Boston Acoustics VR3/VR2 -- Good for vocal musics? (1 Viewer)

[Tah_Chai]

Hi,

There are not much talk about Boston Acoustics VR3/2/1 model in this forum. I was searching high and low from the internet including audioreview.com but couldn't find them.

Most of the people who own BA VR3/2 have been saying they are very detail and with clarity, and recommend them for musics like orchestra, jazz instruments type musics, and movie.

My questions are:
1. Since most of my favourite musics are vocal jazz type, I was wondering are BA VR3,2,1 good for vocal music?

2. Does VR3/2/1 need to play loud to shine? My listening area is 10ft*10ft area with 11ft height, concrete floor (partly carpeted) and wall, will VR2 overpower the living area?

3. Has anyone pair them with Harman Kardon receiver? I have a H/K AVR320. I was wondering how good the H/K AVR320 can power them and produce good quality of sound?

I understand there are many other brands out there which can do very well in vocal reporduction, but I'm on a tight budget, and at the same time I can get a good deal for BA VR floorstanding series.

Currently I own a pair of Axiom M22ti which I love them so much. Since both Axiom and Boston Acoustics have aluminium tweeter, i was wondering if both sounded similar?

I hope some BA owners and others who had listen to BA VR series can chim in and give me advice. THanks!

-TC

 

[PaulDA]

I have VR-M speakers, but my centre is the VRC and I've heard the VRs. You'll have no trouble driving them with the HK, as the Boston VRs are pretty sensitive (easy to drive). My music listening varies from -20dB from reference (daytime when I'm alone in the house) to -40dB (late at night, wife and kid asleep upstairs). The Bostons are equally at ease in each case, remaining clear and neutral. Vocal jazz forms a good part of my jazz collection and it sounds great. I went with VR-Ms essentially because the ones I got were bookshelf speakers (60s up front, 50s in rear) and the VRB was not available at the time. Otherwise, I found the VRs to have close to the same sound quality as the VR-Ms.

As the Bostons will sound nice at any reasonable volume level (I've read some comments that at VERY LOUD levels they can sound a bit strained--though I've tried pushing my speakers to that point, just to see where it was, and in my room it's well above the loudest I'd ever set my volume) they won't overpower your room with sound.

Don't know the Axiom sound, so I can't comment on that issue.

Hope this helps.

 

[Robb Roy]

TC,

It's true Boston Acoustics doesn't see a lot of discussion on this forum. LIke Paul, I also own VR-M speakers. I've only heard the VR3s once, and that was in a show room, but they seemed very close to my VR-Ms, which I think shine with anything I've ever thrown at them. I had a get together here the other month, and most of the guys there commented on how great the BA's sounded (most of them had not heard them). Also like Paul, I've not heard Axioms.

Where in AZ are you? If you wanted to hear a BA and SVS combo we could probably arrange a demo.

-Robb

 

[Evan M.]

I have a pair of Vr3's. I really like them A LOT. I think they are really a bargain for the money spent. For that size room I don't think you need to go with the 3's, the 2.s will be more than enough. They do sound very good at lower volumes and they are sensitive and easy to drive. I think the H/K will sound great with it. If you get an oportunity to audition the VRB give that a try too if you are interested at all in bookshelves. I too have not heard any Axioms...although I would love to since I really like detailed speakers and they are sid to be detailed. I think the Axioms M60's seem to be the closest to the Vr'2's. Good luck.

 

[MarkWC]

I also have the VRM's as opposed to the VRx's(insert number). I can tell you in my experience that the imaging of these speakers, when placed and calibrated correctly, sound fantastic. I listen to a variety of music mainly some variation of Rock and my wife loves R&B, Top 20 Hits, etc and never notice any strain or fatigue with them. Unfortunately I don't have the fronts that Robb Roy has, though my VR-M60's do a great job filling my room which is in a 22 x 15 x 8 room.

I am not familiar with the HK's, but I have a run of the mill Onkyo 700 which has no problem powering the room quite loudly for music, DVD/A SACD, and movies.

I truly believe BA is one of those lost gems, not overly abundant in the community; at least the ones who peruse these boards, but those that do have them seem to love them!

Have a listen, I borrowed the floor model for two days and returned them to buy the exact same ones new for my HT.

 

[Shawn Stephens]

I'm running VR1's right now and they are wonderful. The setup on the VR1's is different than the vr2 and 3, in that there is no 4 1/2" mindrange driver. They still sound wonderful, and I think they shine the most with jazz and all kinds of vocals. What I like most is the balanced sound that lets me hear everything on the music track. I love when I get new music and take it from the car to my house. The boston's reveal things I've never heard, like details on backup vocals. I have nothing but good things to say about the boston VR and VR-M line. I had a good listen to VR-M50's, and they are amazing as well. Before I got my VR1's, I did a hardcore A/B test with B&W DM602 S3's, and the Boston's just kept shining. Its all about those high's and the way they are so live and out of the box.

 

[Mark Russ]

TC, I have some of the Boston VR series speakers. They are somewhat bright and detailed. They are also efficient. They are almost Klipsch-like in a way, but without being as fatiguing in extended listening sessions. So the HK you have would be a FINE match with them in more ways than one.

I don't really know about Jazz vocals as I don't listen to it at all, but they are excellant speakers for movies and rock music.

I agree with Evan M about the 3s may be too much though in a room that small. You should probably look at the 2s or 1s, maybe even the new bookshelf model.

I would recomend the 1s if you are planning on eventually getting a sub to add to them as I belive the 1s will have better midrange dynamics than either the 2s or 3s in a situation where they are crossed over at 80 HZ or so.

 

[Tah_Chai]

Thanks so much for all the Boston fans out there who shared your experience with me

Robb, I was in Chandler for the pass one year. I was an expat on job assignment there in Chandler since Nov'03, and now I'm back home to my country - Malaysia. I miss Arizona so much, especially the weather now must be super nice in Chandler Too bad I don't have a chance to get to know you and the hi-fi audiophile community there in Chandler.

I'll only get a chance to audition the VR2 this coming weekend. Will test them with some Audiophile vocal Jazz CDs, Stacey Kent CD, Telarc CD, and some well recorded CDs from Mappleshed. Just can't wait to listen to the VR speakers! I'll check whether the VRB and VRC is available.

Any comment about the VRC? Some comment the VRC is perhaps the weakest link in the VRx series. Do you think so?

-TC

 

[PaulDA]

It's possible that "weakest" is a relative term. The VR-MC is considered by many to be the "weakest" in the VR-M line (a replacement is rumoured to be in the works). I have VR-Ms front and rear, but the VRC centre. I A/Bed it with the VR-MC and could not justify the extra two hundred dollars for the VR-MC (especially when it went toward a more powerful sub instead). I heard very little difference between the two. Now, either that means the VRC is an overachiever, or the VR-MC is subpar, or a bit of both. The VRC has a bit less bass extension, but I cross it at 80hz, so it's not an issue for me. If I had a screen or wall-hanging flat panel display, I would opt for a third VR-M60 up front to create a seamless soundstage, but given my TV situation (need the horizontal placement on top), the VRC works quite well (though it's not quite as attractive aesthetically as the VR-MC--even here, the difference is more pronounced in cherry finish--the black VRC vinyl finish blends very well with my black VR-Ms).

In my speaker auditions, I found the centres of just about every brand I heard to be the "weakest" link. Some were awful, and I would not consider a set with them, but many were "pretty close" to the mains and given real world constraints, they were reasonable compromises.

 

[Shawn Stephens]

I was also very impressed with sarah mclaughlin's 'sweet surrender' on the VR1's and 'first cut is the deepest' by sheryl crow. Those two selection's were A/B'd alot with the B&W DM602's, and the Boston's were so clear and I heard every instrument cleanly and nothing was muffled at all.

 

[Evan M.]

I had a Vrc for about a month. I auditioned it at home with an older VR920 center. Not really a fair comparison since the 920 retailed for about 600$. Of course I kept the 920 but the Vrc is VERY capable. I will say though that I whish Boston had another center to choose from in the Vr line. They ALWAYS had 2 center to choose from in that line but for whatever reason did not with this current line. I whish they offered a more substatial center to better match the Vr2 and 3's. At any rate, this may be what people complain about when it comes to the Vrc.