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Vandersteen 5

Hi over the weekend I purchased a set up Vandertseen 5's and a McCormack DNA 225. I have a few questions about the 5's and was hoping someone here could help me. I can't seem to get the bass on either speaker on the 5's to work. The mids and the high's sound great.

1.) I've connected the M5-HP high pass filters between my preamp (a rotel RSX-1550) using RCA to XLR cable (the high-pass is XLR) and XLR to the McCormack amp (which was upgraded to platinum and has both XLR and RCA inputs). Is the lack of bass because I'm using a cable to convert RCA to XLR to connect to the M5-HP high pass filters ? I've looked on the vandersteen site and saw opposing answers from Richard. If not that what else could be wrong with the subs? 

2.) would anyone here want to trade a my XLR M5-HP high pass filters for an RCA one? I'm in the bay area

3.) The speakers were missing the spikes. Does anyone the size. I'd like to order a generic set as vandersteen wants 22 per spike. 

4.) Anything else I should know? My prior speskers were 2CE sigs so I jumped when I saw the 5's for sale. 
128x128mzwerner
jburidan
803 posts
 
You got yourself some good speakers, Enjoy!
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,463 posts
 
You can take out the components and send them back to Vandersteen for the battery change. Its really not that hard and you’ll have a sense of accomplishment when done. There are written directions - only a phillips head screwdriver is needed - no soldering.
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 
(((There are written directions - only a Phillips head screwdriver is needed - no soldering.)))

A number 2 Phillips driver for the 8 silver screws holding the modular Vandersteen X overboard in.
 a couple small screws are also removed with a number 1 Phillips driver on the face.
  you will also need a couple phone books under the fives bass power amp to support it and to remove the black and red drive wires that
are installed into that amp, a small straight blade driver is needed for these. Make certain you take a picture and mark exactly where the RED / Black go back into.
 Upon return, you will need a small strait blade and needle nose to
 reinsert the internal X over feed wires back into the amp.
 Make sure these wires are clean and fully pushed in and snug after insertion.
 Make sure you get 8 10 year lithium-ion batteries when you send them into Vandersteen. 6 for both internal x overs and 2 for the High Pass units. Protect the modular boards extremely well when shipping.
 reset strait up and down out all of the 11 room compensation pots on both speakers especially pots 9 10 11.
 
 Best,
  JohnnyR

mzwerner's avatar
mzwerner OP
21 posts
 
@tomic601 Thank;'s for the suggestion - I've ordered the RS sound meter. 
@stringreen @audioconnection  Thank you both I've set the compensation screws to all neutral only 1 and 2 where not strait up. I'm planning on sending the batteries in after thanksgiving. I have  to admit I'm a bit intimidated by the prospect of taking them apart. Do ya'll know the turnaround time?  

The Vandy's sound so amazing now I have a hard time believing (but do) that changing the batteries will improve the sound

I really appreciate everyone's help and guidance and hope to return the favor one day. 
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 
return the favor by sharing some music you enjoy!!!!

turn times about 2 weeks...

DO get hyper fresh 9V lithium batts as suggested !
DO take those photos before unhooking the wires !
DO NOT overtorque on reassy and whenever attaching speaker wires to the barrier strip...

YOU may not notice a change in sound with fresh batts BUT yours are close to the edge and when they go ...they go....
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