Aperion Audio Verus Grand Loudspeaker System Review
The Aperion Verus Grand System
- Product Name: Verus Grand Speakers
- Manufacturer: Aperion Audio
- Performance Rating:
- Value Rating:
- Review Date: January 20, 2011 22:30
- MSRP: $ 899/each (Towers), $699/each (center), $299/each (Bookshelf); $3095 (5.0 system) $999 (Bravus II 12D)
-
Verus Grand Tower
- 1-inch Aperion Axially Stabilized Radiator silk dome tweeter
- Two 5-inch woven Kevlar® mid-range drivers with aluminum phase plugs
- Two 6-inch woven Kevlar® woofers with butyl rubber surrounds
- 3-way bass reflex design
- Bi-ampable 5-way gold-plated binding posts
- Furniture-grade gloss cherry wood veneer or gloss piano black finish
- Beautiful curved cabinet with compound angles and internal bracing
- Acoustically transparent, magnetically held, cloth-covered metal grillee
- Frequency Response: (+/- 3dB) 45-20,000 Hz -- (+/- 6dB) 35-22,000 Hz
- Impedance: 6 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 92 dB
- Recommended Power: 20-300 Watts
- Driver Configuration: 3-Way
- Enclosure Type: Anti-Resonant, Internally Braced, Dual Rear Ported
- Dimensions: 43.5" H x 8" W x 12" D
- Weight: 65lbs
Verus Grand Center
- 3-Way, Sealed Enclosure design
- One 1" Aperion Axially Stabilized Radiator silk dome tweeter
- One 4” Woven Kevlar® Mid-range driver with Aluminum Phase Plug
- Two 6” Woven Kevlar® Woofers with Butyl Rubber Surrounds
- Curvilinear cabinet with compound angles and internal bracing
- Furniture-grade gloss cherry wood veneer or gloss piano black finish
- VoiceRight™ phase correction switch for bass optimization
- 5-Way Gold-plated Binding Posts
- Acoustically transparent cloth-covered metal grillee
- Frequency Response: (+/- 3dB) 50-20,000 Hz (+/- 6dB) 42-22,000 Hz
- Impedance: 6 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 87 dB
- Recommended Power: 40-300 Watts
- Driver Configuration: 3-Way
- Enclosure Type: Anti-Resonant, Internally Braced, Sealed
- Dimensions: 9" H x 24.75" W x 11" D
- Weight: 39 lbs
Verus Grand Bookshelf
- 1-inch Aperion Axially Stabilized Radiator silk dome tweeter
- One 5-inch woven Kevlar® mid-range drivers with aluminum phase plug
- 2-way bass reflex design
- 5-way gold-plated binding posts
- Furniture-grade gloss cherry wood veneer or gloss piano black finish
- Beautiful curved cabinet with compound angles and internal bracing
- Acoustically transparent, magnetically held, cloth-covered metal grillee
- Frequency Response: (+/- 3dB) 59-20,000 Hz -- (+/- 6dB) 54-22,000 Hz
- Impedance: 6 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 87dB
- Recommended Power: 30-200 Watts
- Driver Configuration: 2-Way
- Enclosure Type: Anti-Resonant, Internally Braced, Rear Ported
- Dimensions: 13" H x 7.5" W x 9" D
- Weight: 14 lbs
Bravus II 12D Subwoofer
- Single down-firing active 12” aluminum driver
- Dual side-firing 12” aluminum passive radiators
- 600 watt BASH® amplifier
- Digital display with remote control
- Fully customizable parametric EQ settings with crossover bypass mode
- Customizable pre-set modes for movies, music & games
- Small internally braced 1” HDF sealed enclosure
- Virtually vibration-free cabinet
- Frequency Response: -3dB, 20Hz - 200Hz -- -6dB, 16Hz - 200Hz
- Amplifier Power: 600W RMS
- Enclosure Type: Sealed and Internally Braced 1" HDF
- Dimensions: 17" H x 15.5" W x 15.5" D (with feet attached)
- Weight: 62 Lbs
Pros
- Fantastic high end
- Very linear response both in lab and in room
- Great imaging
- Value
Cons
- Low end response a little weak on the Bravus II 12D subwoofer
- Non-standard grille design
Aperion Audio Verus Introduction
For any that have listened to the AV Rant podcast, you know that I was
fortunate enough to get the very first review sample of Aperion Audio's new
Verus Grand line of speakers. These are speakers that are so new they aren't,
at the time of this writing, yet shipping. The reason is simple - Aperion Audio
is considering expanding their market into Australia and I was moving to Perth,
Australia. Serendipitous don't you think? This means that all our Australian
readers should take careful note. Not only are you learning about some of the
latest and greatest speakers from a well respected and established speaker
manufacturer, but you are being introduced to a company that you've previously
been denied access. Let's hope they make the move soon.
Followers of Audioholics will know that I'm a no-nonsense reviewer. I don't like to communicate with manufacturers before or during the review process. It's like trying to accurately assess someone's baby for attractiveness while talking to the mom - she can't help but be biased and try to bias you in the process. That being said, I've pretty well managed to not do that here as well. But I did want to share with you the idea behind the design of the Verus Grand speakers. From Aperion's press materials:
At Aperion, we want our speakers to capture this magic undiminished – but on a budget. Many engineering choices can improve performance without increasing costs.
And here:
We derive great satisfaction in bringing this magic to folks like us, who work hard for a living and need to balance the joy of the listening experience with other priorities in life. So, with this in mind, these were our design goals for the Verus Grand:
True-to-life sound
Flat frequency response
Smooth power response
Reasonable sensitivity but not to the detriment of bass extension
Vertical response optimized for expected listening elevations
LF response tailored to expected room placement
This is what they were striving for which, in my opinion, should be the goal for all speaker manufacturers. My review will try to test whether or not they've achieved these measurable goals. For the cost, well, only you can decide that. The Verus Grand system comes in at just under $3100 for a 5.0 system with an extra $999 for the Bravus II 12D used in the test. If they meet their design goals, it's a reasonable price. Whether you can afford it is another question.
See also:
About the author:
As Associate Editor at Audioholics, Tom promises to the best of his ability to give each review the same amount of attention, consideration, and thoughtfulness as possible and keep his writings free from undue bias and preconceptions. Any indication, either internally or from another, that bias has entered into his review will be immediately investigated. Substantiation of mistakes or bias will be immediately corrected regardless of personal stake, feelings, or ego.
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Recent Forum Posts:
herbu, post: 1034045How the speaker sounds is connected to all of our senses and emotions - how we feel, remember, see, know, what others say, etc.
Plus, the new Aperions @ $799 won't sound as good as mine because mine were $1k.
They need to come out with a $20,000 flagship speaker. Then they will earn the high-end status and only then will they sound as good.
AcuDefTechGuy, post: 1034013Plus, the new Aperions @ $799 won't sound as good as mine because mine were $1k.
I don't think they'll sound any better than your system.
ousooner2, post: 1034001
I wonder how these sound vs. the EMP e55ti. They're a tad more than 2x the price ($700/pr vs. $1600/pr). They both use the MTM configuration at the top with a midwoofers at the bottom (2 on the Aperion's vs. 3 on the EMP's; the Aperion's are likely nicer, more xmax/xmech, etc though)
I've always thought the Aperion Verus Grand Towers looked AMAZING. Love the curve and style.
I don't think they'll sound any better than your system. That's how I feel.
I've always thought the Aperion Verus Grand Towers looked AMAZING. Love the curve and style.
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