MB QUART VS05BE bookshelf speakers - My take and Impressions

[rojo]

Thanks zieg. The frame for the grille is made of wood, if anyone is wondering. Mine kind of looks like Chubs' wooden hand after Happy Gilmore knocked it off and a truck ran over it. Grille cloth ain't going to help it, unfortunately.

The speaker still sounds perfect though. My wife talked me into canceling my order for the replacement pair.

We're just going to tell the cleaning lady not to sweat it. Stuff happens.

Sent from my LG-VS980 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Lulimet]

Rojo, I never really cared about speaker grilles and always left them off. I think I am going to do the same with these. Give a day or two and maybe I can give you one of mine if I d3cide that they are staying off.

 

[zieglj01]

Rojo, I never really cared about speaker grilles and always left them off. I think I am going to do the same with these. Give a day or two and maybe I can give you one of mine if I d3cide that they are staying off.

They look better and image better, with the grill off

 

[rojo]

Yeah, I leave mine off. It's just that they're among the nicest things I own, and I've had them for all of 4 days. They still had the new car feel, you know? Now they're a brand new Acura fresh off the lot and straight into a fender bender.

Lulimet I might take you up on that if you don't change your mind. Just pm me a price once you decide.

Sent from my LG-VS980 using Tapatalk 2

 

[zieglj01]

Incidentally, I asked and Maxxsonics only has 1 elsberry center channel left. I couldn't justify putting that on the credit card too, though.

The last elsberry center has been sold - they still have some maple center channels.

 

[FunnyLion]

Hello Zieg, thanks a lot for the review. Do you think these speakers will need/benefit from an amp? I have the Pionner SC-1323K receiver but not sure if I'll need more power to drive these speakers...

 

[zieglj01]

Hello Zieg, thanks a lot for the review. Do you think these speakers will need/benefit from an amp? I have the Pionner SC-1323K receiver but not sure if I'll need more power to drive these speakers...

You are good to go - have fun and enjoy

 

[FunnyLion]

You are good to go - have fun and enjoy

great, thanks very much!

 

[tdogroeder]

What is the sensitivity rating on them?

 

[rojo]

No clue on the sensitivity. 88dB? Just a guess.

These speakers just sound better and better every time I have the pleasure of listening to them. You know, you read a lot of reviews that say, "This speaker is amazing for the money. This speaker competes with other speakers 3 times its cost. This speaker has impressive performance considering its cost." Well, the VS05B speakers are amazing, with no qualification about price needed. Yeah, they're a good price, but they'd sound just as amazing at full retail.

Last night I was listening to a FLAC of "Welcome To Jurassic Park" in Audyssey-equalized 2.1 mode and was just amazed at how transparent the sound was. The opening piano was so resonant and honest. I could even hear the sustain pedal damping the strings as it released and reapplied. When the xylophone joined, its presence was so pure and sparkled with clarity. Then as the strings entered, there was suddenly music coming from 20 feet on either side of me. My room is only about 11.5 feet wide. The trumpets rang but remained controlled. The crash cymbals sounded brassy, not sibilant. The timpani sounded musical, not boomy.

Switching back to movie mode for "Man of Steel" and adding my center and rears, the expanded presence remained. It sounded like I was sitting in the front of an auditorium rather than in my re-purposed bedroom. There were no jarring sounds promoting speaker over system. These speakers play well with others. Explosions and violence were treated with the same sensitivity and subtlety as music, and the speakers never complained. I never heard speaker. All I heard was sound. I listened critically for speaker, but couldn't hear any particular speaker-like character.

I dig them.

 

[zieglj01]

What is the sensitivity rating on them?

That is a mystery - however, they seem to be around 87/88 db compared to the volume
level of my other speakers.

 

[tdogroeder]

That is a mystery - however, they seem to be around 87/88 db compare to the volume
level of my other speakers.

Not to bad, but not great, thanks for chiming in.

 

[zieglj01]

No clue on the sensitivity. 88dB? Just a guess.

Well, the VS05B speakers are amazing, with no qualification about price needed. Yeah, they're a good price, but they'd sound just as amazing at full retail.

just amazed at how transparent the sound was. The opening piano was so resonant and honest. I could even hear the sustain pedal damping the strings as it released and reapplied. When the xylophone joined, its presence was so pure and sparkled with clarity. The trumpets rang but remained controlled. The crash cymbals sounded brassy, not sibilant. The timpani sounded musical, not boomy.

Switching back to movie mode for "Man of Steel" and adding my center and rears, the expanded presence remained. It sounded like I was sitting in the front of an auditorium rather than in my re-purposed bedroom. Explosions and violence were treated with the same sensitivity and subtlety as music, and the speakers never complained. I never heard speaker. All I heard was sound. I listened critically for speaker, but couldn't hear any particular speaker-like character.

I dig them.

They are way, way better (higher) than a so-called $500 dollar speaker - those who perceive and think that they are average
because of their close-out price, well just go ahead and think > because you will never convince me with you thoughts and/or
perceptions. Why they are priced this low - well I could really care less (it is not important to me) thay are simply a great deal.

They are transparant (crystal) and really clean with good proper recorded sources. It is hard to pick-up a type of timbre character
with these speakers. All instruments sound good - drums are really nice and life-like - real good with piano - trumpet and violin.

They are dynamic and powerful with movies - I do not care much about their sensitivity - they can take it, and were made to play
loud. While they are not made for superman - they can still do a good job with Movies/HT.

Some speakers out there whether new or old - that I prefer the MB Quart over >>

Boston VS
Boston E
Snell K7
Monitor Audio RX Silver
JBL Studio 5
Definitive Tech New/Old SM
NHT Classic
Focal Chorus V
Acoustic Energy A Elite
Modded Cambridge S30
Modded Pioneer AAL Monitors
AV123 Onix (origional) Luscious speakers
McIntosh high-end
PSB Image
Paradigm Monitor
B&W
HTD Level Three/Two
Atlantic Tech
Martin Logan ATF
Platinum Audio

 

[khal80]

Would you guys recommend buying the center and sub as well?

I have a small game room 10x10 that need a speaker system. Dont laugh, but I was going to go with either jamo IC 608 or def tech uiw rcs III in ceiling speakers for the look.

But these seem to be a bargain price and could prob convince my wife to have floor speakers...

The total for all speakers would be 1700 shipped

is that worth it, or should I mix and match...very new to the av game, trying to learn and buy good quality for a lower budget (1500ish)

 

[zieglj01]

Would you guys recommend buying the center and sub as well?

But these seem to be a bargain price and could prob convince my wife to have floor speakers...

The total for all speakers would be 1700 shipped

is that worth it, or should I mix and match...very new to the av game, trying to learn and buy good quality for a lower budget (1500ish)

Do not mix and match on the front channels - the Vera are bookshelf and not towers - however a bookshelf
is plenty for your room - put them on some nice stands - match with the Vera center.

If not doing surround music - you can do something different for surrounds - even in-wall speakers.

The Vera sub is big and will easily handle that room - however you do not need to brand match the subwoofer.
If you need to go with a smaller sub - the SVS PB-1000 will be fine - or an HSU subwoofer.

Your call

 

[khal80]

Sorry, I forgot to mention, this is for a surround sound system.

Mostly for tv, movie, and music.

We currently watch tv and movies from the tv speakers.....so i know this will be an upgrade. But if im gonna spend the money, I want to make sure Im doing it right according what i find on these forums./.....thanks in advance for the help

So you would suggest the center and bookshelf? Any rec on receiver? it will be responsible for this room and music in master bed/bathroom

 

[rojo]

I've gotta give a strong recommendation for the Marantz SR series. The SR5008 would be plenty. (The SR6008 adds a second video out; but if you aren't piping video to zone 2, then the 15 watt per channel difference isn't enough to justify the higher price IMHO.) Check them out on accessories4less.com.

Oh, you said master bed and bath? Are you interested in 2 zones or 3?

 

[zieglj01]

We currently watch tv and movies from the tv speakers.....so i know this will be an upgrade. But if im gonna spend the money, I want to make sure Im doing it right according what i find on these forums./.....thanks in advance for the help

So you would suggest the center and bookshelf? Any rec on receiver? it will be responsible for this room and music in master bed/bathroom

Yes, the center and bookshelf

The Denon X2000 can work - Also Marantz - and Yamaha 10XX and up

 

[Lulimet]

They don't have any more Vera bookshelves. Yesterday I placed an order for a center and another pair in maple finish. Today I got an email saying that they canceled the bookshelves because the maple is sold out. So I called them today and ordered the last pair of elsberry. She said they had so many orders over the weekend.

 

[zieglj01]

They don't have any more Vera bookshelves. Yesterday I placed an order for a center and another pair in maple finish. Today I got an email saying that they canceled the bookshelves because the maple is sold out. So I called them today and ordered the last pair of elsberry. She said they had so many orders over the weekend.

They need to double check the website and/or inventory

I can still place the bookshelves in the cart.

Someone at AVS also place an order for bookshelves

It would be nice if they can confirm all this.

Blame it on rojo!