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Hello!I fell immideately in love with this loudspeaker the first time I listened to it. Superb dynamics and extremely detailed warm, incredible sound. (It was powered with Vincent monoblocks and cd-player)
What is your opinion on this speaker, please?
Follow Ups:
I've had the Beethovens for over a year now, my listening is divided between classical (roughly 80%) and jazz, and I continue to find them absolutely spectacular. I would say they provide a truly natural sound for those who appreciate acoustic/voice recordings, and who've been to live classical or jazz performances. And they mate wonderfully with analogue, as well as a digital source, if that's of interest.Before buying them, over a period of a few months I listened to comparable B+Ws, Dynaudios, ProAcs, Sonus Fabers, among others--all fine speakers in their ways--but the Beethovens always had me listening to music, and not auditioning speakers. They provide excellent bass, highs without harshness, and an exceptional mid-range, where most of the action is. They provide what seems to me to be a fine level of "natural" and coherent detail (unlike some speakers which can be called "analytical" in their accentuation of parts over wholes). I drive them with 75w monoblock amps, with no trouble whatsoever. Set up well, in a reasonable system, they will disappear into a transparent and vivid soundstage.
Robert
My experience is that the VA speakers tend to be more than a bit to the sweet and warm side of things, musically alluring and enjoyable, but not always the most natural sound. If they work for you, they probably won't dissapoint. However, to be safe, why not take your time and listen to a lot of speakers in your range. Some will absolutely suck, others may be worth your time.
The Beethovens are lovely indeed. This poor fella could only spring for a pair of Mozarts however. At first listen (in the store) the Vienna's sounded rather liquid and laid back. Once I got my Mozarts home and followed Pat Butler's recommendation of raking them back slightly, they sound absolutely brilliant. My setup is closer to that of a near-field one, and are powered by an NAD C370.The Beethovens definitely add more bottom end and are a Class A product. Listen to as many others as well before deciding, I just found it hard to STOP listening to the Viennas.
Cheers!
wgb113
Thanks for all your help!Do you have in mind any other brilliant sounding speakers I should try and listen to?
H
Sonus Faber makes a nice speaker close to the same price as the Beethoven with a slightly different but enjoyable sound, the Grand Piano. I plan on adding a REL subwoofer to fill out the bottom end of the Mozarts, but it's definitely NOT a necessity, especially with the Beethovens. Others I auditioned were B&W DM604, Paradigm Studio 100, and NHT 2.9. Goog luck and happy listening.wgb113
Can you please elaborate upon your comment that the Grand Pianos are "slightly different" than the Beethovens? I currently own the Grand Piano Homes, am wondering whether I should switch to the Beethovens, but cannot make up my mind.I listen mostly to Wagnerian operas (yes, a lot of people think I'm weird), so the important musical "qualities" are (operatic) voice, brass, low registers (but I have a subwoofer), and ambience (since most of the Ring recordings are live from Bayreuth). I have a digital-solid state-copper wires setup for the rest of my gear.
Thanks a lot.
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