After our hifi system ultimately broke down after 15 years of service, we (my mother and I) decided to buy a new one for my dad's birthday. I send them both to a local audio shop to get some information. They came back with some proposals from the shop manager. He suggested a Yamaha 495 CD-player and a RX-496 receiver, together with several possible speakers. He had to crack everything into 1000$ (hey, it's expensive living here, as a drummer i know most drums and cymbals cost 10 to 30% more than in the USA for example !) so gave a choice between Kef Q35 or Q15, some Sony speakers i don't remember the identity from and Boston Acoustics (without specification).I had to go seperately and give them a test. I decided to get myself informed 'cause i'm not a specialist so surfed my way round the net and found this site.
I read the comments on the Yamaha equipment and thought they were ok, also because a friend of mine has the same and was pleased with them.

That may do for the storytelling. I packed some CD's (Sting, Buddy Rich Big Band, Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Metallica, ...) to get a good impression of what the speakers would deliver under different circumstances. Immediately, I was struck by the BA's performance. They sounded a lot richer than all the rest, even compared to the shop owner's own JBL speakers worth 6000$ (don't ask me the specifications, didn't remember). The Kef's didn't have enough in the bass section, as I read in the reviews here, but were ok for classical music. The other speakers just didn't sound good, but I have to admit were cheaper.
Every kind of music sounded best on the BA's. He had suggested my parents the VR940, but said we would be back to buy a sub woofer soon. I thought he was right and as we were looking for audio-use only, I said take the VR950's.

As it turned out, the speaker cost our proposed budget of a 1000$ (i said things are more expensive here!), but we haven't regret it a moment. As some others have written, they did even sound better at home than in the shop. I've noticed things I've never noticed before in my favourite recordings. I was very impressed, as impressed as i've ever been by any hifi-equipment (and i've heard 'good' Bose and B&O before). Now I can listen to Big Bands in stead of big Band
The shop owner used to build his speakers himself in the old days and said he to was impressed with the BA's. He said he was going to get rid of his 'name speakers' (sony, ...) and only sell from specialised manufacterers. He told in fact he imported them from the USA, and was going to Germany with them in some weeks time for a music industry fair.

When I told him I had read about the BA's here, he said I was going to promote the speakers too, like you guys did here. So let it be said, so let it be done... :-)

Frank.


p.s. : I hope there aren't too many irritating mistakes in my review ....

First let me say that I love Boston Acoustics not only because they sound great but because when you buy them you know that you aren't getting ripped off. With many speakers such as Infinity, Polk, JBL etc you pay for them and end up seeing them for half the price you paid a week later on the net. Anyway, on with the review of the VR950s.It is insane how much base these speakers put out for their size. I just moved from an apartment to a house and decided it was time for a speaker upgrade. My new listening area is 17' by 17', which is large in my opinion and made me really doubtful of whether the VR950s could hold their own in such a large environment without sounding like treble monsters. When I purchased these I also purchased the VR12 Center, CR6 rears, and a VR2000 Sub. I didn't get to hook up the sub till a couple of days later and boy am I glad. Don't get me wrong, the sub is needed for my taste for base but when I heard the VR950s without it I was amazed at the base that came out. We are talking about a small standing speaker with nothing but a couple of 5 1/4s in it. It shouldn't be able to produce base! The key is to find that one spot that pushes the 950s over their base point (when you hear the popping sound from the port) and turn it just a hair below that point then you will literally think that there is a sub hooked up. The Highs and Mids sound extremely well too. Even my wife, which wasn't too thrilled about me spending cash on speakers applauded when she heard these speakers. The speakers that I replaced them with were pioneer towers with a 12", 5 1/4, and a 3". There was no doubt in my mind that the BA VR950s would be much clearer but I thought for sure that the base would be lacking. Any speaker that is this small and can fill a 17' by 17' room with base and clarity is worth 10 stars but they only allow five. If you try these then remember to find that fine line of great base and over pushing it. This is critical for getting the awesome sound that these can produce. One last note, there were a couple of reviewers that already mentioned moving the speakers away from the wall and they are right. I started out putting them against the wall and the base was lacking but then I got my wife to move them about 4 inches away from the wall and it made a huge difference.

I enjoy the Boston VR-950's on several distinct levels.1) As an owner of the 950's (with the VR-10 centre and VRS rears) I love the way they can move from straight stereo to home theatre without difficulty (and the fact that they are video shielded was perfect when they had to be right next to my TV in my old apartment). Their very open sound stage gives me wonderfully natural sound separation and accuracy, without being harsh or "overly bright" on the upper mid's and high's. They are also not guilty of being in any way lacking, muddy, or "heavy" in their base response, but rather, they love to produce base in a tight, snappy fashion that makes me smile every time I hear the "snap" of a base drum, or the deep rumble of a movie explosion (but, yes, I know I need a sub - all in good time)

2) As someone who sells A/V gear for a living, I love the way these baby's destroy the $1000-$1200Cdn market here in the land of the frozen Peso. While there are lots of very good speakers in this $$$ range in the industry, and I sell several other great offerings from other brands in this range, I love the sound/value of these speakers and can easilly recommend them as both a consumer and seller!

Accurate smooth sound, good style, fit and finish

An apparent in ability to handle moderate to higher volume
over a period of time.

I have had these for just over a year and have been extreamly happy with the sound quality over all. What has me disturbed is this. A couple of months ago I began to notice some rather obvious popping in the drivers when approaching the 10:30 position on my volume knob (base/treble at neutral) and particularly when playing music containing robust base. I did some extensive testing with them plugged into different receivers as well as different speakers plugged into my receiver (Yam RXV995).
I have been very carefull to adhere to the general rule of not exceeding 1/2 volume so as to avoid clipping. With this in mind, and given the fact that these are rated at 150 watts continuous, I can't understand why pumping a theoretical 50 watts through them should have caused what Boston has defined to me as gradual damage to the voice coils. I can only compare it to my 15 yr old son's cheap assed KLH 9123s which he has pounded as loud as he can for the last 2.5 years and they have held up just fine.
If anyone out there has experienced similar problems with this model (VR950) I welcome any input to mmelton@Aerostructures.BFG.com

Similar Products Used:

Tested POLK, klipsh, Deftech, JBL, Energy

After building a home theater system in my living room, I wanted to build a system with more of an audio emphasis for my family room which is more of a reading room without a television. The cornerstone of this system would be the speakers. I have developed a good relationship with a local dealer from whom I purchased components and speakers for my living room HT setup and spent about a year researching components and speakers. Value in terms of price/performance was my most important criteria. During the second half of '98, my dealer received some Boston VR-950's. I was a little put off by the more contemporary style, and not very impressed with the specifications (only down to 46hz on the bass). However, on a whim, I listened to a pair at one of my dealer's competitors in January. WOW! With CR-9's as the mains for my home theater, specs listing bass down to 42hz, I was amazed at the contrast. Although the CR-9's provide a very pleasant, bright, non-threatening sound and are terrific for home theater, the VR-950's presented a much more lifelike sound at the high end, acoustic guitar was especially impressive, and a much stronger deeper bass. When I went back to my dealer to procure them, he indicated that my location (a finished basement) would make the bass response even better. Boy was he ever right. I learned a lesson that at least in my experience, a floor standing speaker will deliver better bass than a bookshelf speaker, even on a good stand with better listed ratings. The medium density fiberboard enclosure makes for a very tight pleasing sound. The bass is rock solid without being too punchy or overdone. Goes lower to the ear than the CR-9'S. The level of detail at the high end achieved by stepping up from Kortec to Aluminum tweeters has been especially pleasing. I was able to get the 950's for $625 a pair, they are commonly found for around $700.
Certainly there are better speakers out there, but for the price, I doubt it. For anyone looking for a very solid pair of speakers for either audio or home theater use, at an excellent price, I recommend giving the Boston VR-950's a listen.

I have to agree with most of my fellow 950 owners, they sound so much better at home than they did at the dealer. Price/performance (a Boston Acoustics character trait) is tremendous. There are better speakers out there, but not at this price range. Give a listen at a dealer and expect them to sound twice as good when you bring them home.

I auditioned the the Bosons with B&W, Polk, and Klipsch. The Bostons sounded the best. Without a doubt. I have had them for just about a year now, and am very happy with my purchase.

After auditioning the Klipsch 10.5, NHT 1.5 & Super Two, and Paradigm Monitor 9, the Boston Acoustic VR950 proved to be the best by a wide margin. The speakers are far superior to anything in their class that I still think I got too good a deal for the 950's. But, everyone should also know that the true ability of these speakers is not apparent until you get them home and try them out. I was literally stunned at the sound quality I got. They are so smooth and precise that the music took a whole new turn for me. I listened to $4500 NHT's and I feel I got close to the same sound! For home theatre systems, the 950's can't be beat. I watched the movie Gettysburg and heard new sounds I never had heard before in the movie. It was awesome. I took my 9 year old son along with me while I was picking the speakers out and even his ears heard the difference between the others. He simply said, "Dad, these sound better. You should get these." I couldn't be happier with my purchase. For the price of these speakers, they can't be beat. At least try them out! Five plus stars. 95 of 100!

Crisp clean highs and clarity

None

I recently left a review on these speakers in January. I noted that these speakers did not handle a lot of power, also I noted the mids were weak. Well I am here to tell you I change my opinion of these fantastic VR950's. When I left a review earlier, I was using a Yamaha RX-V795(THAT WAS THE PROBLEM!!) Since then I have purchased a Denon AVR-3801, and I would like to share some information with you, these Boston's sound so much better, they have great midrange sound, and of course the VR series tweeters sound awesome. However, its true these speakers due lack serious bass, but they are not designed for that. If you hook up a subwoofer these speakers sound just as good as really expensive speakers. I am almost embarrased to say that I only spent $560 on front speakers but, you know what, I auditioned everything that Good Guys, and Circuit City had to offer, ranging from Polk Audio, Klipsch, Infinity, Energy, all the way to Boston's VR975. I found that nothing sounded better than the VR950, for music and HT. I chose the VR950 over the VR975 because I already had a sub, nontheless, the VR975 has two 4 1/2 and the VR950 has 2 5 1/4's. Conclusively, I would just like to negate my last response due to the change in recievers and post a true and accurate review for a great tower speaker.

My system:
Fronts: Boston VR950
Center: Boston VR12
Rears: Boston CR6
Receiver: Denon AVR-3801

Clarity

Could handle more watts

The Boston VR950 has extremely clear and crisp highs, the mids are a tad weak, it helps to have a EQ when listening to music. However, when watching movies in 5.1 they sound great. If you are in the market for towers/front speakers that are under $1000.00 this is the way to go. I am extremely happy wtih my purchase and recomend them to everyone.