The budget narrows the parameters. I take it that you could get the VR2's for $500/pr?
07-11-14: Geph0007
I think they are beyond OK. Here is the issue. Funds are beyound tight. I can keep this pair for $500. What could I could I find for $500 that would even be close?
What else would give me:
Useful bass down to 25HZ
An open and holographic soundstage with depth
A vivid image WITHOUT hyper detail (which much gear seems to have now)
A sense of warmth and body.
For $500 what else could there be??
Any of the floorstanders from the Mirage Mxsi series--M1si, M3si, M5si, or M7si. They do demand power and current.
I have had a pair of M5si's for almost 18 years now and they still anchor my HT rig. They can scale up and down from solo voice or guitar to bombastic orchestral/choral music. I have run the Stereophile test cd through them and they are near flat to 29 Hz and audible to 25. The M3si and M1si go deeper still. They are fast and lively, yet full-bodied and their bipolar radiating pattern fills the listening space with ease.
They're hard to find used, but there's a pair of M7si's in good condition on eBay right now within your budget.
Reviews:
M1si
M3si
M7si
Unfortunately, S'phile didn't review the M5si, which is what I have, and I find them to be a great balance of size, speed, frequency extension, transparency, soundstage, imaging, scale, and ability to energize the listening area. Judging by the reviews of the other three models, those are traits shared by the entire Mxsi line.