Price Paid:  $700.00 from Hifibuys

Summary:
I upgraded these speakers with hifibuy's 1 year speaker trade up . I had boston vr-20
s and had the option of upgrading to these and only paid about $700 in total for them. I think for $700 i got a great deal. These speakers are as good sounding speakers as i've heard in a while. I used to work at SoundAdvice in miami, and i've heard many a speaker. I like the kefs as well, i think for jazz, classical, even latin jazz/salsa these speakers sound really nice. If you can find a pair on ebay/audiogon for a decent price pick them up, you won't be disappointed.

Strengths:
Great highs, mids. Works well with a mid-size amp, these speakers aren't super power hungry, but can handle lots of power...everything is relative the more power they receive, the better they will sound.

Weaknesses:
Not really a weakness, but a sub would make a good companion, as these speakers aren't noise boxes (klipsch), these are finely crafted speakers...like everything else, they have their purpose, as a sub has its purpose. Speakers that try to do everything, fall short on performance.

Price Paid:  $800.00 from alma's Hi Fi

Summary:
Very clean sound,that is easy to full in love with.Ahead of it's time.Fantastic!

Strengths:
Supurb midbass,clean midrange,precise highs,very good power hadeling

Weaknesses:
Lack of low end excitement.Must use good quality sub.

Similar Products Used:
paridigm

Price Paid:  $1400.00

Summary:
i have had these speakers since 1996. i dont listen to them every day, but when i do listen they bring out the emotion of the music out of my old cd's collection like no other speakers i had the opportunity to try. the mid-range is sweet and so seducive that i listen to them hours at times when i do listen. and they havent had a problem thus far.

for home theater, they work flawlessly with other ba speakers. they are hard to be beaten with my setup. see the associate products used below.

highly recommonded. if u looking to spend under $2k for a pair of stereo speakers, then these sleepy boys can't be beaten. the new boston vrm floor standing speakers are at least $2k a pair. can't wait to compare them to my sweet vr40.

associate electronics:
moster cables all around
denon avp8000
denon pao8200/8300
front left/right: ba vr40
center: ba vr12
surround: ba vrs pro
subwoofer: ba vr2000
cd player: sony xa3es (hook up: analog)
dvd player: sony dvp-s330 (hook up: digital)

Strengths:
mid-range clarity, sweet & seducive

Weaknesses:
somewhat ugly looking, little bass shy

Similar Products Used:
bw604, polks, infinity...

Price Paid:  $1600.00 from Good Guys

Summary:
This is one of the most underrated speakers that were on the market in the 90s. With the use of a digital sound meter and the naked ear, I compared these speakers with some of my audiophile friends' speakers (the brands mentioned above), and the frequency response was strong and consistent from 30 hz to 20 mhz unlike the others. Also, a fuller, warmer sound is emitted by these speakers than any other mainstream speaker line under $1500 that I could test. These Boston Acoustics VR-40s sound more full than any current BA speaker models, and so I'm proud to own these babies for incredible home theatre sounds and for strictly stereo reproduction of the finest jazz and rock albums in history.

Strengths:
Full-range, warm sound with emphasis on midrange for a more ambient sound texture, which is needed for jazz, blues, and some rock.

Weaknesses:
Plastic feet can break easily, though I received replacement feet simply by emailing the Boston Acoustics site--incredible customer support!

Similar Products Used:
Definitive Technology, Energy, Polk, Bose, and other mainstream speaker lines (i.e. those sold at Good Guys or Circuit City)

Summary:
For under a grand these speakers can do a heck of a lot.
I have a forward sounding CD player (Rotel 950) and a Jolida
502B Tube Int. Amp(4 6550C Tubes, 60X2). The mix must be just right because the Bostons emit a smooth relatively laid back sound. The high efficiency of the speaker allows the amp to play at higher volume levels than usual for a tube amp. As I mentioned, the bass could be better, but I'm changing how they are anchored to the floor. I got rid of the poor plastic bases the speakers came with and putting the cabinet on concrete slabs. there was an immediate improvement. I will now fuss with various spikes and cones to further tweak.
All in all the speaker is a solid performer and will probably equal or beat any other full-size loudspeaker for under a grand.

Strengths:
Good Value, exceptional mids/highs

Weaknesses:
With tube amp it lacks some bass snap/control