Robm321
My experience is my experience. Not having bought these speakers I have not bought into them and have nothing to defend, merely giving my impression. I agree that a 1/2 or so demo in a store is not nearly representative of a day or even week in ones home with one's own set up.
Having heard them and found them wanting it was not without knowledge just without more experience of them. The lesson for all on Audiogon or elsewhere is "Trust your own Ears"
Anything anyone elsse says is merely their opinion based on their own biases and listening preferences. A pair of ears that you know and trust may be another matter.
A call for opinions elicts them, whether all and sundry agree of not. |
Bartinimi, "sounded hi-fi" means unnatural. Perhaps I should have said "mid-fi", like many of the cheaper Sony's, Marantz's, pioneer's, etc. But don't misunderstand me, I would not put VR4jrs in that category at all. Before the NY Highend Show, they sounded good but below what you would expect for $4000. |
Excuse my ignorance, but what does "sounded hi-fi" mean? |
No I don't own the VR4jrs...but I have heard them in many different dealer rooms and shows over the years. The only time these speakers caught my attention was at the NY Highend Show this year. They were being driven by the DK integrated with NOS Mullards and sounded very impressive, actually the first time ever it sounded good to me. The imaging/staging/dynamics/bass were superb with the DK. Before this, the VR4jrs always sounded hi-fi to me. If I didn't own better similarly priced speakers, I would have seriously considered buying a pair. But after about 1/2 hr of listening, something started to bother me. I was getting fatigued because the upper midrange and highs sounded gritty to me. Not sure if it was the amp, speaker, CDP etc. Too bad. I was really impressed for the first 1/2 hour. |
Snook -
You are telling me that the VS VR4JR has superior bass than the Piega C10ltd? Couldn't be more the other way around in my experience. While I ultimately found the Piegas too lacking in dynamics for my taste, I thought they excelled in bass articulation and definition. |
It's funny how on the posts above: the people who have actually listened to these speakers for a significant amount of time have great things to say, and the ones that have heard a demo or a VR-1 has negative connotations to throw in there.
Lesson: You don't have to post something if you don't know what you are talking about. |
Goatwuss Speakers in that price range are Piega c10 ltd and the 40k piega c40. These are excellent speakers but not on the bottom end. I had piega speakers for over 4 years so I am pretty familiar. I now have the VR-7SE which should not be even compared to the VR-4's. The Wilson Alexandria's would be a rival. |
I heard them about a week ago in a dealers room, I found the base a little bit forward and heavier or more pronounced than I like, the highs were not quite as clear. Be great for rock. It was set up on an all BAT system, so tubes all the way, which matches my system, only I have Conrad-Johnson.
For the money, it is probably ok, I have a pair of old B&W 804 matrix, and the sound for me is still fine. Hope that helps. |
Snook -
I would be interested in what $20K speakers have worse bass than the VR4JRs in your opinion. Wilson Watt Puppy 7s? Avalalon Eidolons? Dynaudio C4s? Verity Parsifal Encores? JM Lab Alto Utopias? B&W Sig 800s? Piega C8ltd?
If so, I would strongly disagree with your opinion, as IMO, all on that list (the first few 15k - 20K speakers that come to mind) have MUCH more solid bass: extension, articulation, and slam than the VS VR4js. Don't get me wrong, I do like the VS sound. I have the VR1s and love them. |
I just bought a pair! The thing that captured my attention was how easily they disappear. You literally don't notice them and notice the music instead. The bass is amazing-and the complete tonal range is articulate-never harsh. You must spend a LOT of time setting them up but once they are man are they amazing!
They are very revealing, however and will not make bad recordings sound good. "What you give em is what you get"
As the manual states, If you dont get goose bumps they are not set up correctly! |
Dynamic and definitely full range. A fun speaker to listen to all types of music. Not anemic sounding like lots of the new high end clones. Better bass than speakers costing 5 times higher |
I only heard them at the HE show in NYC - they sound rather "hi-fi" to me. But that's obviously a quick demo. |
I had them for a couple months... problem was for most of the time I used wire that I discovered was horrible - wire was hard conductors and took away some midbass (never was a big wire person but that opened my eyes).
I did notice they are very dynamic, can go loud quickly. Didn't spend enough time tweaking as I was running through so much different music trying them out. Top end with it's excellent detail carried through the house too much where my wife would complain yet I didn't feel it was loud. Bass was nice and deep.
I just ran out of budget and dropped back down a bracket or two. |
I would agree with the above. They sound like what you hook up to them. I've tried quite a few combinations with mine and I have gone from thinking I wonder what all the hype is about to now I understand it. I would consider using proven to be good combinations with them. I don't think they are speakers that you can just throw anything at and they will sound great. One thing I really like about them is that they sound great out of the sweet spot, I can really enjoy music even from the other room when these are playing. What I've personally discovered is that these speakers like some power. I've tried 70, 100, 300, and 400 watts and they became noticably more dynamic and lively as the power increased. |
Neutral is indeed an accurate description of the VR-4Jr. They're also extremely dynamic and disappear if they're set up correctly and are driven by the right equipment. There are speakers that have more air and more top extension, perhaps a more magical midrange and more slam in the bass, but at $4k they really are a bargain. And they're efficient, so you don't necessarily have to have a mega-watt amp to drive them.
The VR-4Jr. is probably the Honda Accord of the speaker world. They are tough to beat for the money. |
I only heard them briefly at a dealer last year, not enough to form an opinion. But just yesterday there were 8 used pairs here on the Gon for sale. They seem to be dropping like flies recently.
Oz |
This is a tough one because it doesn't really have a sound. I would say for the VR-4jr everything is so neutral. The midrange is sweet but not artificially so. The highs are strong and smooth. And the bass is extended and tight. Something that is unique about the speakers is the 3D soundstage that you can get because of the design.
For the downside at least for the VR4jr, it would be the fact that the spikes that it comes with are useless (they bend way too easy) - you have to get your own lead shot and put it in. But this is all by design. That's how he meets a $4k price point for speakers that rival higher priced ones.
Rob |
