Initial impressions of my new Vandersteen Quatro's in Audi Havana Black


I will post pics when I get more time on them.  I had them delivered and set up by Johnny Rutan of Audio Connections.  He moved them out to the corners of the room and close up against the back wall. I love the look as does my wife.  I also LOVE the HUGE soundstage these things can now throw.  NO SUCK OUT either.  I was shocked at that aspect. I was scared to death when he started them in the corner of the room. I have a very difficult room for bass as it's an open floor plan. I lose a lot of bass on the right channel as it's by a stair case.  I'm putting up a temp wall by the railing.  I am using a screen right now, but I need treatment of some sort still. 

That said, it only has about 30 hours or so and it's already starting to sweeten up.  I'm hearing so many things that I haven't heard in the room before.  I'm hearing bass passages that hasn't been there before.  On one passage of a  Bela Fleck song, the room just moved.  The thing is that I've heard so many of these songs on Wilson's and Magico's and B&W"s and Focals, Paradigms, Legacy's and so many other speakers, but the tonality of the Vandersteen bass is just special.  It's so accurate. What so many don't know is that the way he designed the bass amp, you still have the same sound as YOUR main amp.  Not sure how he does it, but he does.  You don't hear the difference. 


I think that the reason some don't get the Vandersteen's at first listen is because it's not like other speakers.  We aren't used to hearing a speaker that isn't 'hifi' sounding.  Its very organic. To me, it's like analog vs digital.  Both can sound GREAT, but digital is still digital and that's why vinyl and reel to reel are still going strong after all of these years.  Kind of reminds me of a plasma TV vs the LCD TV's when I went to purchase mine.  I was originally taken by the brightest TV's in the showroom, but I keep going back and watching all the Plasma's in the darker room that Magnolia was showing them in.  I wanted the Pioneer, but could only afford the Panasonic's. I have two of them and love them.  People actually ask me why their TV doesn't look as good.  I first ask if they had it calibrated professionally.  The answer is always no and then tell them it's a plasma.  

Set up isn't fun for me, so Johnny does it for me.  I'm digging my new set up and will write more later, but i am Jonesing to go up to the loft to listen some more.  I'm really loving the organic sounds of my system right now.  All genres too which is just awesome.  Not taking any digs at others systems, just loving mine.  We all hear differently and I get that.
128x128ctsooner
Bob, same room. Yes, they are close to the corners and I'm building a portable wall for the staircase that's next to it.  I will be making that soon, but I have a temp deal there now.  I'm sure that it's not the best sound wise, but once I get the perm solution in there, it will be fine. I'm going to probably use the green glue to bond two 3/4" drywall pieces together and dress it up with nice wood surrounding the edges.  As long as I can do it and not have it vibrate I can make it work.  I'm liking the larger soundstage we like that it's not way in the room.

Ayre installed the crossover in the AX5/20 for me Bob.  No outside box or pigtails.   I can have them take it out when I go to sell it or sell it with the Quatro's if I ever upgrade.
I have 5A's in a wood called Kowazinga.....whenever I get guests in the house they exclaim how beautiful those things are...   I had a furniture refinisher in the house for some scratches on the coffee table, who couldn't resist taking closer look with admiration.
Rosewood is stunning also, as my 5a were

CT - my first hit is free crack addict creating Audioquest dealer in Atlanta loaned me a set of WEL top of the line balanced from ARC pre to Ayre power amp when I had the 5a
i sent them back....
the detail was stunning but I thought they overemphasized pick and finger noise at the expense of musicality - having said that ignoring the $ on certain material they were crazy good...
like how can I send my dude $100 a month under the table so to speak.. good


Love all the woods. I build furniture for fun and have worked with many cool figured woods. If I had done the wood Quatro’s, I would have asked Richard’s veneer guy if I could just send him a flinch of the wood that I wanted. I have a great veneer guy (the one he uses is as good as it gets btw) so I could have chosen the most figured, quilted type. I also thought about asking if the could do a carbon fiber look for the Quatro’s. I wonder if folks would want to have painted cabinets and show off a bit of the carbon fiber that the 7’s are made of?

I do love the fact that for an uncharge, you can chose any auto paint on the market. I know a dealer who’s next 7’s will be in Ferrari Red with a matching amp. Very cool if you ask me, but I love the Havana Black.

Interesting on the WEL as I spoke with someone yesterday who said he may send me a pair to see if I like it or not. I need a new USB cable first and foremost. I LOVE the Diamond. I do wish I had the TotalDac cable to try out with the Diamond though. That would be an interesting listen. I’ve heard the TotalDac cable in the past and LOVED it. So far, those have been my two favorite cables.  

I was told the WEL cables will be the most revealing you can get, but with gobs of warmth.  Interesting that they weren't for you.  Maybe the Wild or WBY would be best.