I owned AP Virgo II's for a few years, driving them initially with a Mark Levinson 383 integrated, and later moving to a Blue Circle hybrid seperates setup (BC3 + BC28). I had just become a dealer and was looking for a speaker lineup, and after demoing a number of speakers, I was referred to Focus Audio by the folks at Blue Circle. Focus provided me with a demo of the Focus FS788 speakers...and a couple of days later, I sold my Virgo II's and became a Focus dealer. While I found the Virgo II's to still be unparallelled in their ability to image, the FS788 had similar "disappearing" qualities, midrange beauty, and ability to present delicate acoustic/harmonic tones well. But I found the FS788 to produce an overall fuller sound that handled a wider range of music better than the Virgo II's. |
Bob- It turned out that my living room had the space to be off the back wall. It sounds great with room behind it. I also have the black ash model, which does not initially look as great as the contrasting woods, but makes it much easier to live with. |
Hi Glide3, could you explain the big differences between the Virgo's and the Avanti III. |
I owned Virgo II's for seven years and had a great time with them. After five years of tweaking them to sound their best in my room (top tips - use the optional straps and spikes on Marigo Bear Feet, put three VPI bricks on top of each one and use the best Nordost speaker wire you can afford). I honestly thought that in many respects they had the best sound I'd ever heard on any system; particularly in terms of refinement and imaging. That said, they did have compromises which I never could overcome including a lack of deep bass, time alignment issues with the drivers, and a tendancy to become edgy and fatiguing if even a small thing was off somewhere else in the system.
For a number of reasons, I've now replaced the Virgos with Vandersteen Quatros, along much of the rest of my system. While after only six months I can't honestly say that they sound better than the Virgos yet, I'm optimistic that they will get there. (The Virgos needed a lot of work too at first.) For now, I've been distracted by other things, such as learning how to work with power tubes (#!%?#). I plan to post my new system soon and perhpas further progress updates. To be continued... |
I have a pair of VMPS RM30 ribbon hybrids in a large room and a pair of the new Silverline Preludes in a smallish room (which is where I had the Virgo II's). I have to say I like both of these speakers better than the Virgo II. The Preludes cost much less and work extremely well in small to mid-size rooms. Imaging is unbelieveably holographic and you won't believe the quality of the bass that comes out of the two small woofers. |
Please pardon an interloper. I've never owned Audio Physic speakers but have always considered them a candidate for "what's next."
I'm wondering if those of you with AP experience have adhered to the company's speaker/listener placement guidelines or whether you have used a more traditional setup. And what are you thoughts on each? Do APs perform well if you're unable to place them as the company suggests? Please ignore if this is too far off topic, and again, my apologies. THANKS.
-Bob |
Since first hearing the Virgo II's several years ago, I have always been a fan. When I could finally afford them, they were superseded by the III's. To me, the III's lack the midrange magic and huge soundstage the II's were so good at. Also, the bass was insifficient and unexciting.
Enter the Scorpio's. As with most components, equipment matching is key. I heard them at RMAF and was unimpressed. A while later I heard them at the dealer showroom and felt they had potential. I took them home and never brought them back. They have all the desireable charactaristics of the of the Virgo II's with more of everything.
My previous speakers had 2 12" woofers each so I knew finding a replacement with acceptable bass would be a challenge. Took me a while to get used to the side-firing woofers but the bass is powerful, tight and plentiful. Once I had the speakers positioned optimally, the soundstage is tremendous. The imaging and tree-dimensional reproductin doesnt quit match the big mbl's, but to my ears, is not far off. Certainly worth consideration as you migrate from the Virgo's. |
I went through many speakers after having the virgo's including the avanti III's...I have ended up with the ESP Bodhran SE's and am very happy...they do what the virgo's did but with refinement and enhancement.
The suggestions of the Linkwitz oriion and quad are also excellent. I preferred the aesthetic of the ESP and got a bit more of what I was looking for in my system and my room. |
I had Virgo III's for about 4 years. I listened to many dynamic driver speakers in that time but never found anything that I liked better; many were different but not what I considered to be better in what I valued in music reproduction.
Then I auditioned the new Quad 2805. They had all the virtues of the Virgos, but even better. The resolution, clarity, imaging, microdynamics, speed, neutrality, all bettered the Virgos. I have now owned them for about 3 months and I just keep appreciating them more every time I listen. I am using a 30 wpc integrated amp which seems to be an excellent match.
Good luck,
Dave |
After my Virgos,I tried the VSA VR-6,Wisdom and the Gallo Reference.I preferred the Gallos,not the 3 series but the original Nucleus series.The Linkwitz-Riley Orions or Pluto may also be of interest.I fashioned my OB speakers after them to a degree,but decided against the tri-amping. Tom |
