VRD Review On AudioKarma

[garymd]

I was scrolling through AudioKarma and came across this review. Just to warn you, it's pretty long. What interested me the most was the guy also owns Klipsch and JuicyMusic products.

BTW - I am in no way associated with the builder of these amps.[]

Introduction:

NOSValves, aka Craig Ostby, is a site sponsor that specializes in vintage tube audio repair and restoration (Scott, Eico, Fisher, Pilot, Harman-Kardon, and Dynaco), and the manufacture of the well received VRD Mono-block amplifiers. I have a personal bias in that I like Craig, and have used his services for restoration and bought the venerable VRDs. However, I receive no benefit from writing a review of the VRDs. My sole purpose is to comment on how these amps sound in my system.

Associated Equipment:

Sources: VPI Scoutmaster with Shelter 90x; Lector CD0.6T

Preamp: Juicy Music Audio Blueberry Extreme

Speakers: Shahinian Arcs; Klipsch Heresys; Klipsch La Scalas; and Epos M5

Cables: Silver Circle Audio Dreamcatcher Speaker Cables; PS Audio XStream Statement ICs

First Impressions:

On first examination one immediately notices the huge transformers, beautiful wood bases, and clean look. I prefer components that look simple and dont require a manual to operate. Other than looking in the well made manual just to be sure of the position of one toggle switch, everything was obvious and ergonomic. The on button is on the front, the bias pots are recessed and surrounded by a cylinder (ostensibly to reduce missing the pot and scratching the stainless steel top plate). The amps have an all Triode front end with a 12AX7 Driver, a 12AU7 phase splitter, and direct coupled 5AR4 rectifier. The rear of the unit has separate provisions for 4, 8, and 16 ohm speakers. Also, the amps are a Tube Rollers Dream as they can run EL34, 6L6GC, 5881, 350B, KT66, KT88, 6550, KT90 and more (some tube choices require a 5U4GB rectifier tube). My bases are finished in solid maple and light tung oil beautiful. All in all, the amps are solid, simple, attractive, and versatile.

Sound:

Right out of the box they sounded great. I knew the amps had already received some break in time as my first contact with them was at AK Fest. They arrived with new Valve Art KT 88s, warmed up quickly and my first listening session was done with the Shahinian Arcs (87db sensitivity). According to the Shahinian website, the Arcs prefer SS amps, and usually fairly powerful ones Plinius and Bedini are suggested. I had the VRDs in ulta-linear mode and had zero difficulty driving them to LOUD volumes. I do not get many opportunities to listen at high volumes, and most of my listening is done at moderate and low levels. One factor I noticed immediately was how well the VRDs performed at low volumes. This may sound silly, but many amps lose resolution and response at low levels. Then again, at the highest of volumes I was able to crank AC DC and Black Sabbath with no obvious distortion.

Prior to the VRDs I had been listening to the Arcs with my MC 2100, and the VRDs were a clear improvement (on the other hand, I think the MC 2100 did better with the Epos M5). Resolution improved and the midrange was really sweet. I didnt ever feel like the amps were lacking in bass, on the other hand I wasnt totally blown away. My favorite pieces with this set up were vocal jazz, and and complex jazz ensembles. I thought the VRDs toned down some horn pieces that had been perceived as shrill, and markedly improved the vocals. One LP that exemplified this was Art Blakelys A Night in Tunisia although I love the LP, there are two or three short passages where the horns are too up front. The VRDs mellowed this a bit and I was quite pleased. I also really like the VRDs with several new albums: Bright Eyes: Im Wide Awake its Morning is one example (indie/alt country ensemble (fantastic album)) the VRDs did a great job with acoustic guitars and the singers unusual voice.

Perhaps the most pleasing recording with the VRDs was Kieth Jarretts Koln Concert. The amps do a fantastic job with piano. This particular LP is a fantastic recording and I could hear the key strikes and mumbling of Jarrett (I love that kinda stuff). The VRD/Arc combo held the pianos sustain exceptionally well.

However, through this endeavor I did come to the conclusion that the VRDs and the Arcs, though in no way bad, did not have the desired synergy I wanted. I felt like there needed to be a touch more speed, and slightly better bass control. This is most definitely not an indictment of the VRDs, instead another example where synergy had yet to be reached.

Next I moved the VRDs to the Epos M5, a 2 way rear ported bookshelf speaker. Lets just skim this part and say, synergy was totally absent. The VRDs are within the recommended specs for these speakers, and despite moving the speakers and playing with room acoustics, I never got a sound I consistently liked. The best Ive heard the Epos were with a Creek amp and I have tried two other amps with the Epos and not had great luck with them either However, despite the lackluster performace of the Epos, the VRDs quickly moved on to the land of synergy and sonic bliss. Perhaps the reason why these amps and Mr. Ostby are so well regarded on the Klipsch forum, is that the VRDs truly SING with Klipsch speakers. My first test was with my Modded Heresys WOW, better bass, no in your face horn sound, absolutely pleasant, non-fatiguing music. The folks that claim Heresys lack punch need to hear this combo. I got bass and its fantastic! My speakers have some slight mods to improve bass, but were talking amps here. Truly the best Ive heard my Heresys. Very musical and smooth with a wide range of music, but the best was yet to come.

VRDs and Klipsch La Scalas:

Klipsch are often a love or hate speaker and thats unfortunate. I think many that are unimpressed by Klipsch, or other horn speakers either havent heard them in a synergistic system, or the crossovers were not set correctly. I believe that high efficiency horn speakers reproduce recordings with impressive fidelity. Unfortunately that can also mean the speaker is unforgiving it will play you exactly what you give it and sometimes that can make your old standby sound like crap. With La Scalas, a crappy recording will sound crappy. No solid state amps sound like tube amps despite the oft stated very tube-like sound. If I play my La Scalas with my old Sony ES amp, Ill be fatigued within an hours. Through an all tube set up, including the VRDs = absolute music to my ears. Im now listening to an all tube path with the Lector CDP, JMA Blueberry Extreme, and the VRDs and the simple conclusion is this combo rocks. The VRDs are not as bright, just a tad more forgiving, and really make complete music (other amps tried in this set up Sony TA-55ES, Rotel 990BX, Dynaco ST70, Shanling SP-80 Monos, and McIntosh MC 2100). The VRDs beat all these amps handily. All of the solid state amps were just too bright, the Shanlings were nice but maybe I thought they sounded bad just cuz they are so ugly I did not feel that the VRDs preferred one type of music over another, I could crank ACDC to the loudest yet most tolerable levels ever, then turn around and rattle the house with Also Spracht Zarathrustra. The accuracy allowed me to notice new little nuggets not heard before fingers on strings, light cymbals, and more. One of my favorite demo pieces with this set up was Alan Parsons I Robot, the intro to that song absolutely rocks through this combo! Totally accurate, exceptionally loud, and yet with a clarity and absence of edginess that made loud listening levels possible. In short, the VRDs are fantastic amps.

Like any piece of high end gear synergy is super important. The VRDs did best with my horns and Shahinians, and worst with traditional bookshelf speakers. Perhaps theres a technical reason for this mismatch, but its also interesting that they did so well with two divergent and relatively unconventional pairs of speakers. The VRDs are beautiful to look at and pleasure to hear. Build quality is excellent and I can attest to outstanding customer service. I can without reservation fully endorse these amps and strongly recommend them to anyone with K-Horns, Belles, La Scalas, and likely most other horn speakers. I believe they are versatile enough to play a wide range of speakers well and have heard reports of great success with VRD/Audio Note AN-J combos. Save yer pennies and get some VRDs!

[mark1101]

Hear Hear ![Y]

[Seadog]

"Perhaps the reason why these amps and Mr. Ostby are so well regarded on the Klipsch forum, is that the VRDs truly SING with Klipsch speakers"

I don't know why, but the "Mr. Ostby" part seems a little too formal for Craig. [] Great review though!

[Gilbert]

Already purchased another tuner, so it'll be soon Craig, soon. I'm planning on the first part of next year, just after Xmas.

[Daddy Dee]

Craig,

Congrats on the nice review!

[edwinr]

Thanks for posting that review.

[Born2RockU]

Craig says that my recently ordered VRD's are being shipped next week .
I am definitely stoked !

I just received my JuicyMusic Peach off of Audiogon ($707...what a deal) ;
...so I will have the Peach / VRD combo.[<)]

I am seriously considering a third VRD for my center-channel LaScala.

**Does anyone here have three VRD's for their 3-channel listening?**

~Rock On ,
Craig LeMay


p.s.- Congrat's to Craig for the great review posted !

[jbsl]

Born2rock I just got my Merlin yesterday and so far it is very nice! So your Peach should sound very good with the VRDs!! I plan to eventually get 3 VRDs also but it may take till end of next year to do so. Enjoy your new toys!!!!

Xman

[Born2RockU]

jbsl :

Nothin' stoppin me to audio bliss !

[whell]

One Saturday afternoon, Audio Flynn stopped by with his van, loaded up

my RF-7's, and we went back over to his place listen to his Chorus's,

and my RF-7's, being driven by a pair of NOSValve's VRD's. The

whole experience pissed me right off, because I've not been able to get

my RF-7's to sound as good as they did on that fateful Saturday!!

[garymd]

Craig says that my recently ordered VRD's are being shipped next week .

I am definitely stoked !

I just received my JuicyMusic Peach off of Audiogon ($707...what a deal) ;

...so I will have the Peach / VRD combo.[<)]

I am seriously considering a third VRD for my center-channel LaScala.

**Does anyone here have three VRD's for their 3-channel listening?**

~Rock On ,

Craig LeMay

p.s.- Congrat's to Craig for the great review posted !

I already bought the Belle to put between my Khorns and once my room is finished, I plan to have 3 amps, probably VRDs, driving my 3-channel setup. It should be amazing!

Smilin - My offer still stands! You out there?[]

[robster]

Very nice review on the VRD's. I love mine! and ditto on the customer service,I have pestered Craig to death with silly questions and he answers all my questions,same with Mark on my Blueberry. Both great folks to deal with!

Cheers,

Robert

[seti]

I wasn't aware of the tube rolling possibilities very interesting.

[NOSValves]

Thanks guy's

I was surprised to see the reveiw since Tyler has had the amps for 4 months.

Robster,

how are you liking the RB300/incognito wired arm on your VPI ? Did you also get a VTA adjuster? I have that arm in OEM version w/ Incognito wire, VTA adjuster, J A Michell stub and counter weight. But I'm to in love with the table I have it on.

Craig

[Colin]

Nice review, I like the sharp and straight forward comparisons, wish I knew what the impedance curves looked like on the other loudspeakers

are these amps on Craig's web site?

[robster]

OOPS double post!!

[robster]

Hiya Craig,

I bought the VPI HW-19 MK3 off A-Gon a few months ago,it came with RB-300 Incognito wired arm,VTA adjuster and heavyweight,I'm using a Dynavector 10X4 cart and should be getting my Ken Lyon "Neuance" isolation for the table next week. I upgarded to the VPI table from my 1985 "The AR" table which I had been using since 1985.

It all started when I bought a Fisher 500-C almost two years ago and asked folks here on the forum what speakers to use and decided to go with Forte's and Chorus II's thanks to the very HELPFUL AND KIND folks here!!

I've been through 2-Fisher 500-C's,one Fisher 400-X Bizzy Bee modified receiver,One Scott 233 NOSvalves rebuilt,a Cayin TA-30 and TAD-150 preamp both from Bizzy Bee,a Marantz 2325 receiver and Carver 2000 receiver. All a learning experience and of course I like the VRD's and Blueberry the most!!

Cheers,

Robert

[NOSValves]

Nice review, I like the sharp and straight forward comparisons, wish I knew what the impedance curves looked like on the other loudspeakers

are these amps on Craig's web site?

Colin,

I'm not sure what the deal with the Epos M5 but like Tyler says there picky speakers. I'm not going to sweat it. The goal with the VRD amps was to make them all they could be with my Lascalas and other similar speakers. They fair very well with a wide range of speakers. These amps are what I listen too and what I prefer. The amps are on my web page on the very first page after entering the site just scroll down. Some day I will have time to put up a dedicated page. I'm selling all these amps that I have time to build so no need to promote something further that I can't produce. I never intended for them to be mass produced.

Craig

[Cal Blacksmith]

Craig;

Congrats on a nice review. You do indeed make a nice

product, one which I would very much consider buying if I was in the market.

Congrats again.

[smilin]

Craig says that my recently ordered VRD's are being shipped next week .

I am definitely stoked !

I just received my JuicyMusic Peach off of Audiogon ($707...what a deal) ;

...so I will have the Peach / VRD combo.[<)]

I am seriously considering a third VRD for my center-channel LaScala.

**Does anyone here have three VRD's for their 3-channel listening?**

~Rock On ,

Craig LeMay

p.s.- Congrat's to Craig for the great review posted !

I already bought the Belle to put between my Khorns and once my room is finished, I plan to have 3 amps, probably VRDs, driving my 3-channel setup. It should be amazing!

Smilin - My offer still stands! You out there?[]

You know me, I am a lurking behind all da scenes, ya ready fopr me to ship yet?