After using a pair for nearly a year I can say that they are indeed very good, but not perfect.
The good parts. Fabulous midrange, transients and dynamics.
The not so good parts. The quality of the bass is only average,
the timing can be confusing to my ears (brain really).
Overall Rating 4.

Good balance of strengths - robust bass, rich midrange, sufficiently extended highs, good soundstage width and depth

Not the prettiest speaker ever, but inoffensive. End cap vinyl covering lifts up. Check with your wife first.

My VR3's now occupy the Home Theater setup's L/R front, having been replaced by Genesis VI's in the devoted listening (2 channel) room. In both locations the VR3 has been very satisfying; in fact their ability to produce tuneful and prodigious bass is a real benefit for theater surround use (I've never felt the need for a subwoofer). The VR3 does everything well - not "blow you away" level, but solid, musical performance in all the standard categories. Extended, non fatiguing highs? Yes. Smooth, clean midrange? Absolutely. Deep, musical bass? It's there in spades. They create a very credible soundstage with good width and depth, and the notes never appear to be sticking to the drivers or the enclosure. The VR3 is a much better speaker than the Sound Dynamics 300Ti (which wasn't as easy to live with over time), and a better "overall" performer than the Magnepan.

Similar Products Used:

Genesis VI, Magnepan SMGs, Sound Dynamics 300Ti

Deep bass; clear highs; overall smoothness

Very large

The most telling attribute of this speaker is it's uncanny ability to reproduce organ music. I've listened up close and personal to the organ at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. and my experiences were almost identical.

Has a fairly wide zone for optimal listening pleasure with a very precise soundstage.

The intended audience for this speaker is anyone who enjoys music and can spare the room. Also, these are not the most beautiful speakers in the world. Ah, well, the world is not perfect.

Similar Products Used:

Vandersteen 2Ce sigs, Thiel 2.4s, B&W 804 Matrix

I've had these speakers for a little over three months. During that period, I have upgraded my CD player (Parasound) amplifier (Rotel ) and cables / interconnects(DH Labs). I am finally beginning to appreciate what all the fuss is about. With the possible exception of requiring a very long - 200 hour break-in period, I consider these speakers to be flawless. The highs are true clear and precise
without sounding bright. The mid range is full and warm nd the bass is deep and tight. The sound stage is enormous, the imaging is cristal clear. One of the attributes that I liked in comparison to other comparably priced speakers is that I can move around the room and still hear exception sound. If your willing to spend $2000 on speakers, you own it to yourself to listen to these. In my estimation, they are unmatched.

Anyone who buys speakers without listening to any of the VWR products is really missing the boat. They are everything that people say they are with a large and detailed sound stage, great mids and high end and tremendous base. These speakers sound equally good with any music. They don't seem to be overly picky in terms of room placement and they have a "sweet" spot that
defies descritpion. I listened to a lot of speakers that sounded good if you were
positioned properly. But then if you moved a foot either way, the sound quickly
quality quickly dropped off. I paid $2000 for these which was roughly double waht I had budgeted for speakers but then again you only buy speakers once or twice. My only regrett is not getting the 4s although I am perfectly happy with the 3s. These is no better speaker in thsi price range