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VR-55 SE

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The VR-55 MkII Special Edition builds on the award-winning VR-55 MkII design while incorporating the highly refined midrange from our ULTRA Line of loudspeakers. While not sharing all the performance improvements of the ULTRA-55, the Special Edition offers greater resolution and musicality in the most important midrange frequencies at a significantly lower price point than the ULTRA-55. We’re confident this is the best-performing loudspeaker regardless of manufacturer at its class.

ABOUT

In it’s standard configuration, the VR-55 MkII Special Edition is offered as a traditional and purely passive reference loudspeaker with extremely accurate linear response from the factory.

But for those interested in achieving the optimum linear response in their room with the fastest, tightest and deepest bass possible, we offer the VR-55 MkII Special Edition Aktive version which incorporates our proprietary 800w R.M.S. Amplifiers.

With traditional passive speakers, the listening room will dictate not only where the speakers will need to be placed but also how good the bass will ultimately sound. With our VR-55 MkII Special Edition Aktive version, each channel incorporates a 800-watt built-in R.M.S. Amplifier between the woofer binding posts and the passive crossover network for the dual bass drivers. This allows the owner to decide exactly where they would like to place the speakers in the room and then adjust the bass drivers with an analog attenuator to deliver highly accurate linear response in that location, regardless of room dynamics.

This bi-amp technique allows anyone, in any room, to achieve superb bass depth and also enables matching of the bass level to the upper frequency ranges. Finally, a speaker for every room!

To add the depth found in the concert hall, we have provided a rear-firing ribbon tweeter along with our Ambience Retrieval System with Effects Level Control. This Dipolar Design creates a “bubble” of sound rather than a narrow “beam,” generating a huge sweet space. For those listeners who do not require a subwoofer amplifier, we also build a Passive version.

SYSTEM TYPE

The woofer system is a four-chamber hybrid, using 100% fill of Polystuffing. Q of woofer system is 0.6. Woofer benefits from an A-Periodic vent that delivers the fastest, most accurate bass wave launch. Any additional energy in the rear wave is either absorbed or release through this vent ensuring the woofers stop as quickly as they start, with no overhang that will distort the next wave launch.

Our Aktive version incorporates our proprietary 800w R.M.S. Amplifier technology to drive the dual woofer passive networks.

Transmission-line woofer loading with sealed midrange and tweeter enclosure.

FEATURES

CABINET DESIGN: To eliminate cabinet “resonance” and coloration, we utilize our proprietary Triple-Wall Constrained Layer Damping 2.0 construction consisting of a 75mm thickness of high-density resin/wood powder, artificial stone, and hard rubber. These layers resonate at differing Q frequencies, which enables the vibration to “actively” reduce sound transmission through the cabinet proper. This cabinet design is not only superior to solid aluminum but is a more elegant solution allowing us to budget far more of the build costs towards the components that make music instead of investing so much into a cabinet that does not.

WOOFER DESIGN: Two -8” (220mm) cast frame drivers, using a honeycomb ceramic cone with an extremely high Young’s Modulus (ratio of weight to rigidity). The high flux density motor, designed with Finite Element Analysis (FEA), reduces the distortion to 0.5%. Made in Germany for VSA.

MIDRANGE DESIGN: 6.5” (165mm) cast frame driver honeycomb ceramic cone with Kevlar backing for greater damping in the critical midrange frequency range. FEA-designed motor for low distortion (0.4%) and flat frequency response. This is one of the most accurate drivers ever designed; manufactured by hand in Germany for VSA specification and serial numbered for quality assurance.

FRONT TWEETER DESIGN: An advanced metal dome tweeter using a Beryllium substrate with ceramic damping layer to eliminate harsh sound quality. Driven by an FEA-designed Neodymium ring magnetic system, the rear wave is absorbed by a specialized rear chamber filled with fiberglass. This new tweeter has the lowest measured distortion of any dome tweeter on the market, cost-no-object.

REAR AMBIENCE RETRIEVAL DRIVER: To match the transient response and tone quality of the superb front tweeter, we have employed a 75mm ribbon tweeter driven by a Neodymium magnet system for the lowest distortion and widest frequency range we have measured from a 75mm ribbon.

AMBIENCE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM: To reproduce the spatiality of each recording, we have designed an all-new ambience retrieval circuit with an analog Level control, to match the rear dipolar dispersion pattern and intensity to the rear wall, whether it is a hard reflective surface or softer, absorptive surface such as a curtain.

SPECIFICATIONS

• FREQ RESP:21Hz - 40kHz


• SENSITIVITY: 88dB @ 1w/1m


• IMPEDANCE: 4ohms


• REC. MIN. POWER: 50 watts


• SIZE: 42" x 13" x 24"


• WEIGHT: 186 lbs


• SUB AMP POWER RATING: 800 watts R.M.S.

WARRANTY

Five-Year Manufacturer Warranty (Term & Conditions applied)