The Sonic Differences Between VR Series and ULTRA Series Reference Loudspeakers

Leif S

Industry Expert
Feb 13, 2015
770
166
180
California
www.vonschweikert.com
Hey friends,

My name is Leif Swanson formally of Endeavor Audio but now VP Sales & Marketing at Von Schweikert Audio. A lot has happened over the last few years here at VSA. We designed and built the ULTRA VR-111XS speaker system, at the same time we designed the VR-55 Aktive which uses some of the trickle down technology from the VR-111XS's, and now the release of the brand new flagship reference line called the ULTRA featuring the ULTRA 9, ULTRA 11, and the ULTRA 101.

Over the last few months we have had many people have been asking what the differences are between our VR-9 and VR-11 series vs. the new ULTRA series.

WBF's own Ron Resnick was one of the people who asked VSA how could the new ULTRA 11 be better than the VR-11SE MkII. Damon, Albert, and I got to spend the day with Ron when he took the time to come visit us at our design studio in Riverside California. Ron wrote an article on his visit to VSA and if interested you can read it here.

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2016/05/von-schweikert-audio-vr-11se-mk2-and.html

So here is a short article to describe...



The Sonic Differences Between VR Series and ULTRA Series​

VR-9SE Mk2 versus ULTRA 9 ~ VR-11SE Mk2 versus ULTRA 11​


ULTRA SYSTEM SPEAKER TECHNOLOGY

Although Von Schweikert Audio has been highly successful with the original VR series, time marches on and new technology replaces the old. Although we continue to refine our existing models on a yearly basis when possible, there are times when a completely new model is warranted. This is usually due to the massive degree of changes required to keep a model at the forefront of engineering and sound reproduction. Thus was born the ULTRA series of new models. This paper seeks to identify and describe the sonic differences between the designs. If you are familiar with our new ULTRA technology and just want to read about the sonic attributes that ULTRA brings to the table, feel free to skip the technology portion and go right into the SONIC portion of this paper, below.

HISTORY OF THE “ULTRA” PROJECT

The first model of the ULTRA series was the one-off ULTRA VR-111XS, a six-tower system designed and built as a “no compromise” product. The audiophile who commissioned this system was prepared to spend “whatever it took” and waited almost three years for the R&D to be completed. It is fair to say that his system (including his concert hall built to house this personal stereo system), is the finest sound system that we’ve ever experienced, regardless of cost. Photos of this system are archived at the Von Schweikert Audio Facebook page. This project was begun in 2012 and shipped in 2015. This summer (2016), highly respected reviewers are traveling to experience the entire systems featuring the ULTRA VR-111XS first hand. For everyone else, we are issuing some advance information on the ULTRA 9 and ULTRA 11 models which are the first production model flagships to take advantage of these leaps in engineering and performance that were achieved with the ULTRA VR-111s.

Due to our patron’s obsession and desire for us to break beyond the boundaries of what was possible to buy on a commercial basis, we tried all worthy techniques to reproduce sound. Numerous prototypes were constructed, both in the virtual and real worlds. Every conceivable method to convert an electrical signal into physical diaphragm motion was theorized, developed, studied, perfected or rejected. This was the single most exhaustive product development in our more than 40 years of loudspeaker design. Every drive unit, every type of cabinet construction, circuit design, circuit parts and wire brand, type and quality was tested, using A/B/X methodology. Even the fasteners and attachment of the drive units to the stone and aluminum layered front baffle was researched, along with methods to shield and isolate the crossover boards and wiring. Proprietary isolation methods were developed for the Crossover Towers, using layers of powdered metals suspended in a painted coating. This enclosure isolates the crossover circuit from EMI and RFI (electromagnetic and radio frequency interference). We discovered these common interferences as a source of “fog” in conventional speakers that do not effectively shield their crossovers. As far as we know, the ULTRA series is the only speaker system in the world that uses this advanced technology.

We mention these small aspects of the overall project to show the level of dedication that was employed to design the ULTRA VR-111XS system. The entire ULTRA project is a tour de force of advanced engineering, especially when comparing our design to anything on the market, at any price.


VERIFICATION PROCESS

First, we wrote an extensive assessment of what was required to achieve the “state-of-the-art” in speaker design and then followed this set of standards, using protocols developed by the ISO (International Standards Organization) and NASA. Subsequently we used five different types of test systems in order to quantify exactly what was being heard. Indeed, without a “yard stick” to measure our progress, the project could have gone sideways, not forwards. Tests using both analog and digital machines included Impulse Response, Impedance Measurement, Frequency Response Measurement, Distortion Analyzation, Vibration and Resonance, Phase Response, Cumulative Spectral Decay, Dispersion over a global 360-degree sound field, and Listening Tests using Live versus Recorded program material. The ULTRA series of speaker systems encompass all the necessary requirements to convey the illusion of a “live” sound field to a degree not formerly possible.


SONIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OUR VR-9 & 11SE Mk2 SERIES AND NEW ULTRA 9 & 11 SERIES

1. NEW-THINK DRIVER TECHNOLOGY: Our new German and Danish ULTRA drive units use a relatively rare cone and magnetic drive system which are Patented and reduces the magnetic motor distortion and mechanical cone breakup distortion to almost “zero.” This means the sound is clearer, less harsh, and more dimensional than the “sound” of our original drive units in the VR-9SE Mk2 and VR-11SE Mk2. The new ULTRA style cones are made from an extremely light weight sandwich honeycomb material (90% of the honeycomb is air) with an outer layer of ceramic to keep the cone stiff. The rigidity and lack of distortion of our new ULTRA cones is a major difference in the overall sound quality of the old versus new models. The new 30mm ULTRA tweeters also use a sandwich membrane of vinyl-coated Beryllium metal which does not sound metallic; most listeners assume they’re soft domes until they hear the added sparkle and “air” at the extreme top of the dome’s range. In the lower treble range they’re as smooth and creamy as any soft dome but have far more clarity due to the lack of dome breakup. The 330mm (15”) subwoofers use extremely light weight woven carbon fiber sandwich cones that cannot bend, driven with dual magnets and dual voice coils to increase the speed and efficiency of the deep bass notes. The 330mm subwoofers have such light cones and huge magnetic structures that they appear to be as fast as the 30mm tweeters and 160mm midrange drivers – the integration, speed, and coherence is very similar to an electrostatic panel. However, unlike electrostatic panels, the ULTRA sound is more dynamic, louder, richer, and wider in dispersion, bringing the entire sound field of the recording venue into your room. The overall realism of these new drivers is amazing. The light weight, sandwich technology is the most critical characteristic.

2. Clarity: The ULTRA 11 does not sound like a speaker. It is invisible to the ear. Our older models, the VR-9 and 11SE Mk2, sound like very good speakers, but they are not sonically invisible. The ULTRA 9 & 11 are “invisible” since they do not generate their own sound, called “self noise,” from the speaker cabinets or raw drivers. The ULTRA 9 & 11 design is very pure, clear and harmonically rich; the sonic difference over conventional technology is astonishing. Anyone can hear this difference since it is like comparing day and night. Much of the clarity is due to the better drive units and the cabinet. The new ULTRA cabinet is several times less resonant than the original VR-11SE Mk2 cabinet, see below. The rest of the improvements come from the wire and parts, which we believe are contributing significantly to the clarity and musicality over the original wire and capacitors.

NOTE: Regarding the “sound” of capacitors, inductors, resistors, and wire: the differences between low cost and the very best parts is not small; a European “film” capacitor might cost as little as $10 for an 8 mFd unit, while a Deulund or Jensen oil cap might cost $300 for the same 8 mFd value! The sound difference is not subtle unless the drive units and cabinets are masking the sound with large quantities of coloration. When you have assembled the best drivers (high clarity, low distortion) into the best cabinet (non-resonant), the circuitry can be easily heard as everything is interrelated and at a very high level of sensitivity. Any coloration in the crossover parts and wire either adds or subtracts detail from the music. For instance, most mid-priced capacitors wound with metalized aluminum foil tend to sound “thin” while oil filled paper capacitors with copper windings sound very rich and full bodied. Inductor coils with metal in their cores tend to have a smeared and somewhat harsh sound, while air in the core has no sound generated by magnetic field distortion, since there is no metal in the core. Resistors can have small amounts of coloration such as harshness unless the best quality metal film types are used.

Although there is quite a body of scientific evidence that simple wire does affect the sound, many so-called engineers do not believe this since they do not have access to sophisticated measurement equipment as used in the world’s most advanced laboratories utilized by aerospace companies that invent and fabricate their own processes. The Patented aerospace wire designed and fabricated by MasterBuilt in the USA that we use inside our new ULTRA series of speakers has a richer, denser harmonic structure, less distortion, and hence, greater clarity and detail. These differences are not subtle when used with very high quality ancillary parts such as the new ULTRA drivers and cabinet. As the ULTRA wire is an exotic product formulated for the aerospace industry and is not simple wire per se, but is an amalgamation of rare earth and precious alloys. This means it is extremely expensive, since it is not an “off the shelf” type of product. We would not burden the cost of manufacturing the ULTRA speakers with this wire unless there was an extremely audible improvement to the overall sound. We and many others believe that using ULTRA wire is one of the largest upgrades you can make to your stereo system. In fact, the ULTRA series of new speakers is based in large part on the use of this ULTRA wire.

3. Dynamic Range: The new drive units have a longer physical excursion potential and when the
new-design ULTRA drivers are moving a lot of air, the sound is more dynamic and exciting. On very loud peaks, the new drivers do not “break up;” they sound sweet even when the music is very loud. The ULTRA 11 sounds more “real” in part due to less distortion at any volume level. At very quiet levels, the sound is full and rich, with a dense harmonic structure. The VR-11SE Mk2 is “colored” by comparison, but then, so is every other speaker system on the market when played at very low levels. At high volume levels, the ULTRA series does not “shout” at you or get hard and distorted; the sound merely becomes larger. It has the same effect as walking closer to the stage when a full symphony is playing at mezzo forte levels; it is thrilling to hear!

4. Image Focus: Our engineering team has designed a new Rear Firing Ambience Retrieval System. The original version used only a single rear super tweeter, but the new version uses three different drive units (not shown in the drawings on our website at this time, but revised drawings are coming). There is the ribbon super tweeter in the center, and above and below the tall ribbon there are new lower-range magnesium dome tweeters that extend the lower frequency range of the Ambience sound behind the speaker. This new Ambience Retrieval System recreates and projects a hall effect similar to the original reverberation, if the recording contains this natural effect. The new Ambience system creates a more dimensional sound, with more depth and a very solid body to each instrument. The new ULTRA 11 sounds more like an omni-directional speaker than any other design (except for true omnis) and is very exciting to listen to. We have found that being able to control the volume of the rear firing Ambience is of vast importance if the speakers need to be placed in front of reflective walls, making our design more user friendly than a true omni speaker which lack this adjustability. Due to the new Ambience system, the ULTRA’s are very open and involving and will illuminate any room with stereo sound at any listening position, just like a live performance.

5. Bandwidth: Although the subwoofers and super tweeters of the original VR-9 & 11SE Mk2 had very good response at the bottom and top ends of the frequency range, the new drive units have a wider bandwidth with more extension. The deep bass is far tighter and cleaner, while the new super tweeters have a cleaner sound at high frequencies. This added quality at the frequency extremes highlights the nature of the extremely clear and transparent midrange frequency range; system coherence was paramount in the ULTRA design. It goes without saying that the measurements of the new ULTRA series are new benchmarks in what’s possible with sound reproduction.

6. Coherence: Almost every speaker system on the market uses a variety of different materials to push the air in order to reproduce sound. Back in the 1930’s, paper cones and metal horns were dominant for the theater speakers of the era, but over the past 80 years, stiffer materials were tried. A wide variety of plastics, metals, ceramics, and laminated paper, foam, and fabrics were tried. The goal was to design a very stiff but lightweight membrane; two penalties of this concept were: a) ringing or bending of the cone materials at their characteristic resonant frequencies, and: b) sonic colorations were being added by the sound of the materials themselves. To solve these problems, we resorted to sandwich cones and domes that would eliminate both of these common problems. These technologies were designed by us for our proprietary use, although we do not build the drivers ourselves. They are manufactured by the largest and most accomplished manufacturers on the planet which happen to reside in Germany and Denmark, so the quality and control of uniformity is at the state-of-the-art. Since we can control every aspect of each driver, from the 330mm (15”) subwoofers up to the 12mm (1/2”) wide super tweeter ribbons, we have utilized materials that have the same tonal characteristics, so that the drivers all sound as “one single driver” or “one voice.” You might say that the new series is ULTRA coherent; in fact, we would.

Our previous models VR-9 and VR-11 used different materials for bass, mid, and treble that were “voiced” by our crossover circuits to sound and behave as a single sounding driver array. Although we were quite successful with that approach, the best approach is to use the same type of material(s) that have the same sonic qualities and transfer functions, as the ear is not easily fooled. We believe that the ULTRA series of speakers have the most coherent sound of any design on the market when the dynamic range, bandwidth, and image focus is factored into the sonic equation.

7. Solid Image Focus: The new cabinet is made from a 100mm (4”) composite layer of resin, stone, rubber, and wood powder, similar to the older models. The differing Q (resonant factor) of the three layers creates unequal vibration in the panels, absorbing the movement and hence “resonant coloration.” The Opposing Q’s work like this: +1 – 1 = 0. However, since the new cabinet is made from a single cabinet, it is more structurally stable and can be braced with a better method than our older stacked cube version. Our seven years of experience building the Active Noise Reducing cabinets employing the Triple-Wall Laminates have led to a better construction of these materials, resulting in a Vers. 2.0 of the cabinet design walls. Although the multiple-box designs of the VR-9 and VR-11 were easy to pack and set up, they were a compromise. The two boxes of the VR-9 and three boxes of the VR-11 stacked could wobble a little on loud bass notes and when the stack would wobble, the image would not stay completely focused. The new single cabinet ULTRA version may be a little harder to ship and set up, the solid image focus is worth the extra effort. The illusion of images floating in the air has been greatly improved, with most listeners mentioning that the sound is extremely dimensional and is not coming from the speaker cabinets themselves. This is a primary characteristic of the “invisible” nature of the new ULTRA series and reflects the state-of-the-art in cabinet technology. Although far more expensive to produce, we believe the resulting sonic improvements is worth the expense.

8. Overall Realism: In the past few years, our engineering skills have improved due to the sheer number of “high resolution” prototypes we have built. In addition, we have new engineering tools and measurement equipment housed in a very large semi-anechoic room that does not interfere with our delicate measurements as we have moveable sound traps and can create different shaped and sized rooms inside this huge environment. We spend many hours every day, testing different types of construction and new ideas. Von Schweikert Audio invests a disproportionate amount of resources (money, labor and time) into Research and Development than most other speaker companies. This is obvious in the sheer number of designs we’ve produced in just the last year when compared to all of our competitors.

What this all means is that we have the resources and experience to identify and correct distortion and coloration that we were unable to correct ten years ago; in fact, no company was able to design and fabricate a speaker at the complexity level of our new ULTRA series of speakers, even as little as one year ago. When you hear an ULTRA speaker for the first time, it will forever change your perception on just how close reproduced sound can come to a live performance.

We hope you enjoyed reading this short article. If you have any questions about the engineering, sound quality, or suggested equipment to use with this product, please do not hesitate to contact us; someone from our design team will personally speak with you.
 

Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I very much enjoyed reading this article. Thank you and welcome to WBF.

I will be one of the guys visiting Jim and Jack in early August and I have been waiting exactly one year for this trip to come to fruition. To hear Jack's VR11SE Mkll and Jim's one off VR111SX will be truly the highlights of my trip.
 

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,806
4,698
2,790
Portugal
Great to read about the SOTA VR-111xs project in WBF. I had seen the TAS articles in the past and now also found the Audio Circle posts by Albert Von Schweikert http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=138240.0.

The system really looks impressive - even heavier than the German Physics Gaudi's!
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,377
2,497
1,398
Great thread...look forward to reading more about these magnificent speakers and speaker maker!
 

SCAudiophile

Well-Known Member
Sep 11, 2010
1,154
435
1,205
Greer South Carolina (USA)
Does anyone have info as to when the ULTRA 9s and 11s will be available and where they can be heard? Also, price point, frequency specs, sensitivity, etc....? Thanks!
 

Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Does anyone have info as to when the ULTRA 9s and 11s will be available and where they can be heard? Also, price point, frequency specs, sensitivity, etc....? Thanks!

http://www.vonschweikert.com/ultra-reference-loudspeakers

The ultra 9 is $175K and the Ultra 11 are $295K

Leif was at my house yesterday and from what I understand both speakers will be available in ~3 months and the Ultra 11 will debut at the Singapore Audio show this year
 

SCAudiophile

Well-Known Member
Sep 11, 2010
1,154
435
1,205
Greer South Carolina (USA)
Thank you very much....
 

Mobiusman

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2010
704
557
1,655
Jersey Shore- waterside
Hey friends,

My name is Leif Swanson formally of Endeavor Audio but now VP Sales & Marketing at Von Schweikert Audio. A lot has happened over the last few years here at VSA. We designed and built the ULTRA VR-111XS speaker system, at the same time we designed the VR-55 Aktive which uses some of the trickle down technology from the VR-111XS's, and now the release of the brand new flagship reference line called the ULTRA featuring the ULTRA 9, ULTRA 11, and the ULTRA 101.

Over the last few months we have had many people have been asking what the differences are between our VR-9 and VR-11 series vs. the new ULTRA series.

WBF's own Ron Resnick was one of the people who asked VSA how could the new ULTRA 11 be better than the VR-11SE MkII. Damon, Albert, and I got to spend the day with Ron when he took the time to come visit us at our design studio in Riverside California. Ron wrote an article on his visit to VSA and if interested you can read it here.

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2016/05/von-schweikert-audio-vr-11se-mk2-and.html

So here is a short article to describe...



The Sonic Differences Between VR Series and ULTRA Series​


VR-9SE Mk2 versus ULTRA 9 ~ VR-11SE Mk2 versus ULTRA 11​



ULTRA SYSTEM SPEAKER TECHNOLOGY

Although Von Schweikert Audio has been highly successful with the original VR series, time marches on and new technology replaces the old. Although we continue to refine our existing models on a yearly basis when possible, there are times when a completely new model is warranted. This is usually due to the massive degree of changes required to keep a model at the forefront of engineering and sound reproduction. Thus was born the ULTRA series of new models. This paper seeks to identify and describe the sonic differences between the designs. If you are familiar with our new ULTRA technology and just want to read about the sonic attributes that ULTRA brings to the table, feel free to skip the technology portion and go right into the SONIC portion of this paper, below.

HISTORY OF THE “ULTRA” PROJECT

The first model of the ULTRA series was the one-off ULTRA VR-111XS, a six-tower system designed and built as a “no compromise” product. The audiophile who commissioned this system was prepared to spend “whatever it took” and waited almost three years for the R&D to be completed. It is fair to say that his system (including his concert hall built to house this personal stereo system), is the finest sound system that we’ve ever experienced, regardless of cost. Photos of this system are archived at the Von Schweikert Audio Facebook page. This project was begun in 2012 and shipped in 2015. This summer (2016), highly respected reviewers are traveling to experience the entire systems featuring the ULTRA VR-111XS first hand. For everyone else, we are issuing some advance information on the ULTRA 9 and ULTRA 11 models which are the first production model flagships to take advantage of these leaps in engineering and performance that were achieved with the ULTRA VR-111s.

Due to our patron’s obsession and desire for us to break beyond the boundaries of what was possible to buy on a commercial basis, we tried all worthy techniques to reproduce sound. Numerous prototypes were constructed, both in the virtual and real worlds. Every conceivable method to convert an electrical signal into physical diaphragm motion was theorized, developed, studied, perfected or rejected. This was the single most exhaustive product development in our more than 40 years of loudspeaker design. Every drive unit, every type of cabinet construction, circuit design, circuit parts and wire brand, type and quality was tested, using A/B/X methodology. Even the fasteners and attachment of the drive units to the stone and aluminum layered front baffle was researched, along with methods to shield and isolate the crossover boards and wiring. Proprietary isolation methods were developed for the Crossover Towers, using layers of powdered metals suspended in a painted coating. This enclosure isolates the crossover circuit from EMI and RFI (electromagnetic and radio frequency interference). We discovered these common interferences as a source of “fog” in conventional speakers that do not effectively shield their crossovers. As far as we know, the ULTRA series is the only speaker system in the world that uses this advanced technology.

We mention these small aspects of the overall project to show the level of dedication that was employed to design the ULTRA VR-111XS system. The entire ULTRA project is a tour de force of advanced engineering, especially when comparing our design to anything on the market, at any price.


VERIFICATION PROCESS

First, we wrote an extensive assessment of what was required to achieve the “state-of-the-art” in speaker design and then followed this set of standards, using protocols developed by the ISO (International Standards Organization) and NASA. Subsequently we used five different types of test systems in order to quantify exactly what was being heard. Indeed, without a “yard stick” to measure our progress, the project could have gone sideways, not forwards. Tests using both analog and digital machines included Impulse Response, Impedance Measurement, Frequency Response Measurement, Distortion Analyzation, Vibration and Resonance, Phase Response, Cumulative Spectral Decay, Dispersion over a global 360-degree sound field, and Listening Tests using Live versus Recorded program material. The ULTRA series of speaker systems encompass all the necessary requirements to convey the illusion of a “live” sound field to a degree not formerly possible.


SONIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OUR VR-9 & 11SE Mk2 SERIES AND NEW ULTRA 9 & 11 SERIES

1. NEW-THINK DRIVER TECHNOLOGY: Our new German and Danish ULTRA drive units use a relatively rare cone and magnetic drive system which are Patented and reduces the magnetic motor distortion and mechanical cone breakup distortion to almost “zero.” This means the sound is clearer, less harsh, and more dimensional than the “sound” of our original drive units in the VR-9SE Mk2 and VR-11SE Mk2. The new ULTRA style cones are made from an extremely light weight sandwich honeycomb material (90% of the honeycomb is air) with an outer layer of ceramic to keep the cone stiff. The rigidity and lack of distortion of our new ULTRA cones is a major difference in the overall sound quality of the old versus new models. The new 30mm ULTRA tweeters also use a sandwich membrane of vinyl-coated Beryllium metal which does not sound metallic; most listeners assume they’re soft domes until they hear the added sparkle and “air” at the extreme top of the dome’s range. In the lower treble range they’re as smooth and creamy as any soft dome but have far more clarity due to the lack of dome breakup. The 330mm (15”) subwoofers use extremely light weight woven carbon fiber sandwich cones that cannot bend, driven with dual magnets and dual voice coils to increase the speed and efficiency of the deep bass notes. The 330mm subwoofers have such light cones and huge magnetic structures that they appear to be as fast as the 30mm tweeters and 160mm midrange drivers – the integration, speed, and coherence is very similar to an electrostatic panel. However, unlike electrostatic panels, the ULTRA sound is more dynamic, louder, richer, and wider in dispersion, bringing the entire sound field of the recording venue into your room. The overall realism of these new drivers is amazing. The light weight, sandwich technology is the most critical characteristic.

2. Clarity: The ULTRA 11 does not sound like a speaker. It is invisible to the ear. Our older models, the VR-9 and 11SE Mk2, sound like very good speakers, but they are not sonically invisible. The ULTRA 9 & 11 are “invisible” since they do not generate their own sound, called “self noise,” from the speaker cabinets or raw drivers. The ULTRA 9 & 11 design is very pure, clear and harmonically rich; the sonic difference over conventional technology is astonishing. Anyone can hear this difference since it is like comparing day and night. Much of the clarity is due to the better drive units and the cabinet. The new ULTRA cabinet is several times less resonant than the original VR-11SE Mk2 cabinet, see below. The rest of the improvements come from the wire and parts, which we believe are contributing significantly to the clarity and musicality over the original wire and capacitors.

NOTE: Regarding the “sound” of capacitors, inductors, resistors, and wire: the differences between low cost and the very best parts is not small; a European “film” capacitor might cost as little as $10 for an 8 mFd unit, while a Deulund or Jensen oil cap might cost $300 for the same 8 mFd value! The sound difference is not subtle unless the drive units and cabinets are masking the sound with large quantities of coloration. When you have assembled the best drivers (high clarity, low distortion) into the best cabinet (non-resonant), the circuitry can be easily heard as everything is interrelated and at a very high level of sensitivity. Any coloration in the crossover parts and wire either adds or subtracts detail from the music. For instance, most mid-priced capacitors wound with metalized aluminum foil tend to sound “thin” while oil filled paper capacitors with copper windings sound very rich and full bodied. Inductor coils with metal in their cores tend to have a smeared and somewhat harsh sound, while air in the core has no sound generated by magnetic field distortion, since there is no metal in the core. Resistors can have small amounts of coloration such as harshness unless the best quality metal film types are used.

Although there is quite a body of scientific evidence that simple wire does affect the sound, many so-called engineers do not believe this since they do not have access to sophisticated measurement equipment as used in the world’s most advanced laboratories utilized by aerospace companies that invent and fabricate their own processes. The Patented aerospace wire designed and fabricated by MasterBuilt in the USA that we use inside our new ULTRA series of speakers has a richer, denser harmonic structure, less distortion, and hence, greater clarity and detail. These differences are not subtle when used with very high quality ancillary parts such as the new ULTRA drivers and cabinet. As the ULTRA wire is an exotic product formulated for the aerospace industry and is not simple wire per se, but is an amalgamation of rare earth and precious alloys. This means it is extremely expensive, since it is not an “off the shelf” type of product. We would not burden the cost of manufacturing the ULTRA speakers with this wire unless there was an extremely audible improvement to the overall sound. We and many others believe that using ULTRA wire is one of the largest upgrades you can make to your stereo system. In fact, the ULTRA series of new speakers is based in large part on the use of this ULTRA wire.

3. Dynamic Range: The new drive units have a longer physical excursion potential and when the
new-design ULTRA drivers are moving a lot of air, the sound is more dynamic and exciting. On very loud peaks, the new drivers do not “break up;” they sound sweet even when the music is very loud. The ULTRA 11 sounds more “real” in part due to less distortion at any volume level. At very quiet levels, the sound is full and rich, with a dense harmonic structure. The VR-11SE Mk2 is “colored” by comparison, but then, so is every other speaker system on the market when played at very low levels. At high volume levels, the ULTRA series does not “shout” at you or get hard and distorted; the sound merely becomes larger. It has the same effect as walking closer to the stage when a full symphony is playing at mezzo forte levels; it is thrilling to hear!

4. Image Focus: Our engineering team has designed a new Rear Firing Ambience Retrieval System. The original version used only a single rear super tweeter, but the new version uses three different drive units (not shown in the drawings on our website at this time, but revised drawings are coming). There is the ribbon super tweeter in the center, and above and below the tall ribbon there are new lower-range magnesium dome tweeters that extend the lower frequency range of the Ambience sound behind the speaker. This new Ambience Retrieval System recreates and projects a hall effect similar to the original reverberation, if the recording contains this natural effect. The new Ambience system creates a more dimensional sound, with more depth and a very solid body to each instrument. The new ULTRA 11 sounds more like an omni-directional speaker than any other design (except for true omnis) and is very exciting to listen to. We have found that being able to control the volume of the rear firing Ambience is of vast importance if the speakers need to be placed in front of reflective walls, making our design more user friendly than a true omni speaker which lack this adjustability. Due to the new Ambience system, the ULTRA’s are very open and involving and will illuminate any room with stereo sound at any listening position, just like a live performance.

5. Bandwidth: Although the subwoofers and super tweeters of the original VR-9 & 11SE Mk2 had very good response at the bottom and top ends of the frequency range, the new drive units have a wider bandwidth with more extension. The deep bass is far tighter and cleaner, while the new super tweeters have a cleaner sound at high frequencies. This added quality at the frequency extremes highlights the nature of the extremely clear and transparent midrange frequency range; system coherence was paramount in the ULTRA design. It goes without saying that the measurements of the new ULTRA series are new benchmarks in what’s possible with sound reproduction.

6. Coherence: Almost every speaker system on the market uses a variety of different materials to push the air in order to reproduce sound. Back in the 1930’s, paper cones and metal horns were dominant for the theater speakers of the era, but over the past 80 years, stiffer materials were tried. A wide variety of plastics, metals, ceramics, and laminated paper, foam, and fabrics were tried. The goal was to design a very stiff but lightweight membrane; two penalties of this concept were: a) ringing or bending of the cone materials at their characteristic resonant frequencies, and: b) sonic colorations were being added by the sound of the materials themselves. To solve these problems, we resorted to sandwich cones and domes that would eliminate both of these common problems. These technologies were designed by us for our proprietary use, although we do not build the drivers ourselves. They are manufactured by the largest and most accomplished manufacturers on the planet which happen to reside in Germany and Denmark, so the quality and control of uniformity is at the state-of-the-art. Since we can control every aspect of each driver, from the 330mm (15”) subwoofers up to the 12mm (1/2”) wide super tweeter ribbons, we have utilized materials that have the same tonal characteristics, so that the drivers all sound as “one single driver” or “one voice.” You might say that the new series is ULTRA coherent; in fact, we would.

Our previous models VR-9 and VR-11 used different materials for bass, mid, and treble that were “voiced” by our crossover circuits to sound and behave as a single sounding driver array. Although we were quite successful with that approach, the best approach is to use the same type of material(s) that have the same sonic qualities and transfer functions, as the ear is not easily fooled. We believe that the ULTRA series of speakers have the most coherent sound of any design on the market when the dynamic range, bandwidth, and image focus is factored into the sonic equation.

7. Solid Image Focus: The new cabinet is made from a 100mm (4”) composite layer of resin, stone, rubber, and wood powder, similar to the older models. The differing Q (resonant factor) of the three layers creates unequal vibration in the panels, absorbing the movement and hence “resonant coloration.” The Opposing Q’s work like this: +1 – 1 = 0. However, since the new cabinet is made from a single cabinet, it is more structurally stable and can be braced with a better method than our older stacked cube version. Our seven years of experience building the Active Noise Reducing cabinets employing the Triple-Wall Laminates have led to a better construction of these materials, resulting in a Vers. 2.0 of the cabinet design walls. Although the multiple-box designs of the VR-9 and VR-11 were easy to pack and set up, they were a compromise. The two boxes of the VR-9 and three boxes of the VR-11 stacked could wobble a little on loud bass notes and when the stack would wobble, the image would not stay completely focused. The new single cabinet ULTRA version may be a little harder to ship and set up, the solid image focus is worth the extra effort. The illusion of images floating in the air has been greatly improved, with most listeners mentioning that the sound is extremely dimensional and is not coming from the speaker cabinets themselves. This is a primary characteristic of the “invisible” nature of the new ULTRA series and reflects the state-of-the-art in cabinet technology. Although far more expensive to produce, we believe the resulting sonic improvements is worth the expense.

8. Overall Realism: In the past few years, our engineering skills have improved due to the sheer number of “high resolution” prototypes we have built. In addition, we have new engineering tools and measurement equipment housed in a very large semi-anechoic room that does not interfere with our delicate measurements as we have moveable sound traps and can create different shaped and sized rooms inside this huge environment. We spend many hours every day, testing different types of construction and new ideas. Von Schweikert Audio invests a disproportionate amount of resources (money, labor and time) into Research and Development than most other speaker companies. This is obvious in the sheer number of designs we’ve produced in just the last year when compared to all of our competitors.

What this all means is that we have the resources and experience to identify and correct distortion and coloration that we were unable to correct ten years ago; in fact, no company was able to design and fabricate a speaker at the complexity level of our new ULTRA series of speakers, even as little as one year ago. When you hear an ULTRA speaker for the first time, it will forever change your perception on just how close reproduced sound can come to a live performance.

We hope you enjoyed reading this short article. If you have any questions about the engineering, sound quality, or suggested equipment to use with this product, please do not hesitate to contact us; someone from our design team will personally speak with you.

Leif,

I just discovered this article written almost 2 years ago. It helped fill the holes in my understanding of the evolution of the current ultra series. Having just heard the Ultra 11's for the first time 2 weeks ago, all I can say is that it sounds to me like you achieved most of your objectives and will continue to move in that direction. Obviously, I must have been taken by what I heard or I would not have commissioned a pair of Ultra 9's, with plans to shift to VAC electronics either in part or with maybe a Spectral SOTA preamp for speed. This is a good place for me to remake my point that part of what I believe I am purchasing is the commitment that you and Damon have at your cores to create the best regardless of time and resources to help those that seek the excitement of music any time they wish.

Bravo
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
12,304
1,420
1,820
Manila, Philippines
I wonder how I could have missed this thread given I was privy to all communications for pretty much the entire process.

Leif did leave a few cool details out. When they were commissioned to do the 111 from scratch, Leif mentioned that they didn't have a reference on hand (for A-B-X testing). What he didn't mention is that they went and built a pair of VR-11 SE Mk2s just to remedy that. That is obviously the proper thing to do but it does show how dedicated the company is to investing in the R of their R&D. Building 11 Mk2s takes about 2 months and 2 weeks of burn in. That's a lot of time not just money.

Let's back up a few years. When Albert and Damon were here to upgrade our 11s and 9s to Mk2 status, we were casually talking over a break and Jim asked Albert if he knew how to make a better speaker. Albert, without missing a beat answers in between bites of a clubhouse sandwich "No I don't. Not at this time.". Albert being Albert :) goes on for a few minutes talking about what could be improved but re-iterates that how to go about doing that is still uncharted territory. A few months later comes an email from Albert saying he has ideas but they are untested. Jim now having a lot of faith in the team after owning 7 different pairs of VSA speakers and hearing the obvious improvements of the Mk2 upgrades , basically says, ok let's roll the dice. I want to end the loudspeaker part so let's build me my last speaker. Life is short. LOL

Back to 2015, VSA now has it's research pair of 11 Mk2s and the team says, well we invested in you already, how do we beat you in all aspects while retaining the same size. Here is where the OP comes in. As they are working on these the trickle down had formally reached the line with the VR-55. When we got our hands on our pair of 55s we'd verified that whatever it was they did in there, the resemblance in sonic DNA to the 111s was unmistakable. No paternity test required. LOL I don't know why I'm laughing because this moment got me into a lot of trouble. Hearing the 55s, I knew instantly that this tech on an 11 platform would be killer. The new generation Accutons alone are killer having heard them on both VSA and Marten, which have very different XO and baffle philosophies. They built it and the nail on the coffin was having Steve hear one of only 2 pairs in existennce at the time and confirming that I was in trouble indeed. Order placed. Big Blacks hit the road inn the US and the awards come pouring in shockingly even from budget oriented and head-fi sites and forums. Then came the natural consequence of the U11's success. Okay, now how do we get that performance while cutting you in half like they did with the original 11s and 9s. Then they did that too!

I will stop here as the story would best served when the ship docks and I get Big Blue to get tight with his stable mates. ;)

Now a year and a half is a long time to wait. Especially so when just to finance the whole thing meant having to sell your main speakers. The wait came with some twists and turns because, pain in their collective behinds that I will always be, there were some things I wanted which I will tell later. At the end of the day however, these guys are straight shooters. They will tell you when they feel there is more to be done and only sign off on your speakers when they feel sure everything is locked in.

To be continued..........
 
Last edited:

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
15,965
13,234
2,665
Beverly Hills, CA
Thank you, Jack, for that very interesting background information!
 

Damon Von Schweikert

WBF Technical Expert
Sep 15, 2016
113
234
175
California
www.vonschweikert.com
Wow guys, this means a lot to us. More than I can properly express.

Some on this forum may know this already but for those that don't, the team spends most of our time here at the offices with heads-down. We're hyper focused on our designs and production, quality control, etc. Arguably we should spend far more time marketing and networking as one should when attempting to build a global brand. But our comfort zone has always been in the design arena. Leif and I are attempting to stretch outside that comfort zone and develop the skills required to increase consumer awareness for what we do.

That's why we're so appreciative when someone has not only discovered our company deep down the audiophile rabbit hole but made the significant decision to invest in our products. It's very humbling. As a manufacturer, I can think no greater compliment than the choice to invest in our products. As such, we work very hard to ensure customer satisfaction. It's literally the least we can do.

So thank you Jack for your patience with us, we certainly hope it was worth it. And thank you Russ for your confidence in us, we'll work very hard to justify it. All the best my friends and thanks again for the kind words!
 

Leif S

Industry Expert
Feb 13, 2015
770
166
180
California
www.vonschweikert.com
DAMON
"Leif you are supposed to be working on marketing!"

LEIF
"But I really just want to design. Can I just stay here?" LOL
16995940_1250204051696118_7198294602860910163_n.jpg
 

es347

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
1,577
35
970
Midwest fly over state..

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
12,304
1,420
1,820
Manila, Philippines
I'd say it is the VR-55 if space is the main consideration. That said, 9s and 5s historically did well in the same floor areas. To me, unless one were to go with a smaller or much larger room, the 9s are "endgame" speakers :)
 

Mobiusman

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2010
704
557
1,655
Jersey Shore- waterside
I wonder how I could have missed this thread given I was privy to all communications for pretty much the entire process.

Leif did leave a few cool details out. When they were commissioned to do the 111 from scratch, Leif mentioned that they didn't have a reference on hand (for A-B-X testing). What he didn't mention is that they went and built a pair of VR-11 SE Mk2s just to remedy that. That is obviously the proper thing to do but it does show how dedicated the company is to investing in the R of their R&D. Building 11 Mk2s takes about 2 months and 2 weeks of burn in. That's a lot of time not just money.

Let's back up a few years. When Albert and Damon were here to upgrade our 11s and 9s to Mk2 status, we were casually talking over a break and Jim asked Albert if he knew how to make a better speaker. Albert, without missing a beat answers in between bites of a clubhouse sandwich "No I don't. Not at this time.". Albert being Albert :) goes on for a few minutes talking about what could be improved but re-iterates that how to go about doing that is still uncharted territory. A few months later comes an email from Albert saying he has ideas but they are untested. Jim now having a lot of faith in the team after owning 7 different pairs of VSA speakers and hearing the obvious improvements of the Mk2 upgrades , basically says, ok let's roll the dice. I want to end the loudspeaker part so let's build me my last speaker. Life is short. LOL

Back to 2015, VSA now has it's research pair of 11 Mk2s and the team says, well we invested in you already, how do we beat you in all aspects while retaining the same size. Here is where the OP comes in. As they are working on these the trickle down had formally reached the line with the VR-55. When we got our hands on our pair of 55s we'd verified that whatever it was they did in there, the resemblance in sonic DNA to the 111s was unmistakable. No paternity test required. LOL I don't know why I'm laughing because this moment got me into a lot of trouble. Hearing the 55s, I knew instantly that this tech on an 11 platform would be killer. The new generation Accutons alone are killer having heard them on both VSA and Marten, which have very different XO and baffle philosophies. They built it and the nail on the coffin was having Steve hear one of only 2 pairs in existennce at the time and confirming that I was in trouble indeed. Order placed. Big Blacks hit the road inn the US and the awards come pouring in shockingly even from budget oriented and head-fi sites and forums. Then came the natural consequence of the U11's success. Okay, now how do we get that performance while cutting you in half like they did with the original 11s and 9s. Then they did that too!

I will stop here as the story would best served when the ship docks and I get Big Blue to get tight with his stable mates. ;)

Now a year and a half is a long time to wait. Especially so when just to finance the whole thing meant having to sell your main speakers. The wait came with some twists and turns because, pain in their collective behinds that I will always be, there were some things I wanted which I will tell later. At the end of the day however, these guys are straight shooters. They will tell you when they feel there is more to be done and only sign off on your speakers when they feel sure everything is locked in.

To be continued..........

Jack,

Although we have never met nor spoken, I feel as if I know much about you since I am friends with Steve Williams, Damon and Leif, not to mention have a pair of Ultra 9's being fabricated at this time with hopefully an August delivery. While I am financially comfortable, I am not wealthy and for me to purchase a pair of Ultra 9's, which will likely mean selling much of my current system to purchase VAC electronics and a ream of MasterBuilt Ultra cable to make them sound the best, this is clearly the largest single audio purchase, and maybe my single biggest financial outlay of my entire life. For me to make this move would not have happened if I did not believe that I am buying my last speaker so that I can focus on listening rather than selecting and purchasing the next audio step towards nirvana. Many recent wake-up calls have happened to me lately, including cancer sending me the clear message to get it done while I still can. After 6+ hours of listening to the Ultra 11's driven by VAC Statement Level electronics through MasterBuilt cables at Axpona 2018, using a vast array of musical content, I felt if I was going to put my actions were my feeling are, I had no choice but to go forward.

Thank you for your help on this front and hope that we will have the opportunity to meet in the near future.
 

Holli82

Well-Known Member
Jun 6, 2010
318
329
1,620
Russ,

Albert, Damon, Leif, and Jack are all the real deal. You will be a happy camper soon!
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
12,304
1,420
1,820
Manila, Philippines
I'm sure we will meet in person sooner rather than later Russ and I am very much lookinng forward to that day :)

My friend Rodney, my visit to your place may have been years back but your hospitality, your bbeautiful family and home are very fresh in my mind. Also the freeway off ramp thrills :D
 

Holli82

Well-Known Member
Jun 6, 2010
318
329
1,620
Hey Jack,

I'm excited for you too! Can't wait to hear about the new speakers. Expect a visit from me once the dust settles.
 

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