Boston Acoustics VRM50

[musicismypassion]

Audio Advisor has the Boston VRM50 bookshelf speakers on clearance for $399 a pair. They have excellent reviews on this site. Normal cost is $700/pair. Are they worth checking out compared to say B&W 601S3 which also has good reviews here? Has anybody compared the 2? I'm also considering the NHT Classic 2 but have not found any reviews on it yet. But does anybody have experience comparing the Bostons to these models?

[SlumpBuster]

I compared the B&W and the Boston two summers ago. Mind you it wasn't side by side, but it was within the same day. I really like the Boston, but it is a tough call because its set up in the show room was practically ideal. The B&W was set up was balls. At that price, its and easy call though. BA all the way! (sorry, that was dorky) I almost bought the VRM 60, but went with towers instead.

[musicismypassion]

Yeah, they've actually got the 60's at $549. Good sale on both. But the 50's for me are the perfect size. Has anybody listened to the NHT Classic 2? It's something that really intrigues me about this speaker(must be the looks, don't laugh that's important to me), but of course so is sound. Whichever I go with, it will be driven by an HK receiver most likely(probably AVR 435)

[2chAlex]

I checked and onecall has NHT. Don't know if you'd be interested in refurb but as a thought www.harmanaudio.com

[jwh917]

I have the Boston VRM 60's.Before i purchased them about a year ago i did an extensive listen with the BW602's,Paradigm Monitor line and the Paradigm Studio line.To my ear the Boston's VRM line is a much better loudspeaker then the other's,even the Paradigm Studio line(although a closer call with the Paradigm Studio's).The BW600 series sounds very much like the Paradigm Monitor series to my ears.The Paradigm Studio line is a definite step up,but compared to the Boston's,sounded a little soft to my ears.Except for the fact that the Boston's can sound a little bright,depending on the recording,they are exceptionally good speakers with tremendous bass output.But your ears are the judge.That price at Audio Advisor is very good.Good luck.

[nightflier]

I tested the Boston speakers at Magnolia not too long ago, and I was a bit underwelmed, when compared them to higher end speakers (mainly Sonus & Vienna). I also have to say that the whole speaker looks a little inexpensive with the vinyl and plastic being the biggest issues. There are better buys, in my option. The NHT's biggest strength is their closed (un-ported) design which gives them a very different sound, albeit a lot less bass. I would consider those a better buy, but that is also based on my preferences. If you're willing to buy used, there some really nice speakers in this price range on Audiogon:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1160707328

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1160563578

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1160496308

And if you have just a bit more money (ok, quite a bit more), you can buy what I consider to be the best monitor ever made, which is also a closed design, by the way:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1160664819

[musicismypassion]

nightflier, I think you may be referring to a different speaker. The Boston VRM 50's have a real wood veneer, not vinyl. As a matter of fact, the finish and styling is one of the things that has me considering the speaker. The regular VR series, not the VRM has the vinyl finish. Here's a link to the VRM50's. Very attractive speakers and excellent reviews on this site.

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/home_product.aspx?product_id=109

[paul_pci]

I tested the Boston speakers at Magnolia not too long ago, and I was a bit underwelmed, when compared them to higher end speakers (mainly Sonus & Vienna). I also have to say that the whole speaker looks a little inexpensive with the vinyl and plastic being the biggest issues. There are better buys, in my option. The NHT's biggest strength is their closed (un-ported) design which gives them a very different sound, albeit a lot less bass. I would consider those a better buy, but that is also based on my preferences. If you're willing to buy used, there some really nice speakers in this price range on Audiogon:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1160707328

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1160563578

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1160496308

And if you have just a bit more money (ok, quite a bit more), you can buy what I consider to be the best monitor ever made, which is also a closed design, by the way:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1160664819


I've been to Magnolia too, and correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Sonus and Vienna in a different financial category than Boston Acoustics?

[nightflier]

I didn't realize that the construction was very different on the VRM series. The plastic back pannel where the binding posts are, is the same, but it is possible that the wood covering is of higher quality. My apologies, I cannot speak for the VRM's, then.

To clarify: we compared the Boston Acoustics VR3 (cherry) with the DefeTech BP7004, Vienna Bachs, Martin Logan Montage and the Sonus Grand Pianos (they had a scratched pair on sale). While I agree that the price differs a great deal between the Bostons and the Sonus, the fact remains that the sound was noticeable different and less refined. The DefTechs sounded too different to compare, so I'll exclude those, but even at half price of the others, the Bostons did not seem to be a good value and we chose to not buy the speakers, despite two visits. We prefered to wait until we had more money to be able to afford at least the Viennas.

I am using "we" because I was helping a friend shop for speakers. He is a jazz musician (plays the drums) and is looking to replace an aging set of Infinitys. We used a variety of disks to audition the speakers from Stravinsky to Tito Puente. While I could hear distinct differences that were noticeable but not overwhelming, my hearing is far worse than his, and he could not stand either the Bostons or the DefTechs. He also had issues with the Martin Logans (we also listened to Mosaics), and didn't like the character of the Sonus so much. The Viennas were his favorite speakers, albeit, not enough to put himself in debt over them. Consequently he's still shopping and auditioing speakers and is currently trying out my Meadowlarks.

[musicismypassion]

nightflier, I don't think these are inexpensive or cheaply made speakers by any means. I actually listened to them today and they are quite impressive and look even better in person. I'm thinking of purchasing them but will listen to others for comparison. I would assume pretty much most if not all speakers in this price range would have the plastic back panel if it is actually plastic. But the actual binding posts are gold plated and the finish is real wood, which is unusual in this price range.

[dean_martin]

And if you have just a bit more money (ok, quite a bit more), you can buy what I consider to be the best monitor ever made, which is also a closed design, by the way:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1160664819

Listing expired before I noticed your post, nightie. I'm curious about your opinion on "best monitor ever made" as I'm deeply entrenched in the monitor camp.

[nightflier]

I only heard the Merlins once. We were visiting a friend who has, shall I say, money to burn. He's had all kinds of speakers in his home from Audio Physic to Innersound to foreign brands that I hadn't heard of before (he picks speakers for their looks as much as for their sound, I think). So when I saw that he had a pair of Merlin TSM's in his study, I thought that was a little out of character. After I asked him about it he couldn't stop raving about them. We brough them to his main listening room and compared them to everything he had, listening to a slew of modern classical pieces and some stuff he had recorded himself. I had brought a couple of amps along, but no speakers, unfortunately. Anyhow, the speakers sounded better than anything I had heard.

I've been jonesing for my a pair ever since, so I keep an eye on the second hand posts. I suspect that the VSM's are even better, although they are ported. Considering that many people have compared Merlins with speakers 2-3 times their price, that's saying something. What I heard certainly confirmed that. It's the most neutral, ballanced speaker I can remember. I'm a cheap-skate when it comes to speakers (well everything a/v, really), but this speaker is worth the money.