Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: NOS Valves VRD Amplifiers Amplifier (Tube) by maddie.cats@gmail.com Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here.

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Model:	VRD Amplifiers
Category:	Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$2799.00
Description:	60 watts Ultra Linear/30 watts Triode switchable
Manufacturer URL:	NOS Valves
Model Picture:	View

Review by maddie.cats@gmail.com ( A ) on October 22, 2005 at 21:05:17 IP Address: 70.128.46.198

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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 don’t 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 Roller’s” 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 didn’t ever feel like the amps were lacking in bass, on the other hand I wasn’t 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 Blakely’s 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: I’m Wide Awake its Morning is one example (indie/alt country ensemble (fantastic album)) the VRDs did a great job with acoustic guitars and the singer’s unusual voice.

Perhaps the most pleasing recording with the VRDs was Kieth Jarrett’s 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 piano’s 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 I’ve 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 Heresy’s lack punch need to hear this combo. I got bass and it’s fantastic! My speakers have some slight mods to improve bass, but were talking amps here. Truly the best I’ve 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 that’s unfortunate. I think many that are unimpressed by Klipsch, or other horn speakers either haven’t 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, I’ll be fatigued within an hours. Through an all tube set up, including the VRDs = absolute music to my ears. I’m 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 there’s 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!

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Product Weakness:	no self biasing
Product Strengths:	build quality and sound

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Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	NOS Valves VRDs
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Juicy Music Audio BlueBerry Extreme
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	VPI Soutmaster w/ Shelter 90x Lector CDP 0.6T
Speakers:	Epos M5; Klipsch La Scala; Klipsch Heresy; Shahinian Arcs
Cables/Interconnects:	Audioquest; PS Audio; VPI
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz and rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	12 x 14 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	4 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Blue Circle MR1200
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	mine

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