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Vandersteen Seven Review

Vandersteen Seven: The Ultimate Disappearing Act

Utilizing advanced technologies to render an object virtually undetectable is one definition of the word STEALTH. Stealth is not commonly used, but became a household word during the Gulf War. The U.S. military used advanced technologies in aircraft to make them virtually undetectable to the enemy. We all watched in awe as bombs and missiles were dropped with incredible precision and obliterated the Iraq military machine.

It seems as though Richard Vandersteen of Vandersteen Audio had the Stealth Fighter in mind when he set out to design the appearance of the Model Seven loudspeaker. My personal pair of Sevens are black in color and during low light listening sessions they disappear in my room. The clean design lines of the Model Seven remind me of the aircraft after which it was designed.

That being said, the ultimate disappearing act of the Vandersteen Model Seven loudspeakers has nothing to do with their outward appearance. Instead, Richard Vandersteen utilizes test of time proven design principles, as well as innovative and cutting edge technologies and materials, that render them undetectable in the production of music in your listening room. This rare combination of proven design, cutting edge technologies and materials, and the Seven's ability to be tuned to any room, sets them firmly at the top of an elite group of world class loudspeakers.

I’ve enjoyed listening to music my entire life, and since the age of 14 had my own audio system. In the last 20 years my system has continually evolved into a true high end audio system. Four years ago my wife and I purchased a new home which has a large 33’ x 23’ family room that I have converted into our listening room. Through that move I began to realize how important both the room and speaker placement are to the reproduction of music. Two years ago I was fortunate enough to have Jim Smith of Get Better Sound fame come to my house and conduct a Room Play session. Because of the Sevens' room tuning ability, Jim and I were able to place the speakers in the room for the best imaging, soundstage, and aesthetics, and then adjust the bass response to the room and my personal tastes. This capability is unique, and to my ears makes a significant difference when done correctly.

So the answer to everyone’s "how do they sound?" question. In a word the Sevens sound fantastic. The first thing I noticed with them is their ability to flush out all the inner level details of the human voice and instruments. The tonal quality of the presentation is so life like and real. A few months back we went to Blues Alley in Washington DC and heard Ramsey Lewis perform. The venue there is very small with minimal amplification of the performance. It was in that setting that I realized how true to the source the Model Sevens truly are. No, its not live in my listening room, but closer than I ever thought possible. The three dimensional soundstage, instrument decays, and space around the performers draws me into long listening sessions. But it’s the presentation of the human voice that sets them apart from any speaker I have ever heard. So lifelike, the small inflections and nuances that are unique to every singer are jaw dropping. I’m continually surprised by the lifelike size and shape of the presentation in my room. I could go on and on but I think you get the idea. I’ve purchased my last loudspeaker. High end audio is all about squeezing every last detail and potential from the source material. The Vandersteen Model Sevens are as true to the source as any loudspeaker I’ve heard.

In conclusion I challenge anyone to take an objective look at what makes a world class loudspeaker, and see if you agree with my opinion that the Vandersteen Model Seven stands alone at the top of an elite group of speakers that most would call world class. The factors below when considered causes them to have no peers.

- Proven design principles that have stood the test of time

- Cutting edge innovation, technologies and materials

- Aesthetics that blend into and home décor (look like they belong in a home not a recording studio)

- Room tuning capabilities for seamless integration in any room

- Settings that can tailor the sound to individual tastes

Evaluate these attributes when making your loudspeaker selection and you will find few if any competitors that can match the Model Sevens total package of value.

System Components:
Vandersteen Sevens, BAT VK 600SE with 655SE Caps, Audio Research REF 5SE with Super tubes, PS Audio DS and PWT, Bricasti M1, Music Vault M7 Server, Pass Labs XP 25 Phono Stage, Basis 2200 Signature TT w/ Vector 4 w/VTA Tonearm, Dynavector 20X2H, Synergistic Research Power cell 10UEF, Synergistic Research CTS speaker cables Synergistic Research Speaker cells, Synergistic Research CTS XLR interconnects, Synergistic Research Transporter Ultra SE, Synergistic Research ART acoustic System, Synergistic Research FEQand HFT's. Rack of Silence stand.
richfield_hunter
asturias00
23 posts
 
Thanks for your thorough review.

Based on the fact that we do not see many 5s leave alone the 7s in the used market, I also wonder if owners tend to hang on to them longer than other brands or is it because not so many were sold in the first place. Guess the only way to find out is to compare the sales number of the 5s and the 7s to the likes of Wilson etc.

I also would like to hear from those who do not find the 7s to their likings. What are the areas that the 7s fail or lacking in comparison to competitors.
rpeluso
1,043 posts
 
So I have 5As, also bought from and installed by John Rutan. I use a small system, Lux 509U integrated with tone controls (a necessity for me) and Lux DO-6 SACD player. Also have a TT, rarely ever use it though. I love my system and the pleasure it brings me. Could not do without the tone controls, just taking a small amount off the high end of many many CDs makes all the difference to me. Nothing more I will ever need from a stereo system. The music, my music, the music I love, sounds great to me played thru the system, and I smile each time I listen. So, even though I think this thread has evolved in a strange way, I am a fan of RV. And JR.
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Probalby my fault on the way the thread has gone. Sorry...Funny, but I have never heard bad things about Vandy's from folks who hear them set up properly at a store or in their homes. I can't say that about Wilson, Thiels (especially the new ones, Focals and many others named speakers). That says so much to me. There are a lot of good speakers out there, however too many are just not that good regardless of cost. This is why dealers are so important as you need to hear things side by side to figure out what you really want to listen to
jeoneil
29 posts
 
I own 5A carbons and I plan to upgrade to the model 7 as soon as I can write the check. Sooner or later they will be mine :-)

I settled on Vandersteens after a lot of listening at shows and some at dealers. For comparison, the 5A carbon has the carbon clad balsa wood driver but only for the midrange, while the model 7 uses them everywhere except the powered bass unit. The powered bass units are the same in the 5A and model 7 except the cabinets are different.

I am grateful for the current popularity of trade shows or I might not have “discovered” Vandersteens. There are no dealers nearby. I was expecting to like some other lines more; you do really have to find your own taste. After attending RMAF and other shows a few times the model 7s distinguished themselves – they sounded fantastic and they managed to do that in the hotel rooms most everyone else blames for bad sound. Relaxed, unforced natural sound, phenomenal bass and “no loss of fine detail” (sorry to steal your line Audio Physic, but it really fits).

Perhaps the best tribute I can give the 5A carbons is how my wife reacted shortly after John Rutan of Audio Connection set them up in our living room. For 25+ years she has been mildly interested in my hi-fi thing. Sometimes we listened together but mostly she used the system for background music. I came home to find her in the sweet spot with the lights dimmed and a candle going. She then proceeded to tell me about all of the music I just “had to hear on these speakers.” No previous upgrades *ever* elicited *anything* like that kind of interest.

I don’t know of another full range speaker (other than the model 7s) where the rear of the speaker could be 18 inches from the narrow wall in our 11x22 foot living room and produce what I’m hearing. By that I mean unbelievably good bass all the way down and a holographic presentation that sounds alive with a good recording. The 11 band equalizer evens out in room bass response and I think the fact that it’s a powered bass unit helps the system sound like it has unlimited headroom. The balsa wood midrange is amazing and it does give you a taste of the model 7. I thought the 5A carbons sounded more like the model 7s than the Quattro Wood CT (which is itself a nice speaker). The key thing is that I didn’t think I could get this kind of performance in a non-dedicated listening room without DSP given the limited speaker placement options. John assured me it could be done and boy was he right!

Subsequent listening with the model 7s shows them to be more of a piece and even higher resolution. Comparisons are difficult of course since the electronics were better than mine. They sound “softer” at first until you hear a rim shot or cymbal or brass instrument. They have the advantage of using the same super low distortion balsa wood drivers everywhere and a better cabinet so it makes sense. Now to just keep saving up….

Some tracks for your enjoyment:

Scala & Kolancy Brothers, Nothing Else Matters (ladies choir covering Metallica)
Lorde, Pure Heroine, Tennis Court
London Grammar, Hey Now
Ludovico Einaudi, Time Lapse, In a Time Lapse

track# 2 from http://www.amazon.com/Organ-Concerto-Symphony-1-Poulenc/dp/B000000AUI/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1433098608&sr=1-6&keywords=poulenc+organ+concerto
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Great thoughts on the whole line. Thanks for sharing. I"m hoping that soon he will upgrade all the line with more carbon as he sure has it down at this point. The Quatro is the sweet spot in the line for those of us who can't afford the 5 CT;s or 7's and never will. I have the Treo's that I'm ready to sell in order to upgrade to the Quatro. Even though the speakers share the same drivers at times and the same DNA, I'm always amazed at what you get for each step up in price. Bass is very expensive to do correctly, but when you do, it seems like everything else also gets better and better. Once he went to that Carbon Fiber type of cabinet, it was all bets off for the other higher priced speakers.

We all know Johnny knows how to set up a room without voodoo. He has those 5's absolutely cooking in front room, but you hear so many subtle differences that take things steps further in that back room with the 7;s running AR, Ayre or Aestetix gear. I will also say AQ cables play a big part in those systems. I also find it interesting that he doesn't use much, or any power conditioners, just juice from the power line on the street in a busy business grid. Can't wait to hear the new AQ Niagara power conditioner with that big when he gets it in and cooked. lol..
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