Curious to hear your experience with Viking Acoustics Berlin R speakers

[Caseyboy]

Curious if anyone still has these speakers. Have a pair of Berlin Rs (think they are original DC10 models but with smaller woofer). They are very nicely built and finished (unlike some of the reports I have read). They are crazy efficient to the point that I think I need to find a low powered SET amp to run them with - have a KT150 amp that I can barely move the volume dial on. Is this the experience out there - rarely see them come up for sale so am thinking there still are plenty out there getting used.

 

[djsina2]

The dc10audio speakers were much nicer fit and finish than Viking Acoustics. My friend had the speakers you have and was using a First Watt SIT-2 amp with them. I’d probably look for something with 10-20w.

 

[Caseyboy]

The dc10audio speakers were much nicer fit and finish than Viking Acoustics. My friend had the speakers you have and was using a First Watt SIT-2 amp with them. I’d probably look for something with 10-20w.

Yes that is what I have been thinking - they are head scratching speakers they can be so ruthless with bad recordings that you think they are broken (think the gain from the amp and my Lamp Baltic 3 plays into that) and at other times they are easily the best and magical speakers I have heard. I have been using them for about 8 months now and this love them / hate them has been on going.

 

[John57]

Curious if anyone still has these speakers. Have a pair of Berlin Rs (think they are original DC10 models but with smaller woofer). They are very nicely built and finished (unlike some of the reports I have read). They are crazy efficient to the point that I think I need to find a low powered SET amp to run them with - have a KT150 amp that I can barely move the volume dial on. Is this the experience out there - rarely see them come up for sale so am thinking there still are plenty out there getting used.

I had the Berlin R Type II. They were excellent fit and finish. I used a variety of amps including the Pass Labs XA25 and a Line Magnetic 854 tube amp. I currently own their L’Instrument horn speakers. I know and experienced their business difficulties. This aside, the Type II’s got this review from another owner:

First of all, these are among the most beautiful speakers I have ever seen. They are a stand-mount loudspeaker which is on the large size for this form factor. The high quality specimen woods used are exquisite and the workmanship is simply astounding. The Berlin R Mk-IIs deserve to be on exhibit in the Guggenheim.

Aesthetics aside, the sound emanating from these loudspeakers is the most detailed, impactful and pleasing I have ever heard — by far. The bass is strong and can deliver what I would describe as “controlled slam”. By this I mean the bass is strong and prevalent but only when called for by the music. There is no gratuitous, pervasive low end that overwhelms and detracts from the overall sound. More importantly, the strong bass provides a foundation for the mid-range notes that makes them rich, full and beautiful. This characteristic cannot be overstated… the mids are just unbelievably alive.

More so than any other speaker I have heard, the high frequency notes are strong and clear yet never biting. With some other speakers when listening to music with prevalent highs one has to lower the volume. With the Berlin R Mk-IIs I can increase the volume as the highs are never ragged or grating.

Stepping back and considering the overall sound, I would describe it as highly organic. The sound is full, rich, extremely detailed and integrated. It could never be described as analytical or dry.

To the OP’s question he said:
Notably, the Berlin R synergy with my 18 wpc tube amplifier is amazing.

 

[Willgolf]

I had a pair of Grande Voix Dual Horn speakers that were outstanding and made to perfection. I also had the drivers upgraded. I traded them in to buy Aries Cerat Aurora speakers.
I believe the dealer still has them, and I am sure he would give an outstanding deal on them. Prior to owning the Grande Voix, I owned B&W, Wilson Audio Duette 2's, and Sonus Faber Amati Tradition Homage speakers. The GV's were way better in sound quality than all the speakers I owned. I would highly recommend anyone interested in upgrading to consider those speakers.

 

[rspyder]

In this response, I'm feeling like Kate McKinnon's SNL character in the "alien abduction" skit because my experience is exact opposite of those expressed here by others.

I had a pair of VA Berlin MkII speakers. My pair were poorly made and their performance was average at best. The mounting holes were different on each base. The cabinets had cracks in the plywood and significant paint runs. The pictures David provided for release of the final payment did not match the speakers he delivered. None of the manufacturer's indicated values in its spec sheet for the MkII's matched the actual speakers including; weight, cabinet and horn dimensions, and bass response. The mounting hardware shipped with the speakers did not work. David said he ran out, so I had to source the correct hardware - and so on and so forth.

Yes, they were efficient. I will concede that point. However, there are several equally efficient speakers that have better build quality and performance at the same or lower price.

At the end of the day, the real verdict on VA and its products was delivered by the market. My understanding from other posts on WBF and similar sites is that VA is no longer a going concern.

For those who have or had VA speakers that they enjoy or enjoyed, I'm sincerely pleased for you. However, I cannot be counted within your numbers.