Where do you live? Who is the local Vandersteen dealer.
Add a Subwoofer to my Vandersteen 1ce s or replace with Revel Concerta2 F36
Hey Audiogon community,
Perhaps you guy can help here. I have a VPI Scout with Sound Smith Zephyr III Cartridge running into a Musical Fidelity v-LPS that runs into a NAD VISO 5 Receiver and back out to a pair of Vandersteen 1ce's. Since I recently bought the Zephyr III, it revealed some inadequacies, and I am in upgrade mode. My audio advisor from Brooks Berdan suggested I start with the speakers. Mind you, I Love my Vandersteens but wish there was deeper bass realism. I have been listening to the Revel concerta2 F36 recently with a Cronus Magnus powering them via some entry level Oracle turntable. I like the F36 a lot, and feel like they would give me more full range dynamics especially on the low end. I am looking at upgrading to the Rogue Cronus Magnus soon as well. And am hoping that upgrading to the F36 is the smarter choice than adding a sub that would seamlessly integrate. Any thought would be appreciated. Thank you.
Perhaps you guy can help here. I have a VPI Scout with Sound Smith Zephyr III Cartridge running into a Musical Fidelity v-LPS that runs into a NAD VISO 5 Receiver and back out to a pair of Vandersteen 1ce's. Since I recently bought the Zephyr III, it revealed some inadequacies, and I am in upgrade mode. My audio advisor from Brooks Berdan suggested I start with the speakers. Mind you, I Love my Vandersteens but wish there was deeper bass realism. I have been listening to the Revel concerta2 F36 recently with a Cronus Magnus powering them via some entry level Oracle turntable. I like the F36 a lot, and feel like they would give me more full range dynamics especially on the low end. I am looking at upgrading to the Rogue Cronus Magnus soon as well. And am hoping that upgrading to the F36 is the smarter choice than adding a sub that would seamlessly integrate. Any thought would be appreciated. Thank you.
- ...
- 54 posts total
O.K. So I made a "Rogue" decision, and went Cronus Magnum II and kept the Vandersteen 1Ce's. I figured that since I really like the Vandersteen sound, and most agreed that I would hear a significant improvement overall with the better tube power. They are right. I am hearing more musicality out of my Vandersteen's. Now I am still on a mission to find the best bang for my buck in the speaker category. But this improves where I am, and gives me time to listen to more speakers, and save more money if need be. I won't say Revel's are completely out of the running. I do like an American made speaker, but maybe looking at the upgrade from the F36 up against the 2ce sig II. And adding the 2wq in the mean time maybe a temporary fix. Thanks for all the advice! It really helped. |
Glad to hear you are happy. As you see, the amps are a huge part of the equation. That little Vandy doesn't get the press it deserves. It's upside is outstanding. That said, the brand new 2's are in a different league. I have a friend who has a pair that he pairs with an Ayre AX5/20 like I use and he said that it sound better to him than any speaker he's heard under 4k with the same integrated. I heard a dealer drop a pair of the 2c's into his ref system or all AR ref gear and I was blown away. Speakers have a max point obviously, but when you get a speaker that has no smearing or box colorations, it's amazing how high a ceiling it has. I say enjoy your 'new' 1's and audition as many speakers as you can. You'll know when's it right to make a move. |
@CTSooner thanks for the encouragement! I believe I have listened to the 2Ce sig II on the same reference system. . . Randall at Optimal Enchantment?? Either way, I have heard the 2Ces fronting a reference system that has me a believer! It's going to make it difficult for any sub 3k speaker to compare. But now on to the daunting task of listening to speakers. It's a trip how many speakers there are out there that never get any press or don't have local dealers. Makes you wonder what the possibilities really are. Also makes even the boutique audiophile equipment seem somewhat common. I wonder with companies like Harman, if having bigger manufacturing dollars affects the builds better or are they cutting corners somewhere (Revel made great and ethical while Infinity made o.k. in China to huge profits??). Typically big corporate parent means compromise. Anyhow, I'll be open to listening to all I can local to Southern California under 4k. I prefer to be under 3k but if there's something at $3500 that I'd be a fool not to enjoy my Vandy's and save a bit more for, I will, as I want to settle in and enjoy for 10 years. Thanks again to all who've weighed in. |
(((It's a trip how many speakers there are out there that never get any
press or don't have local dealers. Makes you wonder what the
possibilities really are.))) Many years ago RV explained an experiment with trying over 80 grand worth of exotic drivers in many Box type speaker enclosures with same results always being a false sense of transparency or forced artificial brightness in order to hide vs balance the box artifacts think cows mooing ringing with Male voice etc when compared to far better results using a multi enclosure designs. If you look at the most exotic successful designs of today they all share this similar stealth type design enclosure in common. Think more natural detail, lower distortion, less fatigue = more engagement. With the very reasonable system written about below, similar to yours is a pair of 2CE sig IIs and 2WQ Hi passed,Bi Amped and adjusted to preference. I wonder about the possibilities far less often now a days Enjoy Best JohnnyR Vandersteen dealer http://ultrafi.com/martys-review-vandersteen-2ce-signature-iis-2wq-sub/ |
- 54 posts total