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Vienna Acoustics sounded terrible at Magnolia

I went to check them out, with all the reserve I have when it comes to big box stores, the fact that you can buy VA speakers with their no-interest financing is fairly attractive. I found something quite rare in these stores, a sales-guy who liked and understood sound and music, and he was very helpful.
I listened to the Mozart's in the show room and it was nothing short of appalling. Are those sources that bad? I came back home and looked at the reviews and something must be amiss. The bass was completely disjointed, like a $100 subwoofer with the driver loosened from the rim!! I put in my CD of Beethoven's 4th piano concerto with Claudio Arrau at the Concertgebow and stopped it right away, I though it made Beethoven cry in Heaven! The sound had nothing to do with the actual tonality or notes or anything!!
The sources were Yamaha and Denon receivers in tone defeat. I know they are bad, but that bad?? I did notice the positioning made a big difference, but never got them to sound even decent!
Any ideas? Anyone with any experience? VA owners, what is your experience regarding source sensitivity? BTW, my plan would have been for a NAD 372 as amp.
Thanks
roc_doc

Showing 3 responses by lrsky

lrsky
1,118 posts
 
Vienna Acoustics are GOOD speakers...if the demo was poor, it wasn't the product, it was the demo.
Wow...all the money manufacturers spend to get notoriety, ie, demos--and when the moment of truth arrives, the prospective buyer gets hit with poor sound. How frustrating is that?

We've all heard poor demos---good brick and mortar stores RIP.

We're all losers because of their demise.

Good listening.

Larry
lrsky
1,118 posts
 
Mike,
Having owned the Mahlers, and loving them I have a question since I know their sonic signature.
I wouldn't have chosen Mac for power as I would have thought it too rounded...sort of a ripe plus ripe equals too ripe.
Apparently that's NOT the case huh?

Good listening,
Larry
lrsky
1,118 posts
 
Mike,
Long time in responding, sorry--I used a few different amps--but the one I enjoyed MOST, was the VAC Avatar integrated.
I absolutely LOVE the way Kevin thinks music should sound...and how his 'voicing' makes/allows the music to come alive.
It's a cross between solid state kind of punch, but with the tube glow--difficult to explain, but almost impossible to 'turn off' once the music is flowing.
The Mahlers, really, great speakers, and the VAC Integrated gave me some of my best musical memories.
I think the Mahler may be one of the most underrated speakers around...tonally, rich and musically so listenable.
All that AND I believe they image like crazy--not what you may expect from a rather traditionally shaped cabinet.

I'm sure you're loving them Mike--you've got great speakers there.

Good listening,
Larry
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