Coincident Total Eclipse vs. Von Schweikert VR 4


I'm considering replacing my Dynaudio monitors with a floorstanding model to get a bigger voice and stronger bass. I have narrowed the list to these two speakers, Coincident Total Eclipse and Von Schweikert VR 4, based upon professional and amateur reviews. Unfortunately, neither speaker is represented anywhere near me so demonstrations are problematic. Has anyone heard these two speakers side by side?

Currently, I have an Air Tight tube preamp and amp, but soon to have a new tube amp with a high output. I primarily listen to CDs with the Muse CDP.

Any help would be appreciated.
lrm1jaf

Showing 3 responses by byfo

I just received the VR4genIII HSE and have had the Total Eclipse for a couple of months. At this point (open to more experimentation on my part) I feel the Eclipse's are more revealing in the mids and highs. Decays and subtleties are more apparent. The VR4's have better bass in my room also. I'm using a Wyetech Opal pre and ASL AQ-1009DT amps. I have a couple of audiophile buddies who will be listening to both within the next week and will let you know their impressions. AUDITION BOTH IF YOU CAN. IMO THEY ARE QUITE DIFFERENT IN PRESENTATION. Side firing woofers may or may not work in your room. I don't like the idea of having woofers aimed at my equipment rack (which I can not move)which in my room gives me better overall response.

If a speaker has too much detail for your liking, there are ways of subduing, but if a speaker doesn't have enough, you are out of luck.
Hi Tvad, the VR4's I purchased are approx. 6 months old. Don't know how much time was accumulated on them in the original owner's system. As I said, I'm still experimenting with their placement etc. I have not drawn any conclusions at this point.
This is a follow up to my original comments above. The quality of your gear is very important with the VRs. I am currently using a Sony 777ES SACD player as a transport which feeds into a D2D upsampler (Assemblage) then into a Theta GenVa 20/96. With this setup, which I have considered to be quite transparent, the VRs seemed to be lacking detail in the mids and highs as I stated above. My audio buddy brought over his Meitner DAC8 MK IV, Phillips modified player running into a Meitner Switchman. Wow, what a transformation. The difference is incredible. The VRs came to life. I get to borrow this setup for a couple of weeks at which point a hitman may have to be hired. It will be hard to part with this combination.
The noise floor is lower with the VRs, even considering efficiency differences, with my tube equipment. With solid state this is a non issue. The VRs are inviting and engaging, drawing you into the music with their warm smooth accurate mids and highs. The VRs also have excellent bass. It's a music lovers speaker with great rythm and pace. The Coincident are very detailed speakers that present the music in an accurate analytical way. You feel your hearing everything. I don't feel they are cold sounding. The mids and highs are smooth, but not quite as smooth as the VRs. These speakers seem to be able to flesh out a little more upper detail then the VRs. With the Coincident, the music doesn't grab you and draw you into it like with the VRs, but rather imposes itself on you showing you that this is the way it is, like it or not. The Coincident speakers have good bass but not as good as the VRs in my room. I have been unable to get the bass right with the Coincident. My room prefers forward firing bass drivers.
At this point I am leaning more towards the VRs as my reference speakers.