Von Schweikert VR-4,Jr.

Elb - I have compared Magnepan to VSA, though not exactly using the VR4Jr. I owned MG3.6 for about 3 years. I really enjoyed them, but ultimately missed some of the "body" and "impact" of box speakers. Yet most box speakers sounded, well, "boxy". VSA speakers were one of the few that sounded almost as open as planars. I first tried the VR4-GenIIISE (in-home), but their bass overwhelmed my room. Ended up with the VR5, which I've been very happy with for the last year. I haven't heard VR4Jr, but I suspect it has a similar "house sound". In the end, comparing VSA to Innersound or Magnepan could be tough unless you can do auditions in different rooms with different electronics. By the way, a trusted audiophile friend of mine greatly prefers Innersound over Magnepan, so they should definitely be on your list (I've never heard Innersound myself). Also, I've never heard Totem products. Good Luck.

The VR-4jr's are better then the Totem Forest in mine and my wifes opinion. Of course very different from Innersounds (These are very different animals) The VR-4jr's are fairly effecient with what I thought was a pretty large soundstage. I auditioned a pair at Ears Nova in New York with Joshua Cohen. Of course his electronics are very good...better then mine that is....but after hearing and comparing everthing we could find (at the NYC show and outside) in the 3500.00-4,000.00 price range I am convinced that the VR-4jr's equal speakers in the 7000.00 to 8000.00 range. In a close 2nd we liked the Gibbon Eights, a speaker made locally here in NY. Good Luck

To ELB:
I once owned the Innersound Eros, big brother to Isis, keep in mind the sweat spot for the Innersound electrostats are about a foot wide. I kid you not. I also once owned Von Schweikert VR4 Gen III and thought they were great -- I'm sure the VR4 Jr's are excellent as well, although I wouldn't consider VS now that I've learned they are made in China.

Sedona, The computer you are typing on was made in China as well as all the components inside. You still purchased it... I could go on and on about what you have that came from China - so unless you are Omish good luck trying to make a real moral stance.

Quality is a non issue, as these speakers are as solid as any I have owned, if not more so.

So, not sure what them being made in China has to do with it.

The vr4 jr for my taste are better than the totem's in top to bottom, with no wholes they are much better than their price point as stated above.

The Maggies will sound thin in comparison.

At least, give the vr4 jr an audition to avoid later regret if you buy something else.

Good Luck,
Rob

Rob,

Are you sure about the computer Sedona is typing on comes from China? I am a Taiwanese, and I am in semiconductor industry, I don't think China is capable of making the "critical" parts of a computer anytime soon.

Take CPU, it's most likely an Intel or AMD made here in US (Intel) or Germany (AMD). Hard drive is probably one of the Western Digital or Seagate from Singapore. Motherboard and chipset are from Taiwan Via or SIS, graphic card chip is ATI or Nvida which is foundry at TSMC (Taiwan).

You get the point I am sure. I am OK some of the times with China assembly, but I am not OK with China made products for quality and political reasons.

Therefore, I will avoid investing expensive items that are made in China.