About to audition Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Grand Reference - advice?

JM, I am in Colorado so a bit far to go demo. I will say that the VA and Aerials both are much better looking and I do prefer wood over paint. I hope the VA dealer gets his sold so he can bring in the Reference, I have given up on the Aerial dealer, unless someone else picks up the line.

But thank you for sharing your experience 

Happy listening 

Theo

I am huge fan of VA. I have owned in the past, the Haydn Grand, Bach Grand, Mozart Grand and I think Beethoven Baby grand.

Not sure the difference between the reference version and these older ones.

The only speakers I thought beat them but sounded similar in how they do things so well were speakers from Sonus Faber (older models, not the new ones), Verity, and Devore.

I bought a Verity Parsifal to replace the VA it was much better, and then finally Devore Orangutans, my final speaker, that beat Verity handily.

Either of them (Verity, Devore) could rival the VA in looks and sound better IMHO.

And Devore speakers are much more tube friendly, VAs need SS to really sound good. Although high-powered tubes might work, but why do that if you can get better sound in a more efficient speaker designed for tubes like Devore.

The new VA's have maintained the older models musicality while overcoming the dynamic compression the earlier models suffered from. I love it when VA's are parked next to Kef or Revel, two companies steep in the science of sound because more often than not these awful measuring speakers leave the competition for dead in a listening demo. 

As for bringing up Verity, Devore or any other brand after the OP stated on HIS thread he already bought his speakers, why? kicking sand? go start your own thread about how great your speakers are.

that was harsh.

Thanks!  I get we all have our preferences and aesthetics. And none of us have heard every combination in every space. I’m well aware the VAs are not wow-sounding Focals etc., but I vastly prefer the look and natural sound. And I find the sound gorgeous as opposed to stunning. I can listen all day. And the amp/speaker match is fine — thank you. I can scare myself, and probably shatter a window. AC/DC is doing just fine. As is The Who — loud. Oh, and so is jazz, chamber music and female vocal. These are not the Baby Beethoven’s. They are the Reference. Go listen, those who wonder. And Steve, thank you. 
Joe