can it bee that audio research vsi 75 has lack of open highs/mid ?


i auditioned twice one on display which offered me in kind of attractive price..
did it with my vinyl records
280 hours of working with kt150 tubes.
we tried it on several speakers .

some of them the sound was more open, but i still felt that it’s not "open" and natural enough.

i know that arc saying that the amp need around 600 hours for break in, but still i would expect something more after almost 300.
we compared it with kr audio va 900 which i think was a bit more open, but i think also a bit more aggressive.

does someone have another experience with this integrated amp?

128x128stone1

i wish i could do it.
it’s of course the best way.
unfortunately shops here in my country don’t do those things.
so at the end i have to decide either buy it or let it go.

OP,

 

That is terrible. What country?

 

Well from my experience with ARC and lots of audio buddies… open,  natural and detailed is what Audio Research is all about. Unless you are looking for etched clinical, ARC should be it. The VSI75 is perfect. What source are the using… what speakers?

the country is Israel.
usually importers here import from those kind of items just few examples , and sometime only if you order it specially.
have now:
crick audio integrated.
well tempered tt and arm.
monster alpha 2 cartridge.
speakers and phono stage are in a plan to upgrade.
right now kef speakers and SCHIIT MANI phono.
but i would not pay lot of intention to what i have today, since the only thing that will stay is the turntable.
and what i heard in the store was on several speakers and oracle phono stage, TT German turntable( hope i remember the right brand) , don’t know which cartridge.

@stone1

 

Thanks. Helpful information. So, understanding your situation better. The normal recommendation would be to say, find your speakers first. Then work on subsequent components.

After fifty years of improving my audio systems. I am going to tell you my prejudges view. I would buy the VSI75 on faith. It is an incredibly musical integrated amp. While sometimes it is easy to get waylaided by highly detailed trebly forward imaging, the musicality of that amp is truly amazing. That is a world class piece of equipment you can build a truly great system around. Then, I would pick pieces to complement it… definitely an Audio Research Phonostage… you want to hear your TT sound great,

I am prejudice, after pursuing the high end for over fifty years and now owning an all ARC system that amazes me every time listen to it… am sad when I have to do something else.

 

Buy the way, a fellow audiophile came over recently commented on how great the imaging was on my system. Audio Research is known for that too.

thanks.
i am planning an additional listening in the shop, and than make my final decision .