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MAKING THE JUMP ... From Inherited Speakers to the right choice < 2K Price

So my uncle got my listening jump started about 15 years ago when he began unloading his old speakers on me. A roached pair of Klipsch Heresy Decorators that I refinished and straightened out with some new Crites woofers, a pair of Celestial DL-10’s (which I always enjoyed) and some newer Klipsch bookshelf speakers have satisfied my listening until this point. Now I have been scouring the forums for reviews for some new speakers. Ready to go for some NEW OR USED UP TO 2K but just can’t seem to get past a couple speaker models and was hoping to get a more expert opinion on these and thoughts given my rig and space for best application.

Room size is a funky 18x20 - living room main listening area (speaker placement either side of TV in corner, so speakers on either side)

Rig is currently either a Luxman C-02/M-02 or my Luxman SQ-N10 tube amp (which I would like the option of running as well albeit very low wattage - just have no plans on going in on another tube amp in near term) Yes bitten by the Luxman bug. Just can’t get over the look and that sound.

I’ve been really eyeballing the Vandersteen 2CE - Omen Dirty Weekend MKii and the Tannoy XT6F,
I am all about source material and finding that intended sound- but do like to be engaged at both low and high volumes.

Any thoughts before I make the leap ?
jjack5182000
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
I recently bought a new pair of Klipsch Heresy IIIs after auditioning them and they might be the best 1500 bucks I've spent on audio. They need a sub though…but so do most other speakers.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
I’m not familiar with your Luxman gear but in my experience the Vandersteen Model 2 speakers need some power to show their full potential. I’ve tried mine with amplifiers ranging from my own 10wpc Class A tube to 200wpc McIntosh MC2200  as well as a borrowed pair of Bryston 7B-ST monos and they sounded the best with my MC2200 amp. Zu is almost at the other end of the spectrum and can sound very lively with a low powered tube amp.
chrisr's avatar
chrisr
543 posts
 
Also, the vandersteen 2CEs employ 4 drivers, and they are a true full range set of speakers.  In the right environement and with power, I am sure there would be little to gain by adding subs.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 
not sure about running the Vandersteen with a low wattage tube amp, the 2 minimum recommendation is around 40 watts...so hearing it before buying with your power amp is probably a good idea....also the corner placement might do some strange things with the rear facing acoustic coupler...you are likely to get a lot of room gain and a lot of bass.....IF you wanted to stay in the Vandersteen line you might consider the VLR and a sub which you can adjust output on.
iF you like Vandersteen also check out Theil and Dunlavy

jjack5182000 OP
2 posts
 
@douglas_schroeder  I am just fine with high definition although I am also very interested in a non-fatiguing speaker. That was my qualm with the Heresy was it was engaging and lively but also proved to be a bit fatiguing with my SS amp - hooked up to my tube amp they were a different animal and that was at 10 WPC.

@tomic601 I am concerned with speaker placement above all with the Vandersteen. Not sure if I would have the same issues with the Tannoy or Omen but being nowhere near a corner does seem to not vibe with the placement recommended. I do like to listen at higher volumes funk, rock, hip hop, etc. 

I was also interested in what speaker may present the largest soundstage. I may be confusing this with sweet spot but given the room set up with television and speakers in one corner and sectional couch in the other, any idea what speaker set would present the best listening experience in such a small space? 

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