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Audio Research VS110 Review by James Leahy
Introduction The big brother to the baby VS55, the Audio Research VS110 proves you cannot have too much of a good thing. And so say all of us.... The VS110 is virtually an identical copy of the much loved VS55 and why not. Just bigger! This calculates to twice of everything for only 60% more money! You get four matched pairs of 6550 vacuum tubes in the output circuit and five 6N1P tubes for the input and driver circuits. The massive power supply also swells to 332 Joules compared to the 166 Joules of the VS55. Power is also doubled to 100 watts per channel. The size is also considerably larger at W45cm x D48cm x H20cm and weighing in at a hefty 32kg's.
Once again the VS110 like the VS55 comes without any cage obstructing the marvellous view of the tubes but a cage is an optional extra for those that desire one. At night the VS110 looks like tube city with the soft glow emanating from it's top panel. The open architecture of the VS110 is a true winner with all that have seen one in the flesh. This is what tube amplifiers are all about. The construction of the VS110 is like a battleship and the moving of such a heavy unit requires much thought and planning in order to avoid any potential accidents.
The VS110 uses a push-pull triode input/driver feeding a partial-cathode-coupled output stage of the type used in Audio Research's Classic D110 and D250 amplifiers. However the VS110 has been brought up to date with the latest in contemporary high-quality components. One significant difference between the VS110 and earlier Audio Research designs is that this one uses eight smaller, faster, high-purity Nichicon capacitors rather than two larger single capacitors used in the older designs. The overall look of the VS110 is a timeless classic and will appear just as in vogue today as it will in 20 years time.
The back panel again looks very familiar for VS55 owners with SE inputs only and bias adjustment measuring test points for all output tubes. There is a detachable power cord socket and loudspeaker taps for either 4 ohm or 8 ohm units. The VS110 really is a dream to bias and maintain. Never have valve amplifier owners had it so good. The VS110 provides 12 Volt input & output triggers to be turned on by their pre-amplifiers via revote control if desired, but I prefer doing basic functions like this manually myself. The three transformers are finished off in matte black for a stealth look against the machined alloy top plate. Overall I found it a very smart looking unit.
Sonic Evaluations After 60 minutes of warm-up time I hooked the VS110 into my reference system and proceeded to evaluate it sonic traits. The music of choice for this review was Bonnie Raitt's - 'Sweet Forgiveness' (WEA Records, 1977). Immediately my first impression was of the massive control and authority the VS110 exerted over my system. The bass was tighter than a pig skin on a drum and it's sonic grip commanded respect with every beat. The level of bass was far greater then the VS55 as one would expect and the music seamed to flow more easily giving more involvement to the listener from the same album.
The musical color of the performance did not change from the VS55 but the bigger VS110 produced a larger image of the performance even at the same real world volume level. A common misconception is that you require more power if you wish to play at a high volume level. While this might carry some merit this is not the full reason why a VS110 might be preferred over the VS55. Everything just sounds better if you have an abundance of power on tap, provided it is of good quality. The effortless reserves of grunt that can be felt behind every drum beat gives enough justification for many to buy the bigger VS110 for not a lot extra in cost. The headroom that one experiences when listening to this amplifier is reason enough to want a 100 watt Audio Research power amplifier in one's system. From there on everything else more easily will fall into it's place without you having to worry too much about every little detail. The VS110 represents to me fantastic value for the Audiophile that is searching for both power and quality at a reasonable price point in the Audio Research line up. Never has there been a 100 watt power amplifier from Audio Research that has given this much performance per dollar spent. So if you like your system to have just as much bite as it has bark, I would recommend the VS110 to all power freaks that like having just that little bit extra to play with. Especially if your listening room is on the large side or well dampened. You can never have too much power just as long as it is in the right place and does not compromise the sonic purity of the sound. Audio Research have no doubt succeeded in pulling off a great double act with both the VS55 & VS110 that all that remains for you to do is decide which one is right for your budget and style of music.
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