Vandersteen 3A sig , on the naked

If you ever saw one "naked" in the flesh, it is very unappealing, and nothing to do with nostalgic! butt ugly comes to mind. if you listen with the lights off, fine, otherwise, buy another speaker.

I think I'm the luckiest man alive. I have the Vandersteen's with black end caps and my wife actually likes the way they look. God love that woman!

There's an interesting Q&A on this on the Vandersteen website (yes, Richard replies in all caps):

Alan (2/12/11): I have owned four pairs of Vandersteen loudspeakers over the past 21 years. If you could find a way to design your speakers with user removable/replaceable grill cloths, you would stand to be counted amongst the most enviable of men.

Answer: HELLO ALAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I HAVE BEEN PUSHED, BEAT, BRIBED AND ABUSED ABOUT THIS FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I HAVE EVEN ENCOURAGED OTHERS TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE AND FIND SUCH A SOLUTION. EVERY IDEA INCLUDING MY OWN SERIOUSLY AFFECTED THE SOUND OR INCREASED THE PRICE APPROXIMATELY 100 PERCENT. IN THE END THE SOLUTION BECAME THE MODEL 5, QUATRO WOOD AND THE NEWLY ANNOUNCED TREO. THE QUATRO WOOD IS $10,700.00 A PAIR AND THE TREO (3A SIG SOUND BUT LESS BASS) $5990.00 PER PAIR BUT THEY ALL HAVE REMOVABLE GRILLES. SO FOR MANY YEARS WE HAVE THAT OPTION FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PAY. THE NON REMOVABLE FABRIC WRAP IS WHY WE HAVE A 4 WAY SPEAKER WITH SCANSPEAK DRIVERS FOR $3950.00, NOBODY INCLUDING THE CHINESE CAN TOUCH THAT

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I would assume that the dowels and the top plate would be sources of diffraction, something I would assume would be an anathema to a Vandersteen design.

(yes, Richard replies in all caps):

Richard always speaks with the caps lock on. Interesting bird he is. When I talk to him I can't figure out if the world would be more more simple or more complex if we all had his style. Nonetheless he seems to be a good man and that is just fine in my book.

By the way naked is always appropriate in my world unless it involves audiophiles.