[captnvideo]

I posted the other day about purchasing speakers online.


Now I found out that there is an audio dealer not too far from me who carries the Boston Acoustics VR3.


I will not be able to visit this showroom until next weekend.


Meanwhile, these speakers look good on paper with a 93db efficiency, excellent frequency response, and 8 ohm impedance. My Yamaha RXV-2300 has more than ample power to drive these.


Anyone here familiar with the VR3 speakers who would like to comment on them?

 

[starlite]

Check out the Boston Acoustics Owners thread. You will find many people who are happy with their VR-3s. I have VR-2s and very happy with them. Make sure you audition them with your yammy receiver though. Both yammy and BA are on the bright side, and some people don't like that combination.

 

[captnvideo]



Quote:
Originally Posted by starlite /forum/post/0


Check out the Boston Acoustics Owners thread. You will find many people who are happy with their VR-3s. I have VR-2s and very happy with them. Make sure you audition them with your yammy receiver though. Both yammy and BA are on the bright side, and some people don't like that combination.

I believe Yamaha tamed the brightness of their receivers by 2003 when I purchased the RXV-2300. It certainly is not as bright as the RXV-1000 which I owned for a while and sold to my brother when I upgraded to the 2300. But I definitely do not want bright sounding speakers, since my listening room is quite open.


I don't think the audio showroom which I plan on visiting sells Yamaha. And even if they did, it would not be my model (which is four years old). And there is no way that I will disconnect my Yamaha and bring it to the showroom. Considering all the work that would be involved, I just cannot do that.


Even if the VR3s sound great to me in the showroom. the only way I will know for sure if I like the speaker or not is to listen to it at home. That is the dilemma I have been facing since I do not want to get stuck. Audio showrooms rarely offer money-back guarantees on speakers if one does not like them.


There is an online store which sells the VR3s but will only EXCHANGE them for another speaker of equal or higher price. That is not really good since I will be locked into purchasing from them.


The bottom line is that I'll really have to do some thorough research before making any speaker purchase.

 

[starlite]

I hear you... Not being able to demo with your own setup is a challenge. Can you ask your dealer to loan you a pair of VR-3s for your in-home demo for a few days? Some dealers do allow it, some don't.


As you know, some internet companies let you try their speakers for 30 days and even pay for shipping both ways if you want to return them. I personally don't understand why some local dealers don't offer the same service, but it's their choice. If your dealer can't offer in-home trial, maybe it's time to go back to internet speakers and do some in-home auditioning.


I agree that Yamaha is not as bright as it used to be, but IMHO, it is still a receiver that is quite picky in terms of what speakers it goes well with. I have HTR-5760 myself (I believe it is introduced around 2003 or 2004), and I had to design my whole setup around the receiver with extensive demoing to make it work. So, in-home auditioning is, I believe, absolutely necessary to find the best combination for you, especially when you have some room issued to tame as well.


Just to give you my thought, VR-2s with my 5760 sounds great in my basement, which is quite open as well (15x40). I use them for 80% 2-channel/multichannel music and 20% movies, and I like the detailed sound. Some find it bright, I guess, but it sounds just right for me. So, you'll have to decide after you hear them yourself.

 

[captnvideo]



Quote:
Originally Posted by starlite /forum/post/0


I hear you... Not being able to demo with your own setup is a challenge. Can you ask your dealer to loan you a pair of VR-3s for your in-home demo for a few days? Some dealers do allow it, some don't.


As you know, some internet companies let you try their speakers for 30 days and even pay for shipping both ways if you want to return them. I personally don't understand why some local dealers don't offer the same service, but it's their choice. If your dealer can't offer in-home trial, maybe it's time to go back to internet speakers and do some in-home auditioning.


I agree that Yamaha is not as bright as it used to be, but IMHO, it is still a receiver that is quite picky in terms of what speakers it goes well with. I have HTR-5760 myself (I believe it is introduced around 2003 or 2004), and I had to design my whole setup around the receiver with extensive demoing to make it work. So, in-home auditioning is, I believe, absolutely necessary to find the best combination for you, especially when you have some room issued to tame as well.


Just to give you my thought, VR-2s with my 5760 sounds great in my basement, which is quite open as well (15x40). I use them for 80% 2-channel/multichannel music and 20% movies, and I like the detailed sound. Some find it bright, I guess, but it sounds just right for me. So, you'll have to decide after you hear them yourself.

Starlite:


Thanks for your post.


Before looking into speakers, I think I am going to try adding two Outlaw 2200-Monoblock amps to my system for the main front channels. These amps are rated at 200wpc at 8 ohms and 300wpc at 4 ohms. Outlaw has a 30 day money back guarantee so the risk is minimal (return shipping only).


Last night I watched the very first DVD I purchased back in 1997: Goldeneye.


On the Yamaha RXV-2300, I set my Mains to "Large" and Bass to "Main" (thus eliminating the sub). There were many times during this movie where I would swear that my sub was connected. I really felt those explosions.


I do not think my Infinity RS2000.6 speakers lack bass but are just a bit too harsh and shrill in the high frequencies for music. Hoping that maybe getting separate amps could improve the overall sound of the Infinitys for 2 channel music. If not, then I can either return them or keep them for future-proofing my system (since they could drive any speaker including those rated at 4 ohms).

 

[hdmi4ever]



Quote:
Originally Posted by captnvideo /forum/post/0


On the Yamaha RXV-2300, I set my Mains to "Large" and Bass to "Main" (thus eliminating the sub). There were many times during this movie where I would swear that my sub was connected. I really felt those explosions.

I don't think that would eliminate the sub, as the sub would still receive the ".1" of the 5.1 audio signal.

 

[captnvideo]



Quote:
Originally Posted by hdmi4ever /forum/post/0


I don't think that would eliminate the sub, as the sub would still receive the ".1" of the 5.1 audio signal.

In the Yamaha RXV-2300, when Bass is set to "Main", all bass output (for speakers set to "small") below 90hz is routed to the main speakers. This is the setting that is used if one does not have a subwoofer. In fact, when watching Goldeneye yesterday, my subwoofer was not even powered on.

 

[starlite]

captnvideo,


I've been busy, and couldn't read the forum for a while... I don't think the power is the issue in your case. Yamaha receiver has decent power. Of course, more power is better, but I think the bottleneck in your setup is actually the speaker. Upgrading the speakers would give you much better sound than adding an outboard amp to your current speakers, IMHO. Try the Outlaw amp, and see how it improves the sound. I doubt it will get much better especially on the high frequency because the power makes more difference in the mid and low frequencies.