VAF speakers - I can't listen to them first!
Dave Meney
I am seriously considering purchasing the VAF DC-X, DC-S and DC-6 speaker
package as part of a new home theatre and hi-fi.
Being in Perth, I cannot listen to these speakers. On the weekend, at the
local hifi shop, where I intend to purchase my AV receiver (DENON AVR-3300),
RPTV (Toshiba 50"), DVD (Toshiba SD-2109) and CD player (Sony 200 disc), the
salesman couldn't believe that I was prepared to buy speakers without first
listening to them. I know he wants to sell me a set of speakers!
He does have a point - so how did other owners of VAF speakers deal with
this issue (other than those in SA who could audition the speakers at the
shop)?
I've no doubt from my reading of reviews and discussions in this newsgroup
that VAF DC series speakers are great - but what if the acoustics in my home
are such that a different brand of speaker with different sound
characteristics would be better?
I know of an acquaintance who moved from a brick house with concrete slab to
a period home - weatherboard and timber floors - and needed to change his
speakers because of the home's acoustics - and they weren't cheap ones.
Ours is a pole platform house - the floor is 19mm jarrah floorboards over
19mm chipboard flooring about 3-4m above the ground. The walls are steel
frames, clad with Gyprock internally and Weathertex (compressed timber
boards) externally - with 50 mm fibreglass insulation on external walls, and
no insulation on the internal walls. Above the theatre room is a large
(insulated) roof space adjacent to the upstairs loft rooms, and the theatre
room (family room) is open with arch doorways to the entry and therefore
upstairs stairwell, and kitchen. The speakers will be placed about 2300mm
apart on the TV wall.
How will I know if the VAF speakers sound terific in my house? What if they
suffer from too much bass for example? I know if I buy the speakers locally
and they don't sound good, I can take them back and try a different pair.
I welcome any responses.
Regards,
Dave Meney
Perth, WA
Simon Blears
wrote:
>I am seriously considering purchasing the VAF DC-X, DC-S and DC-6 speaker
>package as part of a new home theatre and hi-fi.
<snip>
>How will I know if the VAF speakers sound terific in my house? What if they
>suffer from too much bass for example? I know if I buy the speakers locally
>and they don't sound good, I can take them back and try a different pair.
Hi Dave,
I understand that VAF have a 'no quibbles' money back guarentee.
Check out their web page (www.vaf.com.au) if you haven't already. I
haven't seen ANY bad reports about VAF speakers in over 12 months of
browsing the ng's, and it's usually the other way around in this
industry! :-)
BTW: No, I don't have VAF's, I'm more than happy with my KRIX
speakers.
Dave Meney
I've listened to Krix speakers and they have models with a similar package
price. If it were you deciding today, would you pick the Krix coz you could
audition them?
Do you think the acoustics of a particular house require careful selection
of speakers, or is it that any good speaker combination (such as VAF) can be
made to sound good with the correct amp adjustments?
Regards,
Dave
Simon Blears <ble...@my-deja.com.au> wrote in message
news:37e5e270...@news.e-centre.com.au...
Andrew Wong
Blears) wrote:
>I understand that VAF have a 'no quibbles' money back guarentee.
>Check out their web page (www.vaf.com.au) if you haven't already. I
>haven't seen ANY bad reports about VAF speakers in over 12 months of
>browsing the ng's, and it's usually the other way around in this
>industry! :-)
>
This is no good if you are building the cabinets yourself.. you get 7
days to return them.
Only feasible if you are either a very fast worker (take annual leave
when the kit arrives!) or you buy the kit in semi-complete or complete
form.
Simon Blears
wrote:
>I've listened to Krix speakers and they have models with a similar package
>price. If it were you deciding today, would you pick the Krix coz you could
>audition them?
I picked the Krix because
a) I liked them aesthetically - the jarrah finish is lovely and they
suit my tastes appearance wise (ie: no weird patterns in the shape of
the frabric covers etc)
b) because I was happy with the sound,
and
c) the price wasn't astronomical
Because of a and b, I made allowances on c!
If I'd auditioned VAF's, then it may have been a different story. I'm
a firm believer in finding something that you're happy with and
enjoying it. That's not to say that you shouldn't audition (where
possible) and that you shouldn't take a punt every now and again.
Being in Perth as well, it was fortunate that one of the only two
dealers shared my beliefs of 'customer service' and had the knowledge
of their products.
So, I guess the answer to your question is "yes". IN MY
CIRCUMSTANCES! :-)
This newsgroup (and aus.dvd) was instrumental in my looking at the
Krix. I must admit, I didn't know they existed until I saw people's
glowing reviews (along with VAF and ME, for that matter!).
>Do you think the acoustics of a particular house require careful selection
>of speakers, or is it that any good speaker combination (such as VAF) can be
>made to sound good with the correct amp adjustments?
I don't think I'm qualified to answer that. I would imagine,
however, that the combination of amp and room treatments (ie: rugs,
curtains etc) could 'fix' any minor sound problems.
Any dealer worth their salt would be prepared to demo the speakers in
situ, if you're unsure. I know that 1 of the 2 Krix dealers in Perth
was :-) They'll also come by and 'balance' the setup with a SPL meter
once it's installed.
Any other questions, feel free to ask.
If you want an inhouse demo (for what it's worth), let me know.
Simon....
John Harmsen
I too am in Perth and very recently went through the same agony as
yourself with speaker selection. I would dearly have liked to audition the
VAF product !
I, like Simon bought Krix after auditioning them at Frank Prowse. I
believe that with speakers more so than other Audio products, much of the
final selection process tends to become very subjective. ie. Many speakers
list similar specifications, but they all have quite a unique sound. When
splashing out a few thousand hard earned bucks I insist on seeing and
hearing the product! I mean when did you last buy a car without first test
driving it?
Finally I have no regrets with my choice of Krix Esoterix Mk2. They look
and sound great!
Regards..John
Dave Meney <ye...@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:37e5dc49$0$14...@motown.iinet.net.au...
> Hi,
>
> I am seriously considering purchasing the VAF DC-X, DC-S and DC-6 speaker
> package as part of a new home theatre and hi-fi.
>
> How will I know if the VAF speakers sound terific in my house? What if
they
> suffer from too much bass for example? I know if I buy the speakers
locally
> and they don't sound good, I can take them back and try a different pair.
>
Ian J Robinson
DC-X and I'm going with the VAF. As far as price is concerned the VAFs & the
KRIX are very much "neck & neck" however I believe the DC-X is one hell of a
speaker, for music & movies (DVD).
--
Take it easy but take it!!
John Harmsen <har...@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:37e77dbd$0$11...@motown.iinet.net.au...
Dave Meney
This car test driving thing... It's what the hifi salesman said to me. I am
an engineer, and so technical evaluation is (frustratingly at times) second
nature to me. I think to test drive a *new* car is a bit of bullshit
really. A (good) car is an assemblage of engineering design and
achievement - you're not really going to appreciate that during a test
drive. Unless you already own a similar vehicle, any new car is going to
feel different to what you are used to, and lets face it, it doesn't take
long to get used to. I'm not comparing Kia with Mazda for example but good
with good - like Krix and VAF. (Please, no posts from happy Kia drivers -
it's not my point!)
I am now convinced that the VAF speaker will sound better than any other
speaker in its price range, and that my own acoustics will have a
detrimental effect with any speakers, but less of a detrimental effect with
VAF.
Thanks to Paul Stevens and everybody who contributed to this discussion.
Regards,
Dave
Tim O'Connor
[snip]
They are great, but if you like in your face bass, you might be a bit
dissapointed. I now have a sub woofer, so I get the best of both worlds.
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~ Timothy O'Connor, RMIT. All opinions expressed are my own. ~
~ You can find yourself a lover, you can make yourself a home, you can ~
~ want no other ever, but its never to late to be alone...[Del Amitri] ~
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