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Vandersteen fans..need your input (TREO CT)

Hey Guys, I love my TREO CTs, but I feel like they don’t really start to shine until I crank up the volume to 85dBs or higher. I feel like the details are missing at lower volumes. I know I have a lot of acoustic issues in my space, but generally speaking, at what volumes do you guys listen to your system. Just to give you an idea of my system, I’m using an Ayre AX-5/20 integrated, Aurender N100H streamer, Denafrips Terminator DAC (also an Ayre Codex DAC), AQ Earth XLR cables and AQ GO4 double run bi-wire speaker cables. Any of you guys do low volume listening...like the when your family is a sleep. Any general tips to improve the low volume listening experience? I suspect I would benefit the most getting room treatments but it’s not an option for me at the moment sharing the living room.  Thanks in advance.
Also, check out this link on youtube, it’s rare to see TREO CTs in videos on the web.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zKxBalxq1c
nycjlee
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
@nycjlee   I have Treo CTs mated to two 2wq subwoofers.  Congratulations on your system.  You have components and cables that are well known to play nicely with Vandersteen speakers.

Great question about volume level.  I have thought about this issue as well.  Here is my opinion on this.  I went from an older pair of 3A Signatures to the Treo CTs.  I have noticed myself getting up to turn up the volume much more frequently now with the Treo CT as opposed to the 3A Sigs.  I believe I'm doing this because of the clarity and smoothness of texture of the Treo CT versus the 3A Sigs.  I always wanted to listen at a "realistic" volume but the 3A Sigs. lacked that clarity and smoothness of texture.  I found myself turning the system down.

I've always considered the volume issue to be a bit of a judgement on the sonic quality of the system. The better the sound, the greater the temptation to turn up the volume.  So...your desire to turn up the volume to get things to come alive is to me a good sign for the sound quality of your system.
audionoobie's avatar
audionoobie
357 posts
 

I have the Vandy 2ce Sig II’s with a Belles Aria int. amp and AQ GO4 double run bi-wire speaker cables. Your system is probably 3x more expensive than mine, but I share the same exact opinion as you. That there is something lacking with respect to detail while listening at low and moderate levels. Perhaps this is something inherent in the ’Vandersteen’ sound?

Lately I’ve found myself listening to my system while sitting on the floor about 3 feet away from the speakers. When I do this I feel like I step into a 3D holographic world of sound. There is a lack of low end when I do this but the sound is rich in detail.

Could this be indicative of problems with my room or speaker setup?

2psyop's avatar
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2psyop
1,551 posts
 
You might think about this. I have 2ce Sig II and I made a change (relunctantly) that enabled them to sound better at low volume. I got a hearing test. Yes many people suffer from hearing loss and do not know it. Now that I have hearing aids, I can hear a narrow higher freq band and enjoy low level
listening much moreso. Don’t laugh, many people in this hobby have hearing loss.... I lost some hearing from Military service with Air Defense artillery, Field Artillery and Spec Ops units but keep in mind the more you crank up volume on your stereo, the greater potential for hearing damage.
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