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Narrowing down to JM Reynaud or VMPS...Help

After researching bass-nondeficient speakers in the around $3K price range, I like what I'm hearing about the VMPS and Reynaud speakers.

I have a medium large room (20'X35'), am using all Cary solid state Home Theater gear with 200WPC on the amp. There aren't too many places around here to audition lots of different kinds of speakers (Louisville, KY), so I want to narrow down the choices and maybe even fly to another city if need be to check em out.

From what I've read, the VMPS might have an overall better sound, but the Reynaud's may have a better wife acceptance factor, and be easier to drive and maybe less fussy overall to deal with.

I'm probably looking for floorstanders given the size of the room, but don't want anything too huge - the wife just won't go for it.

Does anyone have any helpful experience/insights to consider between these two brands? I'm probably looking at the Tower II in the VMPS or the Countour, Evolution 3's or maybe even Tents.

Any feedback would be appreciated..
larryb

Showing 4 responses by larryb

larryb OP
101 posts
 
I thought about going to Tyler Acoustics, but someone here mentioned they were about a 4 hour drive from here. I'll have to look into it more..

As to the Reynauds, does anyone here know if their floorstanders will be up to the demands of larger rooms?

Dave - what were the qualities of the VMPS's that you thought you couldn't live with long term? Are they to hard in certain registers or too aggressive?

Thanks!
larryb OP
101 posts
 
I've heard good things about the Trentes, but as you say, the larger room probably needs floorstanders. In fact my current speakers are B&W 804's (matrix) which I never thought had a problem with room filling sound, but in their current placement they can sound a bit strained. Even with my excellent Cary 200WPC amp.

Its a large room, 20X35, with the speakers oriented to project through the 35' space. Not optimal, but the only way I could rig it with the projector.
larryb OP
101 posts
 
What I guess I'm looking for is a speaker that will move some air and sound effortless in the larger room they're in now. My tradeoffs of choice are 1) prefer better bass to ultimate resolution, and smoother top end to same; 2) prefer warmer and expressive to analytical; 3) prefer darker to brighter sound 4) prefer more natural presentation to trumped up high's or midrange 5) prefer hearing room ambience to micro-imaging or high transients - which you get with naturally bassier speakers.

I guess you could sum up to say warm and smooth, and good with many styles of music - from Zeppelin to Mahler, Bill Frissel to MahaVishnu, Nine Inch Nails to Alison Kraus.

It's no easy task, especially without many speakers locally I can audition. Any other ideas?
larryb OP
101 posts
 
I should have mentioned that even though I'm using an all Cary system, it's also all solid state. Basically home theater seperates that also sound great with 2 channel audio.
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