Quote Originally Posted by nightflier
I have an opportunity to purchase two pairs of pre-owned VSA speakers, the VR2s or the VR4-IIs. The price is very attractive, but this will still be the single biggest speaker purchase I will ever have made. I like the VR2s because they are easier to drive (and less expensive), but the VR4s are the kind of speakers I could be happy with for years to come. I also like the fact that they moved back to SoCal, so service, should I ever need it, is local.

But at this price point, 3-5K, there are many other options from Dynaudio, Sonus, and others. Some people have said that VSA speakers are more expensive now than they were before, and others have said that there is better to be had. They certainly ramp up in price pretty fast after you get past the entry-level speakers. This is all well over where I usually window-shop. So my question is this: are VSA speakers a good value?
I am a big fan of VS speakers in general and highly recommend all but the pricey VR-4 SRs (mk I) that I never could come around to liking after several listens in different settings.

Apart from those, every VS speaker I have heard I have liked or loved (including their top of the line $150K/pr. VR-11s that are my favorite speakers -- period).

The VR-2s as Top has said are good all-around contenders at their price point. I like the VR-4jrs a lot better in the line though if you can swing their price tag used (which should be easily in your range)... I think you will find they definitely compete with similarly priced speakers from Dynaudio, and the like.

Of course in the 3-5K range there is a lot of good competition out there too...

My own Linbrook Signature System speakers can be found used in the 4K/pr range... and Acoustic Zen has the Adagios that sell used in the mid twos to maybe 3K/pr.

At the lower end of your range to compete with the VR-2s, Sonus Faber's old version of the Grand Piano (not the current Domus series) is called the Grand Piano Home, and they go for about $1800 used on Audiogon. They don't have the bass extension of the VR-2s (although they get low enough for me), but man, that midrange of theirs is addictive and they are not too finicky with front-end electronics (I heard them sound fantastic even powered by a Denon 3508 receiver).

All of this said, I am in *no* way trying to disuade you from going for the VS speakers as they are incredible sounding and Albert is a genius speaker designer. I am sure you would be extremely happy with them.

Good luck.

---Dave