I confess the 4JRs actually impressed me much more than the more expensive 4SRs when I heard them in the same room, on the same electronics a couple months ago. The 4SRs also did not impress me in show conditions when I heard them at the 2005 THE Show in Vegas either. I really felt they did not have the dynamics I would expect from a 10K/pr. set of speakers. The 4JRs by contrast were very impressive, but they have just received a big price increase to $5.5K/pr. so that should also be taken into consideration, IMO. I like them a lot, but they are not the value they used to be... Good deals on them used can be found here on Audiogon, however.
I prefer the Merlins easily over both, but I think your room may be too much for them to sound their best. Maybe Bobby can weigh in on that one as he is the designer/expert. The Merlins are fast, non-fatiguing and have incredible resolution. Both VS speakers have lower (but not better quality) bass, however.
As for other options, I would stay within the VS family used, and check out the excellent DB99s (either the SE or mkII models). These are incredible performers IMO and can work with very low powered amps even in large rooms like yours if needed (due to the 99db sensitivity rating). They are definitely the real deal.
New, you could look in the direction I ultimately went... I bought the Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature System (the original one that costs about $5K/pr.). Some of the best bang for the buck on the market, IMO, and excellent overall performance top to bottom. I am obviously biased, but in a large room like yours, the Tylers would be a very good fit. Downside is they are Internet only, so there are no stores to audition, and you would have to have them shipped from the US (as they are built in Kentucky).
Others worth a look are the Dali Helicon800s (excellent), the Ayon Butterflies (amazing, but somewhat bass shy), and if you are adventurous, a used pair of McIntosh XRT-28s arrays (a love em/hate em speaker... I love em). While an audition is highly advisable on any speaker purchase (especially in this price range), with the McIntoshes it is am absolute must, because they really are some of the most polarizing speakers opinion-wise I have heard to date.
Good luck,
---Dave
I prefer the Merlins easily over both, but I think your room may be too much for them to sound their best. Maybe Bobby can weigh in on that one as he is the designer/expert. The Merlins are fast, non-fatiguing and have incredible resolution. Both VS speakers have lower (but not better quality) bass, however.
As for other options, I would stay within the VS family used, and check out the excellent DB99s (either the SE or mkII models). These are incredible performers IMO and can work with very low powered amps even in large rooms like yours if needed (due to the 99db sensitivity rating). They are definitely the real deal.
New, you could look in the direction I ultimately went... I bought the Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature System (the original one that costs about $5K/pr.). Some of the best bang for the buck on the market, IMO, and excellent overall performance top to bottom. I am obviously biased, but in a large room like yours, the Tylers would be a very good fit. Downside is they are Internet only, so there are no stores to audition, and you would have to have them shipped from the US (as they are built in Kentucky).
Others worth a look are the Dali Helicon800s (excellent), the Ayon Butterflies (amazing, but somewhat bass shy), and if you are adventurous, a used pair of McIntosh XRT-28s arrays (a love em/hate em speaker... I love em). While an audition is highly advisable on any speaker purchase (especially in this price range), with the McIntoshes it is am absolute must, because they really are some of the most polarizing speakers opinion-wise I have heard to date.
Good luck,
---Dave
