b&w 803 or vr4jr, best match

thanks everyone. sorry bout the delayed responce. you gave me some great ideas on what to listen to and for. there is one area around here i found where i can listen to vs and b&w only a few miles apart. think i'll start there. thanks again.

although I never heard the VR4JRs, I own N803. B&Ws like to be connected to good equipment. Mac works GREAT with B&Ws. I use McCormack DNA-125, which is also a nice match. But, in my mind, the new 803Ds are in a different league comparing to either the N803 or the 803S. That diamond tweeter is just silky smooth. The bigger cabinet and additional woofer, they have more low end. I heard both the B&W 803D and 803S with the mac gear(I think the 500w/ch monos) they sounded awesome. You have to go and check out the VR4JRs and the 803 to determine what you like though. Always audition speakers more than once, as the first impression ususally has the biggest effect.
And I do tend to agree with Aball that if the VR4JRs are much smoother sounding than the B&Ws, MAC may not be a good match. MAC gear is great but it needs lively speakers, not that the VSA are not(I never had an opportunity to hear VR4JRs, so can't speak for it).

I auditioned the 803, loved the whole package excepr that metal tweeter. I bet the diamond sounds great. I ended up buying a silverline sonata for 1500 more. Cant't stand bright sizzle tweeters.

My friend has the 803's and they are equipment dependent. With the wrong equipment they sounded like sh!^ but with the right equipment they sound wonderful. I am very sensitive to bright and sizzle tweeters and the 803's in his current system sound right. So much so, I can listen to his system for hours on end at varing sound levels without asking him to please turn the volume down. I have had to do that while listening to other friend's systems from time to time due to a overly bright sound.

YMMV, but I would believe the Mc owners if they say it marries up nicely with B&W.

L