Move to NYC Apt -- Vandersteen 3A Speaker Woes

I live in a NYC midtown apt and have Vandy 3A Signatures there but without the subs. I did have problems with an elderly woman living next door, but she moved. I do live in a reinforced concrete building and what I have found is that it prevents you from hearing the bass but allows your neighbor to hear unbelievable levels of it, so I am not sure that it is an advantage. She invited me in her apartment once while my system was playing at quite moderate levels. The level of bass frequencies that she was receiving was incredible and it was hard for me to ignore or minimize, even though it was in my best interest to do so.

Otherwise and since, there have been no complaints and I do listen to music at volumes pleasing to me, which I would consider to be loud-but-not-deafening levels. As far as space is concerned, you may have trouble with placement in your room depending on the size and shape and whatever other furniture you have to get in there.

For your reference, a good-sized living room in Manhattan would be 22' x 12'. There are plenty much smaller and even plenty much larger. It all depends on what you luck upon and of course, what you can pay.

I agree with all the prior, NYC is a great place... I grew up there, well actually in northern Jersey, but spent most of my free time there. I also agree I wouldn't sell anything until you are there. I would warn you about the subs though,

I met my neighbor the day I bought my sub in my concrete condo a few years ago.... He wasn't too happy to meet me that day.

My advice- being a manhattan apartment dweller is to leave the vandy's in storage ot at a friends house. Leave most of your furnature as well, or sell it.

You will be so much happier living with just a few pieces of well placed and right sized furniture.

There are so many small towers or mini monitors with subs that sound great. Dont overload your space. Things will image better with breathing room. Every thing I buy I must decide if I really have room for or if I can get rid of something else.

Enjoy this great city though (except for the rents that is- which are for the most part (for new tenants)are simply insane)

I live in NYC, and have lived here in an apartment for over ten years. As what the others have said, the degree to which your Vandy's fit in your new living room and the extent to which your music bothers others will vary based on the building and your neighbors.

I have a pair of Vandersteen 1C's, and also have a modest sub by Mirage as part of a separate home theater set-up. Everything fits, but I have a large living room. You may also wind up with a large living room. What's usually small in Manhattan are the bedrooms and the closets and bathrooms. Living rooms vary, but can be nicely sized.

I would not sell your beloved speaker combo until after you have found the right apartment that is meeting your other criteria (cost, location, lay-out, space, etc.). Then, see if you have the room for your speakers and if you do, then if it bothers others.

I have a nice pair of headphones, too (Audio Technica L3000s), but use them to avoid bothering my wife and kids, not my neighbors. So, I would not be too concerned...yet. And, if you do find out that more diminutive speakers are in order, there are many hi-fi stores in the city from where you can shop. And unrelatedly, but along the lines of what others have mentioned, I love living in NYC and there are quite many live music options. Good luck,

- walkman

Keep in mind that a 20Hz note has a wavelenght of about 34 feet. In other words to hear it you have to be 34 feet away from the speaker. That's why you could not hear the bass loudly, but your neighbor could. The second node of that note is at 68 feet away from the speaker....possibly irritating someone else! :) I agree with others: keep them until you know for sure what's up, since they are outstanding speakers!