Viola Audiolabs

veindoc said:
wyred vs. Viola labs is like comparing a Ferrari to a Yugo. The symphony is a musical beast, 125 pounds, high current and does not run very warm classAB. The concerto & symphony was demoed with TAD ref. speaker at NYC show and got highly praised. The first 12 concerto amps r new design and due to b released over the next 2 weeks. The solid billet construction uses the chassis as a heat sink with a sort of a builtin chimney design on top release warm air. It is half as powerful as Symphony and probably a third the weight. Both retail for about 22k. The power ratings on concerto by Viola have been revised from 125 to 100wts at 8 ohms but they always r conservative in their ratings. I think your choice should b how much power do you need for your speakers, aesthetically does one have greater appeal to you, and lastly a used symphony(no warranty) vs. a new concerto(5 year warranty) will surely have a huge price difference. Good luck

Nick
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Nick could you please explain this comparison, or was it a flippant?
 
I thought I just did. The sonic signatures r probably very similar to all viola equipment. I know how heat is dissipated is different on the new concerto with the whole chassis, sort of like a Ayre mx-r, helps to cool the unit. It also mates physically with their dac capable crescendo preamp. I think the biggest difference is the physical size and power output of the symphony. So far it is the most musical, widest soundstage non strident sounding ss amp I have mated to my CR-1 hands down. Lastly, both with and without an ac power condition did not change the sound. As if a properly designed amp already does this.

NIck
 
if your query is difference between a class D wyred amp and a Viola labs amp sonically I am not sure how to answer you. I have used wyred on computer and bedroom speakers and it is okay. But on my main system for critical listening-it is apples and oranges. No reason to compare at such hugely different price points and capabilities.
Cheers
Nick
 
bzr said:
Nick could you please explain this comparison, or was it a flippant?
Click to expand...

The 50 Worst Cars of All Time
1975-19891985 Yugo

Malcolm Bricklin, he of the Bricklin SV1, wouldn't be satisfied until he had forced every American to walk to work. To that end, in 1985, he began importing the Yugo GV, which turned out to be the Mona Lisa of bad cars. Built in Soviet-bloc Yugoslavia, the Yugo had the distinct feeling of something assembled at gunpoint. Interestingly, in a car where "carpet" was listed as a standard feature, the Yugo had a rear-window defroster — reportedly to keep your hands warm while you pushed it. The engines went ka-blooey, the electrical system — such as it was — would sizzle, and things would just fall off. Yugo. Or not.

:D Just a joke in case someones is offended.

John
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Vitus RS-100 with my Tad cr-1 Review
Completed my second four hour session and as recommended left amp for last 4 days. Tried my most favorite most familiar music as well as some classical to give a fair well round trial. Amp is demo unit, runs nice and barely warm even after four days. Very attractive and simple look with a front standbye button on left and a second right button to switch outputs from RCA or Xlr(which I used)
Music like well recorded Krall, S. Lynne or Boz Scaggs-just beautiful , sounded very nice with no stridency or difficulty producing rich treble or pleasant midrange. Bass was adequate but not as palpable as some other amps I have tried. On Brian Bromberg or electric bass by Marcus Miller just would have preferred more oomph.
The one somewhat odd quality I noted relates to soundstage width and presentation. I have several recordings both red book and hi-Rez that you can almost see and hear the individual performers. Vocal center, bass left and guitar and drums sort of right of stage. All appear in my listening triangle both with eyes open or shut to b about a 3-4 foot width firmly centered between the speakers with many of the wonderful amps I have demoed. However with this Vitus class AB amp sound appeared to b coming from individual speakers not from that imaginary center area between the speakers. At first i thought
It was just a very wide sound stage but after putting my old amp back in loop, without touching speaker positions at all , my more favorable soundstage returned. To me a true 3-d holographic soundstage, as if a central wall of sound is coming at you is one of the most desirable qualities I look for. This amp made it feel like music was coming from two individual speakers on most tracks I repeatly listened to. On less well blues tracks, no extra warmth was instilled. Perhaps there class A amps can provide this ..
I never suffered fatigue while listening but for now, viola symphony is still the finest sound I have heard with my speakers. The rep still thinks I should try the new Viola concerto, as my listening room is not huge. My new tube preamp trial begins in August. Nagra Jazz vs. Zanden 3100. I think these will match very well with whatever solid state amp I end up with.

Nick
 
Nick,

congratulations on the test ... I was participated in a test like this in the house of a friend, we tested Symphony and Vitus 50W Class A, and the Dynaudio Temptation.


On this occasion I had also preferred Symphony.

In your opinion, is the Symphony an upgrade to Viola Forte?


Nice regards,
Ricardo.
 
Yes
More power
More flexibility if you move to a bigger room
More headroom and not a huge difference in price
What did u think of the class A Vitus. Did it Add some warmth to the music.

Nick
 
Nick,

I found the monos Vitus with great dynamics, micro details and an excellent soundstage. I felt the Vitus a little warm yes. But I still prefer the Symphony.


My friend is selling your Symphony, and I'm thinking about buying it and swap my Viola Forte.
 
Nick,

Thanks so much for posting your impressions! Given all I read about Vitus, I was expecting to hear something a little more positive. But we tell it like it is here at the Shark, so thanks again!:cool:

The Viola's sound like the amp to beat. Going to give the Concerto's a try?
 
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