Vienna Acoustics Listz impressions


I have been on a quest to find some new floor standing speakers (around $25K or less) and have listened to models from B&W, Linn, Magico, Sonus Faber, Wilson, Vandersteen and will hear the Rockports this week. I am interested in a musical speaker that has good resolution, images well and has a solid bass foundation. For various reasons my number one preference has been the Magico S3. I have listened to the Vienna Acoustics line a couple of times and have never been that impressed with the sound....i.e. a little boxy, smaller image and an OK bass foundation. That all changed when I heard the Listz. When the music started I said "what the..." It was a totally different speaker from the lower level price points. It had some of the sweetest string sounds I have heard with great dynamics, punch, soundstage and imaging. The bass was excellent and went deep. It really gave me goose bumps as the sound rolled over me. I may have a new favorite.....bring on the Rockport!
goose
I have VA Listz in my home system and totally agree with OP. For the last 15 years I had many speakers - all the way up to Sonus Faber Anniversario and Marten Bird II. The VA Listz sounds like a real music - real, 3d soundstage, imaging, dynamics, they got it all. VA did a really great job with these.
No plans to change speakers for foreseeable future.
Shank I have not heard the Musik....it is out of my price range and probably too big for my room
When is VA coming out with its ultimate effort named after the greatest composer ever born in Vienna ?
I heard the Liszts driven by Ayre AX5 several weeks ago, and I thought them extraordinary. Superlative on all fronts. Not too forward, not too laid back, not too bright, not too dark, excellent imaging, soundstaging, full-bodied, etc. etc. If I had the $$ and the space I'd buy them in an instant.
Those Viennas remind me of the old Boston Acoustics Lynnwoods. I loved those speakers - did all the audiophile things right, were smooth, and you could play them as loud as you wanted.

Looking forward to your Rockport impressions......
Rlwainwright the salesperson initially steered me away from this speaker when I was auditioning the Wilson Sophia II. If you like the Wilson sound, you will probably find this speaker too soft or not as dramatic. For my tastes I find the Wilson treble harsh and grating....I guess every pair of ears hears things differently and that's OK.
Doncha just love it when a speaker "speaks" to your musical soul? It sounds like (pun intended) you have found your Holy Grail. I'd quit while I was ahead and enthralled. Now it's time to find the best deal on a pair.

PS: There are some drop dead gorgeous Imperial Liszts on Agon right now, $8500 - $8900. Look like sweet deals to me...