Budrew, I am in total agreement with Tvad, these speakers DO DO what they do extremely well. My interest in these speakers probably borders on obsessive, they have given me a true appreciation of their virtues and a sober realization of their shortcomings. In other words they're not perfect, what is? It can't be overlooked that whats good for the goose isn't necessarily so for the gander. Auditioning is always the best way to realize if the things most important to you are captured in a design.
Now to get to the beef. In the areas of your concern, low listening levels and off axis performance, the VSM's are superb. At low levels speakers that definitely would be better are electrostatics, for instance the Sound-Labs which are probably the best speaker on the planet at preserving the proportional dynamics and subtle details of the music without specific frequencies becoming highlighted. On the other hand they, like most planer designs, they have a smaller "sweet spot" which would make their off axis response less appealing than many dynamic designs. I have heard others say differently but personally, I haven't heard it but this is a subjective impression and why auditioning is so important. No one can tell you what YOU may like. The Merlins are SUPERB off axis. The venue is preserved and to be quite honest in my L-shaped room I can enjoy them 10' off the edge of the left speaker. Of course for critical listening I would rather be in the sweet spot.
So far as placement from the back wall, I can't give you a definitive answer relative to your room, reflections, location of the listening position etc. I will say that mine are out 30" and I like it better that distance than closer. Bobby would be a better resource for that question, he is a master of set-up as well as design.
I would feel the BAM is mandatory. I have heard without and feel the speakers have a more tipped up tonal balance without. As Bobby puts it, it is more a management system than a device to be viewed as simply an equalizier, I would tend to agree.
Are you familiar with Purpleheart wood? I would say the color is a bit lighter but with a deep metallic lustre. Personally, I'm a black matte kind of guy myself, it works in any decor.
Musical preferences and priorities are also important as Tvad notes. I personally like all genres of music from orchestral to jazz to rock to choral to vocal. I find the speakers are well balanced across the board but may not be the best choice in your room depending on your perferences. They rock but they won't "Burn the House Down" if you know what I mean. They are more about finess and refinement, with great layering and rendering of the filigree texture that makes listening to them for extended periods so enjoyable to me. Remember, nothing in audio is perfect and we each have different preferences but if you can relate to some of what I tried to convey, they are definitely worth an audition. I purchased these speakers based on what I read, sound unheard. Almost 4 years later I am still enamoured.
Now to get to the beef. In the areas of your concern, low listening levels and off axis performance, the VSM's are superb. At low levels speakers that definitely would be better are electrostatics, for instance the Sound-Labs which are probably the best speaker on the planet at preserving the proportional dynamics and subtle details of the music without specific frequencies becoming highlighted. On the other hand they, like most planer designs, they have a smaller "sweet spot" which would make their off axis response less appealing than many dynamic designs. I have heard others say differently but personally, I haven't heard it but this is a subjective impression and why auditioning is so important. No one can tell you what YOU may like. The Merlins are SUPERB off axis. The venue is preserved and to be quite honest in my L-shaped room I can enjoy them 10' off the edge of the left speaker. Of course for critical listening I would rather be in the sweet spot.
So far as placement from the back wall, I can't give you a definitive answer relative to your room, reflections, location of the listening position etc. I will say that mine are out 30" and I like it better that distance than closer. Bobby would be a better resource for that question, he is a master of set-up as well as design.
I would feel the BAM is mandatory. I have heard without and feel the speakers have a more tipped up tonal balance without. As Bobby puts it, it is more a management system than a device to be viewed as simply an equalizier, I would tend to agree.
Are you familiar with Purpleheart wood? I would say the color is a bit lighter but with a deep metallic lustre. Personally, I'm a black matte kind of guy myself, it works in any decor.
Musical preferences and priorities are also important as Tvad notes. I personally like all genres of music from orchestral to jazz to rock to choral to vocal. I find the speakers are well balanced across the board but may not be the best choice in your room depending on your perferences. They rock but they won't "Burn the House Down" if you know what I mean. They are more about finess and refinement, with great layering and rendering of the filigree texture that makes listening to them for extended periods so enjoyable to me. Remember, nothing in audio is perfect and we each have different preferences but if you can relate to some of what I tried to convey, they are definitely worth an audition. I purchased these speakers based on what I read, sound unheard. Almost 4 years later I am still enamoured.