I am huge fan of VA. I have owned in the past, the Haydn Grand, Bach Grand, Mozart Grand and I think Beethoven Baby grand.
Not sure the difference between the reference version and these older ones.
The only speakers I thought beat them but sounded similar in how they do things so well were speakers from Sonus Faber (older models, not the new ones), Verity, and Devore.
I bought a Verity Parsifal to replace the VA it was much better, and then finally Devore Orangutans, my final speaker, that beat Verity handily.
Either of them (Verity, Devore) could rival the VA in looks and sound better IMHO.
And Devore speakers are much more tube friendly, VAs need SS to really sound good. Although high-powered tubes might work, but why do that if you can get better sound in a more efficient speaker designed for tubes like Devore.
Not sure the difference between the reference version and these older ones.
The only speakers I thought beat them but sounded similar in how they do things so well were speakers from Sonus Faber (older models, not the new ones), Verity, and Devore.
I bought a Verity Parsifal to replace the VA it was much better, and then finally Devore Orangutans, my final speaker, that beat Verity handily.
Either of them (Verity, Devore) could rival the VA in looks and sound better IMHO.
And Devore speakers are much more tube friendly, VAs need SS to really sound good. Although high-powered tubes might work, but why do that if you can get better sound in a more efficient speaker designed for tubes like Devore.