[maxdog]

Has anyone listened to both of these and formed an opinion? Heard the Maggies for a short time and loved their vocals, but didn't get a long enough audition to really get a good idea of what they can do. They were scarey good on well recorded voices, but I like some volume , and listen to a fair bit of pop/old rock stuff.....
Anyone?
Carl

[Jumpin]

I have the 33's, used to have MG III's.  The MG's were erie in their ability to transport you to the musical space, however they had a tiny sweet spot.  I needed more dynamics and dispersion.  The 33s fit the bill nicely.  They are still breaking in and as they do, I am getting more of the erieness (???).  Hope that helps.

[maxdog]

Thanks,
I had the 1-D 's a long time ago...currently the 4jr's. My listening is less frequent now, but I love higher volume, as well as great vocals at more moderate levels. The 17's were very fine in the vocals area....just not sure if they would float my boat at higher levels. Which I suspect the 33's would.
If i were just rich!!..))

[mikel51]

I used to have Maggie 3.3R's and converted to vr4JR.  I loved the Maggies, but my wife wanted something a little smaller in the living room....my dealer suggested that VS speakers were the best "box speaker" to replace maggies.  After living with them, I thought they were an upgrade.  Better bass, easier to drive louder when in the mood for rock, and good 3D soundstage with proper placement....and as previously noted a bigger sweet spot.  So, without having heard either of the speakers you mention, I would personally go for the VS.

[es347]

Planars have some great attributes...resolution of detail and coherency for example.  My experience with planars however is limited to ML electrostatics having never heard the maggies.  The obvious weakness of any planar is the rolled off low registers and the ability to play loud.  That's where box speakers shine and the VSAs whip all the other box speakers I have had the pleasure of hearing 

[pardales]

Used to own 1.5 QR's a long time ago and love Maggies. Maggies are what got me into hi end audio. There are things that seeminlingly only a Maggie can do. I auditioned a pair of 1.7's at local shop, properly set up and driven by Marantz top of the line megabuck seperates and an Esoteric CD player. Many of the classic features of the what Maggies do were present, but I just wasn't moved.

My first VSA was the VR2, then the 4JR. Loved both. Then took a 6 yr journey into single driver speakers and loved that trip. Decided to go back to mult-driver speakers and the price tag and 90 day trial offer on the 33's were too much for me to resist. Had them in my room for about 2 months now. I don't think they're going anywhere. Properly set up they are as full range as I have ever had and they just do so many things so very well.

Good luck with your decision. Nothing like hearing stuff in your own room if you can. 

[JackD201]

I loved Maggies and will always love Maggies for the reasons stated above. They don't do loud very well though so that was one of the reasons I switched from 1.6QRs to VR-4 Gen III HSEs what seems like an eternity ago but was really just 5 or 6 years. For vocals and small ensembles Maggies remain very hard to beat, for flexibility however...........

[shmuyator]

hated maggies for rock music. they seemed to suck the life out of it. sound was 'suspended' instead of 'projected'. thats the best way i can describe it. however, they were amazing in certain things like coherency and in resolving music with many layers.
but overall, it was a very unpleasant experience listening to my favorite music on them.

[trout2]

I prefer the Maggie sound ... But I've not heard the VR-33's ... I've compared the VR-4SR MkII's to my Maggie 3.6R's (custom x-overs/Mye Stands REL Storm sub bass) and I'm staying w/Maggies. The 3.6R's, along with the stands and the x-overs retailed in at about $6500. The one REL added another $1800. The VR-4SR MKII's were about $12000. Don't get me wrong, the VSA's are great speakers (and worth the price) but the Maggie system sounds better to my ears in my room.

[es347]

The Maggies are a lot of speaker for the money, that's for sure.