In 2003, VRS Audio Systems (now VRS Audio Solutions) was the first company to offer a high-end music server in the form of the Revelation Music Studio. The Revelation was a true high-fidelity computer playback system and many music lovers heard for the first time that the computer can be a superior source for music in the home.
Ponder this….think of instantly locating a song, or an album from your massive music collection with a touch of a finger or click of a mouse, without getting up from your chair or couch, without having to load or reload your CD player, without needing to re-file that CD on its shelf. Think about choosing song after song, album after album, and having the ability to play them instantly; without waiting for the drawer on the CD player to close, without waiting for the coded information on the CD to get translated by your player.
Now imagine listening in ultra-fidelity, provided by state-of-the-art modular hardware and software that is completely upgradeable. With a VRS Audio Solution, you will attain all of this, capturing the essence and true performance of your valued recordings.
Many audiophiles are now enjoying systems fronted by both desktop and laptop computers. Sound cards and outboard dedicated DAC’s continue to improve, along with the source-specific wiring (and wireless) connections used for high-performance playback. Hard drives have expanded their capacity, and prices for larger storage solutions have dropped dramatically. Clocking methods continue to evolve and improve as well, for the correct timing of the digital signal (concurrent with the reduction and/or elimination of jitter) is paramount. But all of these systems are sonically limited by a closed architecture, due to the inherent limitations of the consumer software and audio interfaces these audiophiles have chosen.
VRS Audio Solutions’ first priority is to reconfigure and optimize your existing computer for dedicated audio playback. Those audiophiles now using computers as music servers unfortunately believe they can simply take their existing platform, load some convenient software, connect the audio interface/DAC, and achieve wonderful sound. There is much more to be done, as this casual approach to music playback is detrimental to the audio signal.
A revolution has been changing the way music lovers find, buy and collect music. We believe that an individual investing in a computer-based playback system should be able to choose any type of content they wish to playback and archive, including the highest resolution music downloads available. We have always offered our product as an open platform, so one can playback whatever format of music is available, whether it be a favorite internet radio service, music podcast, or jazz/classical performance on YouTube. Even internet radio sounds far better on a VRS audio solution than one could imagine.
VRS is also committed to enabling our clients the ability to download and playback new high-resolution format recordings available via audiophile labels such as Linn Records, AIX, and Reference Recordings. Our system solutions support all of these online services.
High-end audio has focused for many years on what has been referred to as “CD quality sound” introducing newer and/or revised CD transports and DAC’s every year. VRS’s focus on quality-without-compromise goes far beyond this with the goal of recreating the studio event in your home. Studio quality sound reproduces what comes out of the mixing board at the mastering suite. Studio quality reproduction ranges from the industry standard of 16 bit/44.1 Khz, to 24 bit/192 Khz resolution, and can even include DSD high–resolution formats. VRS platforms currently support all formats up to 192 KHz resolution.
VRS offers several levels of systems and platforms, all of which are fully-upgradeable, taking advantage of changes in future technology. All our systems allow CD’s, tapes, and LP’s to be archived and played back with high resolution, transparency, and naturalness unheard outside of the mastering studio – until now. We call this ultra-fidelity playback.
Early in our research it became apparent that one of the biggest roadblocks to studio quality sound was a lack of consumer playback software that would pass the musical signal with complete integrity to the Digital Audio Converters. The consumer media players currently available, whether Windows or Macintosh-based, all significantly compromise the playback signal. If you speak with mastering engineers today, you will find that they do not hold a high opinion of the current consumer offerings.
For ripping and playback duties, we do not believe that one can achieve the best audio quality using software such as iTunes, Windows Media Player, or JRiver Media Center, etc. These softwares were written more for convenience and have compromised sonic quality. In contrast, our solutions provide very high-quality ripping, playback and organizational software, together with superior firewire audio interfaces and external clocking.
VRS conducted a three-year research process to find transparent playback software that could pass the full potential of the sound. We investigated many different options, concluding that only the best mastering engineers using the most sophisticated professional audio suites were able to preserve the fidelity of the original recording event. This investigation enabled us to discover and bring to market proprietary playback software that preserves and enhances both the musical experience and sonics of the mastering studio.
Based on our years of experience producing the exceptional Revelation Music Studio, we have crafted several new packages of computer-based, ultra-fidelity audio solutions.
Our solutions are based on the Macintosh and Windows platforms. We first re-configure and optimize any recent generation Mac or PC, including the Mac Mini, a current favorite choice of customers. Using the Mac or PC as transport only, plus using pro-quality ripping and playback software, we add professional firewire DAC’s (interfaces) slaved to industry-standard clocking hardware. Outboard/discreet storage solutions are also implemented to achieve the finest, noise-free playback.
We have created synergistic and customizable combinations of hardware and software, all of which are fully upgradeable as newer products become available. This greatly reduces the customary obsolescence we have all experienced. These platforms are easy to use, and are perfect for those who do not have the time or inclination to build their own or piece together a complete system from the outset.
Send us your Mac or PC and we will customize, re-configure, and optimize the operating system, install the appropriate software and hardware, and provide training on how to use your new VRS Audio Solution.
We also offer an optional CD ripping service for customers having their platforms re-configured and optimized. While this is a time-consuming procedure, it is a good idea to perform this during the platform optimization, so all the hardware and software can be presented intact and ready to play. There are also specific pre-ripping and cleaning procedures that further optimize the disk, and we've found them to improve the archived playback. We are currently working out a pricing schedule for the ripping service, which can be discussed at any time.
We believe that even our most affordable solution will outperform all other computer-based playback systems now available, and definitely be comparable with the most expensive, dedicated high-end transport and DAC combinations. Now think of the performance possibilities of our more advanced solutions!
Our Reference level solution is a system that includes a combination of proprietary playback software, custom audio interface, and studio-quality DAC, all controlled on the Macintosh platform. We create a ‘clear channel’ from the transport/player to the DAC, reducing outside influences common to the computer environment. A state-of-the-art clock synchronizes the system. We can also integrate digital signal processing for loudspeaker management and room correction. The enhanced transparency and fidelity of the Reference level solution is clearly evident to every individual who has experienced our prototype system.
Please view our suggested platforms and packages HERE.
Contact VRS Audio Solutions: (702) 263-8094