Help, My Vandies Sizzle


Hello All, first time posting here, but have enjoyed reading all the posts for several years.
Recently purchased a pair of used Vandersteen 2Cs listed here on A-gon from a great dealer in Hollywood, Florida.
They replaced a pair of Monitor Audio Silver RX8s a few months ago.
 Dedicated listening room with a dedicated 20A circuit, 14x14x8, wood floors over concrete slab, alcoves and bi-fold closet doors allow for some respite from the dreaded "square-room bass boom", heavy area rug covers most of the wood floor, a couple of upholstered cloth recliners, and artificial trees on sidewalls at first reflection points and at front wall between speakers.
Speakers are positioned 7 feet apart, no toe-in, 2 feet from front wall, 3.5 feet from sidewalls, listening chair is 10 feet from speakers. (All measurements measured from tweeters).
Gear is Oppo 103, Krell s300i (integrated). Cables are Anticables.                                                                                   
The problem is a slightly bright sound on most discs, with a definitely hot treble on some, bordering on un-listenable.
Using the mid and treble controls, have tried reducing them by 3 dB. That helped some.
Otherwise, love, love, love these 2Cs.
Not interested in getting back into vinyl.
Will consider any and all suggestions and thank you all in advance for so much good information.

Tom
tomcarr
Those speakers are definitely 'long in the tooth' if they were built in 1980.
So, it wouldn't be a bad idea to check the drivers. Vandy has some videos on how to remove the top plate and sock on their website. It only takes a delicate pry bar and some patience, but is definitely do-able.
I would contact Johnny Rutan (Audioconnection), he knows just about everything Vandersteen.
sounds like the amp or the source  the Krell is probably open, fast, dynamic and slightly cool sounding but it also maybe passing what is being feed form the CDP.  Try a friends CDP or if you have a DVD player laying around to see what happens before going through all the other trails.  Happy Listening.
I owned a pair of Vandersteen 4's in the mid-80's (bought them used, 3 yrs old). These very large design w/integrated subwoofers (2 X 12" drivers, mounted opposed, linked by steel rod, and operating in sync, 1 w/opposite polarity) still are the best sounding speakers I've ever heard. I also listened to 2Cs often in those years.

None of the Vandy's from that era were in the least bit bright. Not only were they "voiced" with a natural, blooming treble--but their 6 dB/octave 1st order crossovers made it less likely that the drivers would sound hard or bright.

I still have my Vandy 4's in storage, but it's a virtual certainty that the surrounds have degraded. That's less likely w/a tweeter than the larger drivers, but any driver that uses a compliant surround will eventually need to have that surround replaced. It's a fact of life.

If you can get the surrounds replaced, I think you'll love these speakers.
Thank you, jafant, for the welcome!
Several have mentioned clean power. I optimistically listed a dedicated 20A line in my first post. Actually, that is supposed to happen tomorrow when a friend, who is a licensed electrician, makes the final connection of 12/2 Romex to the new breaker. (I have already installed a 4-gang outlet box and run the line from the listening room to the breaker box).
So, my next post should be the results of the dedicated line.
I have looked at the surrounds and they look good.
I will contact the dealer I purchased these from and see if he has any knowledge regarding repairs/updates...
So very grateful for the outpouring of ideas and advice.

Tom

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