Ich Bin Ein der Freund aus Von Schweikert The last time I met an audio manufacturer was ages ago, I forgot the year exactly so I was very pleased and excited when the phone rang and got an invite from local VS distributor JackD for a 'despidida' send-off 'meet and greet' with the great loudspeaker designer Albert Von Schweikert and his son Damon who flew into town last week to install upgrade parts and tune the VR9s and the VR11. When I entered the subterranean lair I immediately spotted Albert in the main chair, listening intently while I snuck up to the back seat area:
Moving in for a 'side shot' of Albert, still immersed with the music:
After the cut, introductions were made, and Albert and Jack pointing to each other with Albert saying: "Listen to your main man over here."
While Jack was pointing to Albert's watch: "Let's play some more music cuz we have little time left till you catch your flight tonight."
And the gang listened to more music:
This, of course, was what we were listening to, newly upgraded and updated VR9MKIIs, with bi-amped LAMM monos:
I am the only one here without a Von Schweikert speaker. Kailan ba next draw ng Lotto?
With Mullard88 and Doc Randy:
Chow time. The best part of the night (just kidding).
Wonderful home cooked adobo and cheese and many others. I must have gone back 3 times.
Thanks to Mrs. JackD for the wonderful dishes, and of course to Cong Jack for hosting.
Albert still talking audio, the passion for the music is so great in this man:
After the chow, back to work as Albert and Damon use some test equipment to tune and size up the room with a spectrum analyzer. PASADO DAW ANG TUNING NI JACK!
(Pare, are you sure hindi TONING and ginamit mo?)
The 2 old midrange drivers that were replaced. On the left side is a world famous Pinoy handicraft which is the VS boys send-off GIFT to Albert VS - PRICELESS.
AND THE MUSIC NEVER ENDS....Attending events like these are always impressed in my mind forever. As audio hobbyists, it's something else to sit down and chat with audio gear designers and LEARN from their talents and experiences in the trade. The lessons learned are immeasurable. My thanks to Jack, Keith and the Emperor for making this happen. And to have the pleasure of the company of Mullard, Dafos, O.D. Yeo, and Doc Randy, the night was filled with fun and musical enjoyment.
I learned the initial reaction of Jack to the upgrades of the drivers, crossover and other vital parts was like hearing a new set of speakers. While that was hard to imagine on paper, after hearing the new VR9MKIIs myself, I strongly agree with that assessment. Incredible would be the word. The mastery of Albert at what he does is simply amazing. I can imagine his confidence in flying with his son 5000 miles over to install upgrades that were de facto prototypes as I learned they were the first to be done in any of these speakers in their lineup. Indeed the speakers sound like a new animal and I have exchange notes with dafos and we both agreed that the improvements were not subtle but in fact significant and substantial. First off was the tremendous sense of ease in reproducing complex and loud passage ala broadway plays. Parang LIVE talaga, and that is not exaggerating. Then we noticed the improved definition of the bass notes, specially in bow tones, and the drums, boy, the impact, the kick, the wallop, we had to crank up 'Pigs Eye Jass' to appreciate the superb sound of the drums. And the new 9s were SEAMLESS. There is no gap, no black hole, nothing. It's just cut in one piece. The crossover points simply disappeared. The vocals were lovely specially the females, I don't know if the male singers became lovely,
but at least Johnny Mathis (the singer, not the owner of the house)
was sounding very smooth and chest tones were all fleshed out. If he was, I wonder how Julie London's chest (tones) would have fared. Off the bat, I'd go for Julie pa rin.
The K2 CD sampler was a revelation. The CD is getting very very near to the analog, thanks to the EERA player, which is by far the most musically satisfying CD player I have hear so far. There is dimension, body, detail and 3D separation of instruments. And as the recording goes, so does the music, if there is grit in the recording, it shows, if there is not, it won't. The system is like a chameleon. And to think that some small parts need some burn in. I can't imagine anymore. And I can't imagine how the Emperor's 11s will sound like after the upgrades as he told me he was so much impressed with the improvements.
Hwag, hwag, Kuya...di ko na kaya....Kailan ang next session dyan sa Imperial Lair? I'm just a text away. 'Twas another great night, a great event to cherish as Albert and Damon flew home to California last night. Albert told me inside stories about his career path, how he worked at Infinity and JBL, how he designed the BAZOOKA for the car audio industry which was a great hit, how he revised the Eggleston Andra (which did not have a crossover) into the better Andra II, and how he designed another Eggleston speaker called the SAVOY which performed better than their flagship IVY. All these he did while at the same time building speakers for his own company. And how his works have had over 100 or more reviews in main and internet audio press. Albert loves music and loves to talk audio, in parting he even invited me, so graciously, to continue the friendship by emailing him. What a friend, so all I can say is, and I say it again,
Ich Bin Ein Freund aus Von Schweikert.