I found the Von
Schweikert room of particular interest.
During my first visit, I heard the VR-4
Gen III’s driven by a pair of Bel
Canto EVo 200.4 400 watt class-T Digital
Amplifiers. The VR-4’s are a four-way
system using a triple-chambered
transmission line and two-piece stacking
enclosure system. The impedance is 6
ohms average and the sensitivity is
rated at 89dB @ 1w/1m. The overall tonal
balance was a bit on the warm side with
a solid low end and very good
top-to-bottom coherence. The VR-4’s
get my vote for the best sound for the
money, far better in fact than their
$3,995-the-pair price tag would
indicate. The 200.4’s provided plenty
of solid, clean power that contributed
greatly to overall quality. While these
amps are a bit hefty in weight and
power, they run cool, seeming to
generate no heat at all. At $3,795 for
the 400-watt and $2,395 for the 120-watt
models, they require a must listen.
On my second visit to
the Von Schweikert room, the same amps
were driving the VR7’s. These speakers
provided a larger sonic picture and
greater transparency. However, I did
find them to be a touch cooler in
tonality than the VR-4’s. I didn’t
get a chance to hear the VR-5’s. I
hope to get the chance in the near
future.
