Verity vs B&W

"04-25-14: Audioquest4life
I am not sure you will get an accurate response to your question since their are many varying opinions. For example, this statement "but the tweeter's usually wear you down over time; diamond or aluminum (Zd542, 2014)", is not my impression and certainly not with the N800 series, which is the pre-diamond series."

I could have sworn I put this in my first post right after the sentence you quote: "Not every one feels that way, but if you can't get a really good, long demo, just to be sure, I would pass."

Well, at least we can agree on Audioquest cables.

Seriously, though, I should have been more detailed in what B&W's I was talking about. I've had a few pairs over the years but the most relevant for this thread is the 802's with the Al tweeter. A good friend of mine has the 802D's. I've spent a lot of time with them, as well. I love the midrange on both speakers. B&W usually does a great job with the mids. Bass is OK. Not the best, but if you otherwise like the speaker, you can make it work. For me, the problem is the tweeters. I do prefer the D, but only because its not the Al. One thing I should mention is that I'm very sensitive to high frequencies. In order for me to be happy with a system, the highs have to be just right (Just right for me. As Caio states in his post, just right for you may be something else). B&W also image very well, but that will depend on placement and your choice of electronics.

Verity. No comparison in my opinion. Go listen to your 10 favorite tracks. Smoother, more detail, better mids, more dynamic. Hard to believe you are caught between these two speakers because they are pretty different. What else have you heard or what others are you interested in?

I had but not a fan of those B&W's

Bjesen, thanks for your comment. I am a long-time quad fan. In my main room I have a pair of stacked ESL-57, and I love them. The veritys would go to a different room. I am also considering a pair of Sonus Faber Amati Homage (the Serblin's original version), but I did not hear them extensively. I've had many Sonus Fabers, including a pair of Extremas. To be honest though I am more inclined to go with the Veritys...even if the Amatis are way way prettier.

Ggavetti,

I'm not familiar with the ESL-57 but I have a hunch I would like them based on the reviews and buzz surrounding them.

The highest up in the line of Sonus Faber I've heard is the Cremona M. I must say, the setup was poor (twenty other speakers in the room), and I knew more than the salesman. I helped him with set up, turned on the ayre mono's for him (he thought off was on). Over all I found the SF a bit compressed and dull. I remember hearing a really smooth, but too smooth midrange. No glow or presence. I understand this to be a very different experiencefrom the SF listeners that have owned them for years and love them. I think it was a bad room/ setup experience. However in that same room the 804D's sounded good, and I'm not a B&W fan.

If you are in New England I can provide you with some Verity Parsifal listening time.

Good Luck!