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For Vandersteen owners & lovers: Which other brands do you like?

If you didn’t own Vandersteens, what would you own instead and why? Or, if you switched to another brand what did you choose?

First, let me say that I am a Vandersteen owner for 20+ years, now on my 2nd pair of the 2CE, the Signature III. I have owned other brands, and heard many others and even liked some. 😀 I don’t change gear frequently once I settle on something. Lazy & frugal = me.

I am on the verge of being on the verge of getting the Vandy Treo CT. I have auditioned them at length. I have also heard the Quatro CT and if budget allowed (including upgrading my front end) I would get them for sure. I’m not a fanboy—there is a reason why Vandersteen has sold something like 100K pairs of the 2CE. They sound very good and all of their models are a real bargain/value in their category, imo.

I have heard and liked, for different reasons, Maggies, Magicos, Harbeths, Focals, Linkwitz-Riley, and other brands. Others that I have not heard intrigue me too. I keep circling back to Vandys—maybe it’s what I have known the longest. I have flirted with the Larsen 8 or 9, which is a totally different design (AbSound has reviewed them well), and also the MBL 120 and 126 (omnidirectionals).

I know I could be happy for life with Vandersteens (Treo, Quatro, or dreaming—the Kento or 7). I am interested in detailed opinions of alternatives in the $10K range though. Thanks!

128x128patrickdowns
patrickdowns's avatar
patrickdowns OP
509 posts
 
tomcarr

I’m still a Vandy fan, just wanted something different currently

I get it! I used to laugh at the guys who say "I’m a Ford man" or "You won’t catch me driving anything but a Chevy!" 😁

Variety is the spice of life and all those other cliches, and yet I’ve had Vandys for so long I feel like I’m cheating on my wife emotionally, by looking at other brands. It’s MY issue (I am loyal to a fault)! If I had the dough, I’d have a bigger house, a perfect dedicated listening room, and a living room system (maybe with Larsen 9s), a listening room system (Quatro CTs or Kentos, and MBLs for variety), a bedroom system etc, and they would all be different. Alas, I’m lucky to have one small 12X15 room all to myself, and one system. No complaints.

Cheers

patrickdowns's avatar
patrickdowns OP
509 posts
 

I appreciate the replies! Some brands are familiar to me and I’ve even heard some of those. Others I would have to look up and read about. Since I am somewhat lazy, the thought of driving near and far, or even very far, to audition some of the more esoteric brands makes me tired. I’m going to SoCal in a few months for a few weeks and may have time to visit some dealers. But—my sloth may overcome me and I will then just get Vandy Treo CTs and I know I will not be unhappy.

vair68robert
624 posts
 

If your willing to purchase used then look at/for Thiel CS3.7s .

They like Vandersteens are coherent in their design .

erik_squires
16,051 posts
 

Um, I would never put Thiel and Vandersteens in the category of similar sounding. The treble balance is so very different.

jc4659
550 posts
 

+1 @erik_squires 

If you would consider buying used, what about a well cared for pair of 5A's?  If only considering new then I'd wait until I had the funds for Quatros. I am using Verity Audio Parsifal Encores and agree with many of the suggestions offered by others above.

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