I think the switch to Teflon caps made a large improvement in the sound of these manufacturers design--not to mention cj's new driver section design using the 8080 and 6H30 P tubes.

To my ears, among other things, thought the Rennaissance amps I heard (and reviewed) lacked some dynamic impact and low end tightness (I can't remember since it's been many years, whether the Rennaissance allowed for adjustable feedback.)
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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Myles was referring to VAC Rennaissance Series amps Gavin. Although the same improvements can be said for, say the tower 5s vs todays 5s. :)
 

MylesBAstor

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
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New York City
Myles was referring to VAC Rennaissance Series amps Gavin. Although the same improvements can be said for, say the tower 5s vs todays 5s. :)

Yes, of course.
 

es347

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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Midwest fly over state..

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