Wah, how to choose wor? Can keep 2 ar? Ops, shud be 3!

Just what would you do when 2 equally eligible girls prompt you to make a decision? One being well endowed, cheerful and direct; on the other hand, the other being well groomed, educated and reserved.

For a normal guy like me, it would seem too good to be true! Of course, the best would be to keep both under the same roof while maintaining marital harmony. Arghhh, but live is never so forgiving!


The pit started with me listening to the VT200 first with Wang Fu. At first listen, I was awed with VT’s preciseness and life-like-to-a-T nature. Everything is vividly anchored with precise imaging and dimensionality!

Then came James Blunt’s live album, talk about layering, width and depth! VT is more than capable of throwing an expansive and grandiose soundstage in front! Imaging, again, is solidly portrayed in front of you!

We then played Le Mon, which is an ultimate test for seductiveness and emotional conveyance. Here, Le Mon sounds so reserved. The tonal richness of the Stage III Magnus was simply not there! Everything is so neutral and, eh, NEUTRAL! There’s neutrality that closely matched TRUEISM, if there’s such a word.

When we played Ah Beng, omigod, I was really really really awed and impressed! Talk about real life performance, just listen to the guitar plucking! The leading edge of guitar string plucking is so visceral and immediate. There’s a directness that I could only relate to higher priced rigs! The guitarists were like playing in front of you with varied intensity from the fingers, all these are channeled to you as if there are no equipments. Just you and the music!


The Classic is simply direct and forward. I was simply blown away the moment Wang Fu played! If played side by side, you would have mistaken Classic as the bigger brother! Even when playing Cheer, Classic is the one more capable of grooving and sending you snapping and tapping!

With James Blunt, Classic pales by comparison with depth, width and layering. The stage is forward and flat as compared to VT’s. Classic simply could not provide VT’s imaging and dimensionality.

This is where the Classic shines when playing Le Mon. the highs and mids of Classic is so rich and lush, Le Mon blossoms in front with such sexy and arousing manner. With Classic, you hear the full glory of Stage III Magnus’s exquisite tonal palettes! The tonal textures and colors are so rich and vibrant!

With Ah Beng, if Yin and Yang is able to describe audio, then VT is Yin while Classic is Yang. Classic would not emphasize on the leading fundamentals of instruments, but rather, embrace more on the harmonics. It makes guitars a bit meatier and beautified.

Now, I could not say VT is altogether running over Classic as they are totally different with strengths of their own! If you are into tonal color, musicality and boogey factor, Classic is yours. If you are into neutrality, lifelike dimensionality and imaging, then VT is yours. It all boils down to personal preference rather than technological superiority.

Leslie was wise to play me VT200 prior to Classic 120! However, disregard of sequence, I would still have the same verdict! Ha, at least I have the little sister with me!