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Vandersteen 5

Hi over the weekend I purchased a set up Vandertseen 5's and a McCormack DNA 225. I have a few questions about the 5's and was hoping someone here could help me. I can't seem to get the bass on either speaker on the 5's to work. The mids and the high's sound great.

1.) I've connected the M5-HP high pass filters between my preamp (a rotel RSX-1550) using RCA to XLR cable (the high-pass is XLR) and XLR to the McCormack amp (which was upgraded to platinum and has both XLR and RCA inputs). Is the lack of bass because I'm using a cable to convert RCA to XLR to connect to the M5-HP high pass filters ? I've looked on the vandersteen site and saw opposing answers from Richard. If not that what else could be wrong with the subs? 

2.) would anyone here want to trade a my XLR M5-HP high pass filters for an RCA one? I'm in the bay area

3.) The speakers were missing the spikes. Does anyone the size. I'd like to order a generic set as vandersteen wants 22 per spike. 

4.) Anything else I should know? My prior speskers were 2CE sigs so I jumped when I saw the 5's for sale. 
mzwerner
mzwerner's avatar
mzwerner OP
21 posts
 
@tomic601 I just ordered 8 Energizer 10-yr lithium batteries from amazon. I'll prob wait unit mid-late dec to send them in as I'll be on vacation then. Will def take photos before unhooking - I don't want to mess that up. 

I've been listening to a wide range mix of music - a ton of classical: Mozart, Bach cello suites, Beethoven, Maria Callas,Tchaikovsky, Maller, Chopin. Spanish guitar, Elton John, Radio Head, Folk, Biggie, Gambino (rap sounds surprisingly good - these puppies can get down), remastered Beatles (just wow), Bob Marley, Grateful Dead, Buffet, Beastie Boys  - I guess I'm all over the place.

I've been using a mix of Spotify and Tidal to stream.

The only downside is I now notice the difference in recording quality. A problem I didn't have before. - yeah, yeah, yeah poor me...

I love some album suggestions if anyone has any. 

When I go five channel movies/TV also sound amazing. Bass is big on movies, but not muddled at all.

For 2-channel the bass its super crisp, but not overpowering at all. 

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,172 posts
 
nice musical diversity - wow.....Not a sub workout but try Sol Gabetta - Prayer....

Steely Dan - Two against nature will show you what the magical aluminum honeycomb push pull sub in the five can do !!!! freaking great bass.... ya man have fun
gdnrbob
4,495 posts
 
@tomic601 ,
what happens when the batteries go?
I thought I remembered Mr. V. saying it wasn't something that would very noticeable.
Bob
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,525 posts
 
I yield as always to John at AudioConnection. Also...mark which components come out of which speaker. One time I accidentally installed the wrong crossover in the wrong speaker, and I had to take it apart again. It sounded VERY wrong. The serial numbers are there, but just double check...( I would put a piece of tape saying left or right on the different pieces). Also, the screws are very soft...I would ask Vandersteen for a few in case the heads strip. The crosssover (the one higher up...amp on the bottom) may not be easily removed....when putting your fingers behind the plate to get it out, don’t bend any wires back there (I did that too). Keep pulling - it will come... get a coke and resume your work.  When you get it all done with the new batteries installed, the speakers will sound more open, relaxed and better.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,172 posts
 
 @gdnrbob Just as Stringreen says, except the reverse sonic impact as the battery degrades....
DBS keeps the caps formed, audio signal does this but takes awhile

one cool benefit of the new Vandersteen power amps is 128 V DBS for the speaker wires and IF you order them the interconnect built in reverse from Audioquest DBS for those also



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