The Boston Acoustics VR760 are really great for H/T. You'll get a lot of sound effect and excitement with these speakers. But for music, it is far short of other speakers. I personally don't like the sound of VR760.

First of all, I don't know what the heck Ruecha from Bangkok is talking about. I don't think that Boston Acoustics makes a VR760. He must be talking about some off the wall imitation that someone or some company stuck a Boston label on. So I would not take that review too serious.
As for Stephen and Ted the humming or buzz comes from a bad or broken amp. If those speakers were not shipped or handled correctly before purchase they most likely were damaged. I have found out through extensive research that the amp in the powered subs is very sensitive. I found this out from talking to a Boston Rep at a dealer. Their problems with the midrange is probably due to the type of receiver they use. Hint: need to use a receiver with 20 to 20 kHz, 0.04% to 0.08% THD to = at least 70W per channel. If their receivers fall short of (Pioneer) these specs, they will probably have midrange problems. Side note Pioneer can fool you by the way they rate their speakers, trust me I fell into that trap as a rookie. Stephen may need to move the speakers to another location in the room with the cathedral ceilings, location always makes a difference.

The Laser got the early models most likely, because I found that the later models have no problem handeling alot of guitar midranbge. I listen to Jimmy Hendrix on mine and have no problems with the midrange.

Kane this review does not even belong in this section. So if this person can't even put the review in the correct section how can one believe what has been written. But I shall address the issue anyway. First of all, stop ordering from fly by night internet companies that by used or referbished equipment! Second, he never said what happened to the third pair he received. They probably worked that is why he did not bash the third set.

Finally, Bob from Omaha makes a good point. There is no best speaker out there it really just depends on personal preference when you buy speakers in this class. As long as you are happy with what your system sounds like, then whatever brand of speakers you own, they will be the perfect speakers for you. I just don't like people to bash a product and not know what the HECK they are talking about. I own a pair of these speakers (VR960) and I love them. They reproduce my music with crisp, clean, and warm sound. The Active Bass Contour control makes the transition from midrange to sub so smooth. I have not yet found a speaker in this price range that gives such awesome sound quality! And you don't haave to buy a separate sub because these babies kick! Especially on DVD movies. If you can get these speakers for under $1000.00, you better jump on it quickly. Make sure you get them from an authorized dealer and not a fly by night internet store that wil be gone tomorrow if you have a service need. It is better to pay a little more now for quality than to pay double later for what sounds to be a good deal.......

The ability of not having a seperate sub but still having the sound of having one. Everyone asks where the sub?

None yet

Couldn't have bought a better speaker, when I heard them in the store I thought they were good. When I got them home and after the break in period they keep sounding better and better. Have just recently added the vrs pro surrounds and the vr-12 center. Combined with the Yamaha 795A I am the happiest guy around.

Similar Products Used:

Energy, Paradigm

I listened to three powered towers in the $1000 range - the BA VR960, the Polk Audio RT1000, and one from Infinity. I bought the VR960 based on its warm highs and deep base. I actually was quite pleased with the way they sounded in my home - my only complaint was the brittle mid range at medium/high volume levels. However, I eventually returned the VR960s (for the VR950s) due to several problems. The first one stopped working after three days (it wouldn't even pass through the non-powered sub portion of the signal). The second one turned-on intermittently without an input single - I eventually determined that a "dirty" power sub volume control would cause a false signal. The third one had two problems - a high volume threshold for power sub turn-on (two remote control clicks higher than the other side) and it shut off in 4 minutes, not 15 as listed in the manual (I had to keep the volume louder than desired to keep it from turing off). The store where I bought them (a good, high end store) claims they sale hundreds of these without incident. I either have very bad luck or BA has reliability/shipping problems with this model. Despite all of this, I think these speakers sound pretty good (4 rating). Just make sure that they are fully checked out (particularly the power sub/amplifier/volume control) within the return window (30 days, typical).

I just purchased a pair of 960s for $599 at a local store. I compared them to Infinity, Polk, Mirage, and Klipsch, and found they had the best overall sound, and by far the greatest clarity; and for the price, couldn't be beat.
The best comparison I had was the 960s along side the Mirages (bipolar, 6 1/2 inch mid and 1 inch tweeter. Retail for $1,299, on sale for $699). I played both the new Star Wars CD and Motley Crue. The Mirages sounded slightly better for Motley Crue because they had a muffled sound that gave the guitars and bass a good dirty effect. But for Star Wars, by far the 960s were superior. Clarity was excellent from bass to high, and the detail was incredible.

After getting them home and hooking them up to my 10 year old Technics receiver that lacks any modern technology, I still found the 960s to be excellent. The bass is solid and clean, the mids and highs are as clear as you can possibly get, and the dirty sound that I liked in the Mirages was easily reproduced by activating the "loudness" effect on the receiver (not sure today's receivers have this "superior" technology). In other words, by adjusting the treble and bass, you can get a good dirty sound out of the 960s that is excellent for listening to rock-n-roll and heavy metal.

At all neutral settings, you couldn't ask for a clearer, more balanced speaker. I'm justing starting to set up a system, and I can't wait to get the center and surrounds for movies. Just from what I've heard from the 960s, I'm in for a real treat.

Also, the speakers are incredibly efficient. I live in an apartment, and I can't turn up the volume past about a third without irritating the neighbors and damaging my ear drums.

I would highly recommend these speakers.

I picked up a pair of the VR-960's last year. I had read the glowing review about them in Stereo Review and then saw them on sale at a local audio dealer. I auditioned them in the store and thought they had good balance and good tone. At home, I set them up in a large room with a cathedral ceiling and found them not up to the challenge. (NAD 314 Amp, NAD receiver, AudioQuest cabling). The bass is fine, as is the tweeter; it's the midrange that's the problem. At volumes loud enough to fill the room, the midrange becomes brittle and harsh. Very fatiguing. Oh yeah, my midrange driver has a buzz in it, too.
I then set them up in my basement home theater. (Yamaha 2095 receiver, Sony DVD, Monster cable). They're fine for the smaller room and the midrange (or lack thereof) is less noticeable, especially with a center channel speaker. Bass effects are good.

Fit and finish are good. Good value for the money but feel that there are better values out there.

I'll tell what struck me as I first opened the box of my Boston VR970's. What a horribly inadequate job they did designing a shipping carton. These were sent to my home, (Three times - I'll get back to that) the hardware was in pieces, rattling around in the box, the protective film over the black laquered top was half missing, the cord was not tied up - dangling in back of the box, the cardboard corner speaker retainers were out of place in the center of box allowing the speaker to essentially beat itself up within the box, and the speaker post and volume knob for sub is what was supporting the weight on the backside of this monster speaker. The "protective" plastic bag, which was designed to fit anything but this speaker, was bunched up 1/2 way down the box, exposing the fabric sock to the perpetual beating that the misplaced corner retainers subjected it too - consequently ripping the fabric sock on the back side. The second was virtually identical, though the plastic film on the top black laquer top was flawless. This isn't just a case of harsh shipping - Two complete sets were sent to me in almost identical shape, and had to be reboxed, and sent back. Now, on to the sound. The first set I got, the right midrange speakers distorted like an angry P.A. system at the introduction of any volume. They went back. The second set buzzed and resonated at all volumes on the left side. I removed the black sock, and to absolutley no surprise, found the top midrange barely hanging on to the stripped particle board cabinet as two screws fell out onto the floor. Attemtping to screw them back in proved a waste as the holes in the cabinet were stripped out. The both speakers had the appearance that the speaker had been worked on before. Marred up screw heads, screws that weren't stripped were loose. They were sent back and exchanged for another speaker altogether. The Quality Control Department at this company must either be understaffed or ex-GM employees. My suggestion? Two fold. Buy another speaker. If forced by design or will to make the cash outlay, take them out of the box, give them a complete autopsy, and set them up in the store and listen to them. Carefully. Very carefully. Then, with kid gloves, attempt to reinsert them into they're waste of cardboard, and enjoy. Watch for potholes on the way home.

Ability to not purchase a separate sub since I don't have the floor space.

Not sure yet since I haven't had them delivered yet

I just purchased these speakers yesterday at a local dealer. I loved the sound when I demoed them in the store. Hopefully, they will sound as good when they are hooked up at home. I thought that the highs and lows were excellent and the midrange sounds were solid though not quite as strong as the others. I can't wait to get them home and kick the tires.