Move to NYC Apt -- Vandersteen 3A Speaker Woes

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!

If you're concerned about sound transmission, watch out for loft apts in old industrial or commercial buildings that have been renovated, unless the building has full concrete construction. The floors/ceilings in such places are often exposed wood, and even when not, are notorious for passing sound. I work in Tribeca where people pay millions of dollars for luxury lofts and you hear a lot of complaints about this. They feel like their neighbors are in the same space with them. I've heard of people putting the unit back up for sale after a few weeks, only because of sound transmission. (The inflating real estate market of the last few years has partially covered up the problem, because you can flip the unit if you're not happy.) But whoever is still there will hear you, and you will hear them, MORE so than in many modern or cheaper accommodations.

11-01-05: Hpims wrote: "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 simply nonsense.

Kal

Yes, the comment about the 20Hz note is nonsense. The wave may not form, but the pressure change will be sensed as though bass waves are propagating through the room.

My Stax Omega II headphones have amazingly deep bass response. Given the size of the "room" I should hear only upper midrange on up if the space between the driver and my eardrum had to be at least as long as a full wavelength for a particular pitch to be audible.