Spendor vs. Von Schweikert?

I disagree - wholeheartedly with Dodgealums assessment/opiniion . The VSR 4jr are very musical speakers. They are all about what is in front of them. Feed them tubes and you will be in heaven. If you consider excellent imaging, first rate detail retreival, realistic vocal reproduction and first class bass 'hifi theatrics' then I am not sure what sound you are looking for. I do not have much experience with the Spendor line but I did audition the Spendor FL9/FL10 extensively before they were replaced/discontinued some time ago and they are good speakers. They were too sweet sounding for me in the end, and I found several other speaker lines with similar priced offerings that were easily more natural sounding. The VSR4Jr are competative to those and IMO better in all respects. I suggest an audition before dismissing them. The Harbeths may be to your liking...I won't comment on those because I only heard them for a few moments at an audio show. But again I suggest you listen to them first. They certainly have a distinctive sound.

good listening.

I've owned a number of Von Schweikert speakers over the years, and have loved each of them. They're very musical speakers that keep getting better with better components. They're one of the very few speakers in my experience that don't have a "ceiling"--i.e., the point at which the electronics become too good for the speaker. I've heard a few Spendor speakers in the last couple of years, but have never owned them. To my ears, they're a little soft at the extremes, but that could well be the equipment they were partnered with when I heard them. The best advice I can offer is to try to listen to both speakers and make up your own mind.

Certainly different speakers have their own sound. I'm a Tannoy user and owned Missions before these. There is a "British" sound although it varies a bit between Spendor, Tannoy, Kef, Harbeth etc. This sound is nothing like the house sound of VS. Apples and oranges. To tell the truth, I liked my 15 year old Mission 70's better than the VR-1's. It's just personal preference. I enjoy the "British" speaker musicality and overall sound. I find speakers like VS unemotional, but that's just me.

Although I've never heard the Spendors, I find the VR4JRs extremely musical and very revealing of all upstream components. If you do audition the VR4JRs it is very important to remember that they take at least 400 hours of break-in before they reveal their real potential. They must also be mass loaded with 40-50 lbs of lead shot (each), as they were designed, as well as be spiked to the floor. Once they meet those requirements, they will make realistic, involving and very satisfyng muslc like few others. But, again only listening will allow you to choose what speakers best meet your preferences.

Hi,

I agree totally...totally with Dodgealum. I have listened to both Spendors ( S5e, S8e ) and Von Schweikert ( VR-1, VR-2 and VR4SR ). For my music preferences ( Sweet mid range, vocals and instruments ), Spendorfs are way far superior. Atleast for the discs I played, this is no comaparision. If your musical preference is Sweet sounding mid-range and good instruments, strings....you are better off with Spendors.

Grakesh