Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grands

mdaudioguy

One day earlier this year I spent over an hour in a Best Buy Magnolia listening to bookshelf speakers. I really had no intention of buying, but I wanted to get a good listen to a few of their models. After showing me how to switch back and forth, the salesman left me alone in the room and I switched back and forth between the Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 350, Klipsch WB-14 (I think that was the model), and the Vienna Acoustics Vienna Haydn Grands.

I kept coming back to the Haydns, because they just sounded so detailed, yet so smooth to my ears, but I just couldn't fathom spending that much money ($1,495), when the others were in the $500 to $600 range. I so much wanted something in that range to sound like the Haydns. I then went to a local audio store and gave a listen to some B&W 685s, era D5s, and Totems (Rainmakers... oh yeah, liked them too. ) The ones I could afford were so-so, and the ones I liked, I couldn't afford (figures, right?) Besides, what I really wanted were some LSis... and eventually, I bought a pair of 7s. Experimented with them for a little while, and they were definitely the best sounding speakers I ever owned. Then I acquired a pair of DSW MicroPRO 2000 subs - 2.2 - this was gonna be good.

Then, life got in the way, and the plans I had for this awesome 2-channel bookshelf system got... shelved. Sold the 7s, sold one of the subs...

So, recently my wife and I were talking about what to buy as a graduation gift for my oldest son. He's a bit difficult to buy for, and he graduated from HS last year. It was a bit overdue, but he's a great kid, and he doesn't want for much, but he does love his music. I've always wanted to introduce him to quality sound.

Friday night I was in a Best Buy to pick up a cell phone case, and I walked through Magnolia, and realized that they were no longer going to be carrying Vienna Acoustics. (They seem to have added B&W and Energy.) I found a pair of towers that were hideously abused floor models for 60% off. I asked about the Haydns and was told that the last pair was recently sold at the same discount - floor models also. The salesman informed me of a location that might still have some new in the box. I went home and got online and found out he was wrong, but there was one location in the Baltimore area that still showed some in stock. I went there this morning and was able to purchase a pair of Haydns, new in the box, for 60% off! I'm thrilled. These will be for my son to build his first stereo system.

I'm going to leave amplification to him, but I'd like to steer him towards something vintage. Any suggestions? These are 4 ohms, with recommended amplification of 25 to 180 watts.

coolsax

nice.. that is a great price for some brand new Haydns.. congrats

mantis

Haydn's are very special speakers. They have a tone the "sucks you in". They will overcome your emotions and make you lust after them. The built quality is also top notch.

They like power and plenty of clean. I suggest a nice Cambridge Azur series Intergraded on a budget. It will power them nicely and while your at it pick up a Cambridge CD player as well or a Apple TV and record in Lossless.


Good luck with them and congrads on the awesome price. If I knew they where 60 off I would have ran out and grabbed a pair just because.

zingo

I would recommend a Forte amp if you want to go vintage with great sound quality.

mdaudioguy

mantis wrote: »

Haydn's are very special speakers. They have a tone the "sucks you in". They will overcome your emotions and make you lust after them. The built quality is also top notch.

They like power and plenty of clean. I suggest a nice Cambridge Azur series Intergraded on a budget. It will power them nicely and while your at it pick up a Cambridge CD player as well or a Apple TV and record in Lossless.

Good luck with them and congrads on the awesome price. If I knew they where 60 off I would have ran out and grabbed a pair just because.

Thanks Dan! Did you suggest that amp because you saw that I already own one? He's not getting his hands on that just yet! The Apple TV is a great idea, since he already seems to be an Apple fan.
Edit: All his music is on his Mac book and ipod anyhow.

P.S. Here's my little secret... they actually had two pairs left, and I bought them both! 36 months same as cash. If I can't figure out what to do with them in a few months, I think I could sell them and get my $$ out of them.

mdaudioguy

zingo wrote: »

I would recommend a Forte amp if you want to go vintage with great sound quality.

Interesting. I know little about them, so I guess I've got some research to do. I want the amp purchase to be his, so that he's got something in this too. Thanks!

skrol

I have listened to the Vienna's at BB several times and have always been impressed. I listened to the B&W's and was not as impressed; even after I corrected their reversed polarity wiring. I may be that they don't have anything capable of really driving them.

60% off is awesome.
Stan

mantis

mdaudioguy wrote: »

Thanks Dan! Did you suggest that amp because you saw that I already own one? He's not getting his hands on that just yet! The Apple TV is a great idea, since he already seems to be an Apple fan.
Edit: All his music is on his Mac book and ipod anyhow.

P.S. Here's my little secret... they actually had two pairs left, and I bought them both! 36 months same as cash. If I can't figure out what to do with them in a few months, I think I could sell them and get my $$ out of them.

No, I did not know but since you already own one , go ahead and give it a test ride and see if I was right. It's an awesome amp and I love the price. Performance to price ratio is off the charts. I compared it to higher end amps and was shocked how it held it's own even on harder to drive speakers.

Apple TV is the way to go but if you want to use Analog you will have to buy one with a Hard drive , the older larger model. The new one has only HDMI and Optical out which you could get a DAC magic from Cambridge and be hot as hell.

mdaudioguy

mantis wrote: »

No, I did not know but since you already own one , go ahead and give it a test ride and see if I was right. It's an awesome amp and I love the price. Performance to price ratio is off the charts. I compared it to higher end amps and was shocked how it held it's own even on harder to drive speakers.

Apple TV is the way to go but if you want to use Analog you will have to buy one with a Hard drive , the older larger model. The new one has only HDMI and Optical out which you could get a DAC magic from Cambridge and be hot as hell.

We will give them a test run with the Cambridge next time he's home from school. I'm excited for him! The manual says a 30-hour break-in is normal, with a further improvement at 100.

shack

I'm jealous. I've lusted after a pair of Haydns for many years. I really like their sound. However, I always felt the LSi9 and LSi7 compared favorably for a lot less, so I couldn't justify (in my mind) the difference and would never spend the coin.

Now that you have them, IMO they need some really good power (not a lot...just solid, high current power) and care in placement as the bass can be a little bloated in the wrong spot.

I am a big VA fan, so I may have to go to our local BB/Magnolia and see if there are any bargains to be had.

steveinaz

I looked REAL hard at the Haydns before settling on the Carbon 7.

hockeyboy

I loved the Hayden's when I demoed them. Ultimately went with some B&W 605's because the room was not for primary listening. Mostly did it because of the price. The B&W's are okay but the Hayden's were far superior. If you have a line on where we can get anymore at that price let us know I am sure some will be buyers.

dorokusai

steveinaz wrote: »

I looked REAL hard at the Haydns before settling on the Carbon 7.

You made a better choice. The only VA that has sounded any good to me was the new Concert Grand floorstander series....the bookends didn't wow me. However, at 60% of MSRP I would have grabbed everything in stock.

NotaSuv

All 3 out the door for 886.03 tax included
Center is a VA theatro which sounded very nice teamed up with the Grands.
One new pair of Grands left at Rea Rd BB for you Charlotte folks.....

mdaudioguy

hockeyboy wrote: »

If you have a line on where we can get anymore at that price let us know I am sure some will be buyers.

NotaSuv wrote: »

All 3 out the door for 886.03 tax included
Center is a VA theatro which sounded very nice teamed up with the Grands.
One new pair of Grands left at Rea Rd BB for you Charlotte folks.....

As of this moment, according to their website, the only BB's with inventory in the Baltimore/Washington area are in Wheaton and Gaitherburg. All I can say is check to see if there are any near you.

Congrats NotaSuv! Heckuva deal!

mdaudioguy

These would have been cool: http://www.viennaacoustics.at/Piano_White_Edition.php At least that's what I would have thought until I got them home...:rolleyes: although, in some ways, perhaps they'd be better than piano black. Fingerprints, etc...

NotaSuv

These didn't show up on the web site but as of 3pm today they had a new pair in the boxes and one pair of floor demos...its the BB located on Rea Road in Charlotte NC..ask for Tim F or Trey both work in the Magnolia dept. The center was the last and a floor model....

mdaudioguy

NotaSuv wrote: »

These didn't show up on the web site but as of 3pm today they had a new pair in the boxes and one pair of floor demos...its the BB located on Rea Road in Charlotte NC..ask for Tim F or Trey both work in the Magnolia dept. The center was the last and a floor model....

I thought it was odd, but the store where I found them in Towson, MD, didn't have them on display anywhere - not even with the other clearance items. They had to search for them in the back of the store.

skrol

Did you happen to check the Columbia or Laurel stores?
Stan

mdaudioguy

Columbia was where I was on Friday night - just a pair of damaged towers. Laurel shows nothing online, but you never know. Call them tomorrow if you're interested. The salesman told me he thought Waldorf had several pairs, but perhaps he meant Wheaton....

unc2701

You know if they're closing out Vienna Acoustics everywhere? Or just in your area?

NotaSuv

unc2701 wrote: »

You know if they're closing out Vienna Acoustics everywhere? Or just in your area?

VA was pulled because Sumiko is no longer the NA distributor. VA has expanded operations to N.A. with their own distribution with Patrick Butler at the head, who was actually one of the N.E. regional rep for Sumiko.
Best Buy would have loved to have kept this line if it was up to them. Since they can not replace stock they are moving them out at a deep discount..

shack

I went to the local BB today and they were deep discounting the floor models. They had two pair of the piano black Haydns for $645 for the pair. The cabinets were pretty scratched up. They also had a pair of Cherry Bachs for $1,090 for the pair and the Cherry Mozarts for $1,500 for the pair. I am seriously considering the Bachs...(like I really need another pair of 2 way floorstanders :rolleyes:). I asked if they had any Haydns in back for that price and was told no. If they were wood veneer that I could repair...I might...but not with the piano black in their condition for that price.

steveinaz

Vienna Acoustics at BB, who da thunk it??

dorokusai

shack wrote: »

I went to the local BB today and they were deep discounting the floor models. They had two pair of the piano black Haydns for $645 for the pair. The cabinets were pretty scratched up. They also had a pair of Cherry Bachs for $1,090 for the pair and the Cherry Mozarts for $1,500 for the pair. I am seriously considering the Bachs...(like I really need another pair of 2 way floorstanders :rolleyes:). I asked if they had any Haydns in back for that price and was told no. If they were wood veneer that I could repair...I might...but not with the piano black in their condition for that price.

Mozart period....much more refined.

Monster Jam

mantis wrote: »

Haydn's are very special speakers. They have a tone the "sucks

At risk of getting severely flamed (putting on NASCAR fire suit as I type this), I would have ended the quote right there. I have found Vienna's offerings a suitable substitute for Ambien.

Yes, I know - to each there own. I just couldn't resist.

skrol

mdaudioguy wrote: »

Columbia was where I was on Friday night - just a pair of damaged towers. Laurel shows nothing online, but you never know. Call them tomorrow if you're interested. The salesman told me he thought Waldorf had several pairs, but perhaps he meant Wheaton....

I know the towers you are talking about. They have had them discounted for a couple years but never quite enough. It is a shame that such beautiful cabinets would have such nasty dings.
Stan

mdaudioguy

skrol wrote: »

I know the towers you are talking about. They have had them discounted for a couple years but never quite enough. It is a shame that such beautiful cabinets would have such nasty dings.
Stan

It's awful that people abuse the floor models like that. I also noticed that the tweeters were messed up - more than just the typical dimple that could probably just be pulled out. They're going to have to give those things away.

mdaudioguy

Ok, I can't keep it in any longer. When I got to the Towson store on Sunday, they actually had two pairs of the Haydns... Yeah, I bought them both! I have no idea what I'm going to do with them. I'm so freaking impulsive.

dkg999

I was in the BB test market store in Maple Grove MN last week and the reps in the Magnolia confirmed that VA and Def Tech were both on the way out. They had lots of B&W, Energy, a few Paradigms, and several REL and Paradigm subs they were playing with. They had two NAD AVR's setting in the back, not sure if they are bringing those in or not.

mdaudioguy

It always seemed to me that the VAs were priced slightly high for BB's niche. Sure, some folks with that kind of scratch probably bought some, but I never saw any going out the door, and haven't heard of too many folks who own them. They also had a pretty decent price hike, too, because at one time, the Haydn Grands were going for $1,295, and then they jacked the price to $1,495, which is somewhat unusual for BB products.