Aperion Audio introduced their new Verus Grand line of speakers: the Verus Grand Tower ($1798/pair), Verus Grand bookshelf ($598/pair), and Verus Grand center channel ($699), all with very nicely finished, curved cabinets in attractive high-gloss cherry or piano black lacquer.
The compact tower measures 43.5” H x 8” W x 12” D, weighs 65lbs, and has a claimed sensitivity of 92dB, while the bookshelf measures 13” H x 7.5” W x 9” D, weighs 14lbs, and has a claimed sensitivity of 87dB. The speakers were partnered with a Marantz AV-8003 preamp/processor ($2599), Marantz MM8003 power amplifier ($2399), and Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player ($499). Cable was by StraightWire.
We listened to Broken Social Scene’s “Our Faces Split the Coast In Half” from the band’s 2005 self-titled album. This is not great demo material because the recording is compressed and processed to hell, but it’s a fun song with an
interesting mix, full of layers and imaging tricks. In the Aperion room, which I think could have benefitted from some treatments, the track sounded foggier than I’m used to, as if the system wasn’t penetrating deep into that mix, but there was still good bass impact and fine detail in the percussion and strings.
