Boston Acoustics RS or VS

[mrceolla]

Hi folks,

I have to replace my home theater speakers because they were stolen. I have insurance money and the insurance company's 3rd party replacement service can get Bosto Acoustics for 50% of MSRP. But I do not have a store in my area that carries them so I can't audition them.

I started a thread here:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73021

...and am now seriously considering getting Boston Acoustics. It's hard to turn down that kind of a deal even if there are people out there who think I can still get better spakers off the internet for the same price range.

Anyway, I'm looking at either the RS or VS series. I understand they have a slightly different tweeter But how different?

I also understand the cones are made up of different material. But does it create a large enough difference to notice?

Are there any other large differences that I'm missing? Other than materials for the drivers and shape of the cabinet, anything else?

Which is a better way to go, the quad 4" woofers or 2x6" woofers? I will have a sub with the setup.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Whitey80]

Having listened to only the VS series, I cannot comment on the RS at all.

The VS was a very full sounding speaker with a huge soundstage and were very attractive in design. I definitely liked them alot and it tempted me very much to replace my VR set, but they were somewhat cost prohibitive to me at the time ($6000 for a 5 channel set).

If you can get them for half that, I would certainly be looking at them pretty hard.

 

[zieglj01]

The VS was a very full sounding speaker with a huge soundstage and were very attractive in design. I definitely liked them alot and it tempted me very much to replace my VR set, but they were somewhat cost prohibitive to me at the time ($6000 for a 5 channel set).

If you can get them for half that, I would certainly be looking at them pretty hard.

Very good resolution - detail, definition and depth. A very good
tweeter. A speaker that will draw you in, and not wear you out.

 

[mrceolla]

Thank you both for your input.

I am very much considering the VS line. Would you opt for the quad 4" model or the 3x6.5" speakers?

Thanks!

 

[Whitey80]

Thank you both for your input.

I am very much considering the VS line. Would you opt for the quad 4" model or the 3x6.5" speakers?

Thanks!

3 6.5 is the one I heard,

3x6 = more surface than 4x4

 

[zieglj01]

Thank you both for your input.

I am very much considering the VS line. Would you opt for the quad 4" model or the 3x6.5" speakers?

Thanks!

We are talking about a 12x15 room - right?

 

[mrceolla]

We are talking about a 12x15 room - right?

Ah, you frequent AVS as well. Do these two forums have pretty much the same members. I don't mean to cross post but AVS and audioholics seem to have the most knowledgeable audio folks.

Yes, roughly 12x15. However the right side of the room is open to the rest of my home extending about another 10'-12' into the dining area. Not sure if that matters or not.

Thanks all.

 

[zieglj01]

Ah, you frequent AVS as well. Do these two forums have pretty much the same members. I don't mean to cross post but AVS and audioholics seem to have the most knowledgeable audio folks.

Yes, roughly 12x15. However the right side of the room is open to the rest of my home extending about another 10'-12' into the dining area. Not sure if that matters or not.

Thanks all.

Post any where you want - they have some good members here.
How far do you sit back from the front speakers - the drivers still
need room to radiate. The sub will make the biggest difference.
The speakers need to be placed near an open wall area, about
2 to 3 feet from the corners of the walls - and need at least 18
inches from the back wall, for the bass port to breathe.

 

[mrceolla]

Short of measuring the exact distance, I can tell you my fronts are pretty much as close to the front, TV wall as possible. And I site on a couch as close to the back wall as possible. Actual distance of left side wall may be more like 11.5' vs 12'. Does that give you a good idea or should I measure when I get home?

Thanks.

 

[zieglj01]

Short of measuring the exact distance, I can tell you my fronts are pretty much as close to the front, TV wall as possible. And I site on a couch as close to the back wall as possible. Actual distance of left side wall may be more like 11.5' vs 12'. Does that give you a good idea or should I measure when I get home?

Thanks.

Then choose which ever one you prefer - If the insurance will swing
for it. In that size room, the smaller tower would work for me - how
ever, you may prefer the bigger sound of the large tower. It is still
possibe that the large tower may over-whem you, depending on the
volume. Good Luck!

Are these the speakers that you use to own?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEZz7sNojKY

 

[mrceolla]

Overwhelm in what sense? Too much bass? Too much volume?

The insurance co. game me a chunk of money for all that was stolen. They only allotted so much for the stolen speakers. But I'm willing to not replace some things and spend more money on other things. The larger VS 336 is still a possibility as far a cost is concerned. But I'm more concerned with the difference in sound between the two.

I don't require a lot of bass, but I like it to be tight, accurate and detailed. I know it will go lower with the larger cones, but I'll have a sub too. Other than going lower and probably louder, how else would the sound differ between the two? What does "bigger sound" mean exactly?

You say the smaller would work for you in this size room. But I'd still like to have the flexibility to put them in a larger room if/when I move.

Man, I wish I could hear these first.

 

[zieglj01]

Overwhelm in what sense? Too much bass? Too much volume?

You say the smaller would work for you in this size room. But I'd still like to have the flexibility to put them in a larger room if/when I move.

Man, I wish I could hear these first.

The difference betwwen the 2 towers, is power handling and bass.

Compared to what you use to own - the Boston is powerful.
As far as which ones to choose - you just answered your
question. Your thinking of the future.

All I can tell you - is that in the last 20 years of all the speakers
I have owned or listened too, the Boston VS series is in the top
3, at its price point. Compared to what you had - the Boston will
turn your head, and will be an ear and eye opener. Your money
and your choice. Boston online has a 30 day return policy.

 

[mrceolla]

Will my soon-to-arrive Yamaha RX-A3000 be powerful enough for the larger VS 336?

So all in all, you're telling me the VS 336 will sound better, even at lower volumes, than the VS 344?

I know Boston has a 30day return policy but I'm not sure they'll honor that if I buy through this replacement service. I've sent Boston Acoustics an email to ask them but haven't received a reply yet.

 

[zieglj01]

Will my soon-to-arrive Yamaha RX-A3000 be powerful enough for the larger VS 336?

So all in all, you're telling me the VS 336 will sound better, even at lower volumes, than the VS 344?

Yamaha will do the job.
The 2 speakers have the same sound character.
The 336 covers more area and has more bass - will take more
power and will sound bigger in smaller rooms - for your current
listening area, volume is not a problem.

 

[mrceolla]

Thanks Jim.

I emailed Boston Acoustics customer support asking about timbre matching between speakers. They said to make sure the drivers sizes match. Any truth to that?

The VS center has 2 5.25" drivers. That doesn't match any of their speakers in that line. And the VS 260 bookshelf has a 6.5" which only matches the 3x6.5 in the larger VS 336. So does that mean the smaller VS 344 won't be timbre matched with the one and only VS bookshelf? Should any of this be a concern?

I really appreciate all of your replies. I'm close to pulling the trigger. Now I think I need to decide if I want the cherry trim or not.

 

[zieglj01]

Thanks Jim.

I emailed Boston Acoustics customer support asking about timbre matching between speakers. They said to make sure the drivers sizes match. Any truth to that?

I really appreciate all of your replies. I'm close to pulling the trigger. Now I think I need to decide if I want the cherry trim or not.

Just try to keep the VS series with the VS series. I don't worry
about driver sizes. The VS center is timbre (voice) matched,
with the VS line. Boston, did not worry about driver sizes when,
they made the center channel. The thing is to level match your
speakers, when you set up your system. Good Luck!

There is a VS240 bookshelf
http://www.onecall.com/product/Boston-Acoustics/VS-240PF-Black-Cherry-Ea/Speaker/_/R-91456

 

[mrceolla]

Well, I pulled the trigger on the VS line last Friday. Today I get a call from the insurance replacement service that the VS line is being discontinued. Then I called Boston Acoustics to make sure this was true but the person I spoke with only mentioned that the VS bookshelf was out of stock but he expected more at some point. I'm having the insurance replacement people double check.

Good grief. All this back and forth and now they may not be available anymore.

Any experience with the Boston Acoustics RS line? If the VS is truely discontinued, should I go with the RS line or the LSi line from Polk?

Thanks.

 

[zieglj01]

Well, I pulled the trigger on the VS line last Friday. Today I get a call from the insurance replacement service that the VS line is being discontinued. Then I called Boston Acoustics to make sure this was true but the person I spoke with only mentioned that the VS bookshelf was out of stock but he expected more at some point. I'm having the insurance replacement people double check.

Good grief. All this back and forth and now they may not be available anymore.

No - they are not being discontinued.

However, you can do the VS tower and center, for the front channels.
And the RS bookshelf, for the surrounds.

 

[mrceolla]

Are these the speakers that you use to own?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEZz7sNojKY

LOL Just saw that now. Yes, that's what I use to own. They weren't bad for $200/pair.

I'm waiting to hear back from the replacement service to see what the final word from Boston Acoustics is.

If worse comes to worst and I can't get any of the VS line, would you go RS line all around or Polk LSi?

Thanks.

 

[mrceolla]

Just got this from Boston Acoustics customer support:

"The VS may still be available but are scheduled to be discontinued and replaced by the new A series."

I just asked them when the A series would be available.