Breaking the $100k barrier - A new statement Loudspeaker for $50k

[gleeds]

Recent activity at the shop. That's a new set of Schockwave 12 subs headed to New Life Audio's new showroom in New York City, two pairs of VR.thirties, one headed to a customer in Minnesota, and the other to our new distributor in Istanbul. Pictured in the background are Ultra 7s, being readied for an event, and then on to a new client. Coming soon from VSA is our new Shockwave, ten 10" subs that are small by design and will be used primarily for our analog room correction tech.

 

[ctydwn]

Thank you @gleeds and @Damon Von Schweikert for delivering these beautiful power cords. Will be replacing the stock power cords on the Foundation of the Ultra 7s with these beauties. I understand they should elevate the performance across all frequencies and will complement the Ultra MB wiring inside the speakers. Cannot wait to hear after system all resettled and I’m reacclimated later this week…..(update below)


Update:
Listened for about two hours this afternoon reacclimating.

Couldn’t wait any longer so swapped out the stock pcs with the MB Ultra pcs to the Ultra 7 Foundations.

Didn’t take more than a couple of songs to note:
- Bass tighter, more textured, and more easily discerning timber between bass instruments
- But the real kicker is the added body, tonal density in the midrange and the added liquid beauty to vocals.
- Absolutely next level top to bottom

Will let them settle in and see how they evolve. Very impressive

 

[Holli82]

. I understand they should elevate the performance across all frequencies and will complement the Ultra MB wiring inside the speakers

Yes they will.....

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...ooh you rascal, you went for the Ultras. Bravo!

 

[QuadDiffuser]

Our latest VR.thirty installation in the Philippines with VAC and dCS Damon, and I admit to never seeing violins placed atop VS speakers, but hey, to each their own


View attachment 153174

Last week, I was invited to dinner by my friend who lives a couple of minutes away by car.
The last time I checked, Manila (capital of the Philippines) was still 2,400km away from Singapore, LOL!

His VR.thirty loudspeakers are breaking in very nicely, and sounding spectacular.

 

[gleeds]

This post is definitely not going to fit into the "Breaking the $100k Price barrier category. Pictured below is a recently arrived pair of our flagship Ultra 11 speakers from a good client. They are in the shop for updates to our latest Foundation bass amplifier technology (each speaker has two amplifiers, one for each subwoofer).

Not an easy task retrieving these 7-foot 600-pound towers from Montana (thank you, Rusty of RG Logistics). We have recently implemented a series of Ultra Speaker Foundation updates, and the results have been dramatic. Manufactured in our Irvine, CA, facility, the Foundation analog bass amplification system is now standard in all VS speakers except for the entry-level Model One, so one need not spend over 100k to enjoy the immense benefits afforded by the solution!

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...whoah! Von-Schwiggity!

 

[gleeds]

This post is definitely not going to fit into the "Breaking the $100k Price barrier category. Pictured below is a recently arrived pair of our flagship Ultra 11 speakers from a good client. They are in the shop for updates to our latest Foundation bass amplifier technology (each speaker has two amplifiers, one for each subwoofer).

Not an easy task retrieving these 7-foot 600-pound towers from Montana (thank you, Rusty of RG Logistics). We have recently implemented a series of Ultra Speaker Foundation updates, and the results have been dramatic. Manufactured in our Irvine, CA, facility, the Foundation analog bass amplification system is now standard in all VS speakers except for the entry-level Model One, so one need not spend over 100k to enjoy the immense benefits afforded by the solution!

For anyone interested, next Sunday, September 28th, Damon will be on hand at Scott Walker Audio's Keller, TX store, demoing the Ultra 11s, including a pair of Schockwave 12 subwoofers placed in the rear of the listening room for bass node room cancellation. To reserve a place, please call:
Josh Doyle at 714.457.7033

As many of you know, this is an analog wave pressure cancellation method developed by our Founder, Albert Von Schweikert, approximately 25 years ago. We have improved on the technology, especially since the development of our new Foundation amplifier modules, now found in all three of our subwoofers:

Foundation ten ( product release date November 2025)
Foundation 12. twelve, and
Foundation.fifteen.

The newest and least expensive version is the Foundation. ten is also our smallest. While not expressly designed for that purpose, the tens development was driven by clients who wanted to deploy our solution but lacked the space or budget for the larger model subs. In all but the largest rooms, the Foundation.ten is a sweet solution to one of the most deleterious SQ challenges in audio: room nodes, which interfere with everything from bass definition to midrange clarity and soundstaging.

Feel free to PM me if you have an application where we can assist you.

 

[tony22]

For anyone interested, next Sunday, September 28th, Damon will be on hand at Scott Walker Audio's Keller, TX store, demoing the Ultra 11s, including a pair of Schockwave 12 subwoofers placed in the rear of the listening room for bass node room cancellation. To reserve a place, please call:
Josh Doyle at 714.457.7033

Gary, what time is it planned to start?

 

[gleeds]

Gary, what time is it planned to start?

I'm sorry, I don't know the hours but do text Damon

 

[gleeds]

Now back to our regular programming. This weekend was the Dutch Audio Show. While there is no doubt that high-end is struggling in Europe due to several factors, my colleagues reported that the first day of the show drew 7000 visitors, an extraordinary number for a regional event!

ERC, our Dutch importer, featured a colorful Cadmium orange set of VR.thirites, along with Acustic Arts amplification, and the incomparable new Rockna Wavedream RS DAC. By all accounts, the sound was superb!

The VR.thirty continues to punch above its weight, which is very gratifying for Damon and me, since that was the goal from the earliest days of its design. For those in Europe, access to audiotioning a pair is growing with new showrooms in Istanbul and France. We are still seeking a top-level representative in Italy and Germany. If you know of someone who might be a suitable candidate, please let us know.

As a teaser, we have a new model under development with an unusual twist on the Von Schweikert design and technology approach, which we hope to launch in the spring. As things progress, we will provide more information. At an estimated $ 40,000-45,000 MSRP, we expect the model to also perform well above its weight in terms of size and cost.

Also notable at the show was the launch of Trafomatic's Elysian monoblocks. These 70-watt GM-70 powerhouses are expected to be among the best amplifier products, especially for single-end amplification devotees seeking sufficient power and authority to drive more demanding speakers than the genre is typically known for.

I'll have a pair in the coming months, so don't be surprised if they are paired with the mighty Ultra 7s at an upcoming show!

 

[gleeds]

Busy days at Von Schweikert. An Ultra 11 update to the new Foundation bass amplifier, a set of Ultra 5's, Ultra 7's, and a steady stream of VR.thirites are on the bench. Photographed below, and headed to our new dealer in France, is a pair in Cardinal Red.

One of our best-selling colors in years past, we are wondering if a trend toward more vibrant colors is upon us. Indeed, the Cadmium Orange pair that was exhibited at the recent Dutch Audio Show suggests so. Please check out our collection of more subtle and vibrant colors for 2025, many of which are inspired by the Aston Martin catalogue. As always, there is nothing Fausto and his team cannot create by simply asking.

Colors — Von Schweikert

www.vonschweikert.com

Who says Hi-Fi can't be fun!

 

[gleeds]

And one more beautiful Cardinal Red as they are coming off the line.

 

[JackD201]

Another accident and how it led to a deep dive into "Good-er Things in Small-er Packages"

I can't remember the last time I started a thread. My pinkies are so unused to typing that they appear to have minds of their own. Anyhow, October of last year, a terrible monsoon hit us. The pool had been full when the downpours came that lasted for hours straight. The overflow plus the rain...

www.whatsbestforum.com

UP!

 

[gleeds]

Hi All.

We are all set for the NY Audio Show (in my home state of NJ, of all places Please stop by and say hello to Damon and our partner, Shawn Mattew of New Life Audio, if you are at the show in Salon A.

System 1
- Von Schweikert Ultra 7s (in a killer cardinal red metallic paint)
- Foundation twelve subwoofers (used in room correction mode)
- Bridged WestminsterLab Rei Class A monoblocks
- Trafomatic Audio flagship single-end tube preamplifier Tara 30a (US Premier)
- Rockna Wavedream Reference Signature R2R DAC
- Lumin top line U2x streamer
- MasterBuilt Ultra cabling throughout

System 2
- VR.thirties in Ferrari Grigio Scuro finish (gray is the new black)
- Foundation ten subwoofer (used in room correction mode)
- WestminsterLab Quest balanced preamplifier
- VAC 202 monoblock amplifiers
- Lumin streamer and Rockna DAC (shared with system 1)
- MasterBuilt Reference 2 cabling thr

oughout

More posts as the show progresses.

 

[tony22]

Good luck at the show, team!

 

[gleeds]

Good luck at the show, team!

Thanks, Tony, so far so good. We appreciate you!

 

[spm360]

New Life Audio @ T.H.E. New York Audio Show 2025 – Ballroom A with Von Schweikert Audio - Show Recap


What an incredible weekend at the New York Audio Show! Our large ballroom was alive with music, energy, and passionate listeners who came to experience the art of true high-end audio.

It all started with a vision for a system that would both look and sound exceptional - and the end result exceeded every expectation. We arranged the system along the long wall to create a wide and immersive soundstage, with the source components elegantly centered:

• Lumin U2X Streamer (brand new model)
• Rockna Audio WaveDream Reference DAC
• U.S. premiere of the Trafomatic Audio Tara 30A Preamplifier

The entire system was wired with MasterBuilt Audio cables, ensuring signal purity and coherence from source to speaker. From the source components, two sets of long MasterBuilt ULTRA interconnects ran to either side of the room.

On the right side, they fed the WestminsterLab REI monoblock amplifiers (running in bridged mode) driving the majestic Von Schweikert Audio ULTRA 7 loudspeakers.


On the left, they connected to the VAC 200 iQ monoblocks, powering the Von Schweikert VR-30 speakers (affectionately known as the “mini-7”).


Throughout the weekend, we welcomed hundreds of attendees from seasoned audiophiles to first-time showgoers all eager to hear what makes New Life Audio different. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who visited our room, shared their passion, and helped make the weekend such a success.

We’re also thrilled to announce that our new showroom in Queens is nearly ready! We’re targeting a soft opening on November 22, with a grand opening celebration to follow soon after. Stay tuned for your official invitation - we can’t wait to welcome you in person.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...Shawn, that red color has really grown on me. Very nice shade of red. Sorry I couldn't fly down for the show, but best wishes on the opening!

 

[spm360]

...Shawn, that red color has really grown on me. Very nice shade of red. Sorry I couldn't fly down for the show, but best wishes on the opening!

We got that speaker specially painted to match the metal red panel on the statement 452 IQ from VAC. It's a beauty
Thank you, and I hope you will make it to our grand opening next year. Invites will be sent out soon.