Please help me on a speaker selection

I heard the VR4 Jr's at a dealer not optimally set up and they still impressed the heck out of me...unfortunately the dealer also had the db99's and I ended up buying them.

I have heard all the speakers on your list except the two JM Labs models... I also have heard the two other poster mentions (the VMPS RM40s and the VS DB99s).

Out of the speakers on your list that I have heard, I prefer the Tylers by a wide margin... They have super-fast drivers, pinpoint imaging, soundtage height and width that is very impressive, and most importantly, they just sound "right" to me. I ended up buying them.

I like the VS 4Jrs quite a bit, but they don't have the overall speed or imaging abilities of the Tylers...

The VS 4-Srs for whatever reason I just did not like at all. I actually would prefer the Jrs to them. I thought they just sounded lifeless to me.

The RM40s were also a bit of a disappointment when I heard them this year... While certainly they are a high value for the money driver-wise, I just could not get involved with the music when listening to them. I also felt the bass was a bit boomy, but admittedly the room was not ideal.

The VS DB99s are fabulous speakers that are just as good as the Tyler Linbrook Signature System that I know and love. Quite frankly the two are very similar in many areas, and I would be hard-pressed to pick one over the other were it not for price... Since Tyler is Internet direct, there is a cost advantage to going that route (and I think the DB99s are out of your price range at 10K a pair, while the Tylers are 5K). Larryken was not recommending the DB99s per se, but *I* certainly would have had they been in your range... Very nice speaker indeed... VS should be proud of those.

---Dave

I am going through the same process you are, with about the same budget. I have heard the VR4JR several times in different systems. I have been very impressed each time. I heard the VR4 SR once, at the HE 2005 show in NYC. I was very impressed. In my opinion it was a little more detailed, slightly better imaging than the VR4JR. The big difference for me was bass, the SR does go lower, so right now it is at the top of my list. I am waiting for my dealer to receive his pair so I can do some more critical listening. I really liked the VR4 JR, the bass goes fairly low, and is very tight and fast which I like. In my opinion you just get a little more with the VR4 SR. I know the SR is alot more money, but I have not yet heard anything for the price that I like better.

On your list I heard the JM Lab 946. I also audition components with my wife who has a decent ear. We both felt even the VR4 JR was better than the JM Lab 946, at least to our ears. The JM Lab, in the system and room where we heard them, were less detailed, did not have great imaging, and the soundstage was not great. They sounded kind of laid back. We did not care for them, although I know alot of people do.

I know they are more money, but I plan to compare the VR4 SR with the Green Mountain Audio Continuum 3. I think my decision will be between these two speakers.

Let your own ears decide. In my opinion there is alot of undeserved hype in this hobby. The Green Mountains have a decent following because of their time and phase alignment. I will let my ears decide.

Let us know what happens. I think I can listen to the Green Mountains next weekend.

You should add a pair of Vandersteen 3A Sigs to your list. I've had mine since Novemember 04, and am very pleased. Also, the new Quattro's are out and have garnered great news from those whove listened. The 3A Sigs + 2 Vandy subs would be around $5,200k new / $3,200 or so for just the Sigs.

Speakers don't play by themselves...everything matters in the chain and none of the pieces need be super expensive!!