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Vandersteens, PSB or something else?

I’m looking to upgrade my speakers and would appreciate some input. My system includes ayre amp, aesthetix calypso preamp, and vandy 2c sig IIs. The room is relatively large at 23’ wide (speakers on this side) by 27’. I would like speakers that are good at both music and home theatre. I plan to run HT pass through and 5.1 overall. For music, I listen to a lot of classic rock, blues and jazz. Not too much classical. I do enjoy live Dead and Allman Brothers. I’d like the speakers to image well and present a nice soundstage but also really draw me in emotionally to the music. For home theater, I’d like to be able to include a center channel and get a decent theater experience. The vandies, really no complaints, they have served me very well. But I have budget to take the next step and was thinking maybe the Treos. But once I make this next step, I would not be making any moves for a while, so wanted to explore other alternatives as well. The PSB Imagine T3’s seem to have been reviewed well and may be worth a test. My budget would allow for these, and I guess I could possibly go up to the quatro for the right deal. Any other ideas that, given my musical preference, room, budget could be worth a shot? I have to admit, sometimes I do wonder if the live recordings that I’m listening too would really benefit from a big upgrade to the speakers.

sb_caribou
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,927 posts
 
A Vandersteen fan for sure
but not a dealer

a center channel with the carbon fiber / balsa drivers would blow your whole budget - which is why they do not make such a beast....

Vandy HT is well thought out but is not sloppy Q bombastic stuff which is why he builds 2 different (3 now with the 9) sub models available

obviously the Vandersteen  bias is to SOTA 2 channel

sounds like you have done some soul searching on priority
I echo others get out and listen
lots of dealers carry excellent 2 channel and HT

where do you live ?


audioconnection
1,271 posts
 


The Five Quattro's Music film system we installed played at concert level so good I didn't want to leave, that's what it's all about quality instead of Quantity.

Hey Troy, I give you a gold star for trying to penetrate all these folks threads. Remember you came by and I played you the Quatros and you thought they were the sevens.
I think I trust this fellows judgment calls below to make observations.
anyway sincerely wish you boys success in what you are trying to do.
 Best JohnnyR

M7-HPA

"Many loudspeakers have passed through my listening room in the past year, but the one I most missed after its return to its manufacturer was this expensive, full-range Vandersteen. Driven by its almost-as-expensive dedicated amplifiers, it produced a sound that was consistently to die for." -John Atkinson, Stereophile



audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,807 posts
 
Your definition of concert level sound and the rest of the world may be a bit different. 

As per Home Theater your definition of what constitutes a Home Theater again I am willing to bet is different then ours. 

Take a look at what a real Home Theater looks like in the video and our flickr. What you are talking about is a Media Room. 

A real Theater is both about quantity and quality, and we are trained professionals in Home Theater after taking courses with Toni Grimini, Keith Yates and Russ Herschelman.

An 85db loudspeaker will go into compression at realistic theater levels which can routinely hit 105+ db, unless that speaker can handle a lot of power which means big voice coils the only 85db efficient loudspeakers that we have suitable for Home Theater are the ATC which can play all day loing at 108db as they are deigned for professional applications. 

Would you also like a quote from John Atkinson, not about a $62K speaker but a $20k one that also includes a preamp, a dac and a room correction processor: The Legacy Aeris:

The combination of the Aeris and Wavelet provide some of the most musically realistic sound I’ve ever encountered. They take digital processing and room correction a vital step forward, and show they can reach levels that are competitive with even the best purist speakers.

You would be amazed at what a $7,000 pair of Legacy Focus Signatures can do compared to many of the $14k loudspeakers out there.

If you are in our neck of the woods you should experience the Legacy line they are unbelievable loudspeakers and an incredible value.


Dave owner

Audio Doctor NJ









csmgolf
892 posts
 
Dave, why do you insist on calling the Signature SE the Focus Signature? Aren't you a dealer for the Legacy brand? The Focus and Signature are 2 different models. It is pretty stunning to me that you carry the line and don't know the names of the models and continually call one of them the wrong thing. It really makes you seem that you have no clue about their products. There is no such thing as the Focus Signature. Signed, a long time fan and multiple time owner of the Legacy brand.
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,807 posts
 
Sorry we call the large version Focus and the smaller vs Focus Signatures.

Both are based on Focus. 

This discussion mentioned both versions.

We are a displaying dealer and have sold a good number of both.

On the website they are listed as Focus Se and Signature Se if you talk to Legacy even they sometimes refer to the Sig Se as Focus Signatures as they are just a compact less expensive version of the Focus Se.

The point of this discussion is to draw attention to this wonderful brand for both their remarkarble sound quality and value for dollar.

As a Legacy owner please comment if you feel the same way.
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