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Vandersteen updates and amplifiers

Seeking experience and advice. I have the Vandersteen Quatro Wood (non-CT) and have enjoyed them on a large variety of music for the past 7 years or so. I have been able to hear changes with improvements in upstream gear and tweaks. I use a Pass Labs XP-27 phono - XP-22 Pre and the good ol XA 30.5 to power the Quatro. Balanced M5 boxes.  

Two things recently elevated the performance of the Vandersteen's in my room. First was the addition of Isoacoustic Gaia I footers. I was pretty skeptical about using these as Vandersteen designs to couple the speakers to the floor. These footers are supposed to decouple. But I felt is was worth trying because the speakers are positioned on a suspended wooden floor above a storage area in my house. I had to use the more expensive Gaia I because the 110 lb Quatro has to be supported with just 3 footers. Also, I had to buy 8 not 6 footers. It was not difficult to maintain the appropriate tilt angle by adjusting the footers. Be aware that the rear spike threads are different than the front. After many weeks of use, I think they are a significant improvement. The quality of the imaging and the tonal richness of the midrange expanded to my ears. More palpable presence in the room, better separation of instruments so that you can hear into the recording better. The bass quality changed almost like adjusting the Q. The bass may be a little less high impact and certainly less is transmitted into the floor, but overall bass better integrated into the music.

The second change was the addition of an HRS S platform under the Pass XA 30.5. This is the only component of the system that is near the speakers and in the high acoustic energy zone. Improvements in detail and clarity were not subtle. Very impressed!

So, fellow audiogoners, what might be the next steps for me if I choose to stick with the Vandersteen sound. I hear good things about Vandersteen M5 HPA mono's. This would eliminate the M5 boxes and the Pass XA 30.5. For the same price I could probably trade in the XA 30.5 for a more powerful .8 series amp.  Anyone with experience want to share? I would also consider updating to the Quatro CT if that would be a similar jump in performance. The Quatro seems to be the right size for my medium/large room. 
128x128karl_desch
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
Hey Bob, that's a perfectly good idea going for the pair of Sub 3's. I talked to tomic601 about this and he seemed to think it's a great idea.
I want to do this also, but being retired creates some financial limitations.
Although it's not out of the range of possibility. It's a work in progress for me. lol.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,476 posts
 
I am lucky in that my house sits on a concrete slab....the floors are travertine tiles on the slab and don’t vibrate. I tried replacing the spikes of my 5A’s with similar gizmos....they absolutely ruined the sound....flattened the sonic picture, removed the bass, decreased the width. I quickly returned to the spikes. ...just shows to go ya.
karl_desch's avatar
karl_desch OP
442 posts
 
Thanks @stringreen. @stringreen. I ended up screwing the Isoacoustic footers into the feet of my equipment racks.  I think getting the Quatros back near the side walls reduced the effect of the footers.  I just have the speakers on little Herbies audio picks so I can position them without destroying the wood floors.
gdnrbob
4,456 posts
 
@karl_desch ,
I have my Treo’s near the middle of the room (front to back), and near the side walls (left/right)-unfortunately the only place I could put them.
It was a significant improvement over having them near the rear/back wall. YMMV.
@mr_m .
Considering you get a decent price for the 2wq’s, It almost cuts the price in half.
And, for me, I sold a lot of stuff I bought, but wasn’t using, so my purchase is entirely funded by all the things I sold.
@tomic601 ,
Thanks for responding.
Not to rush judgement, but did you notice any significant change when you moved to the Vandy amps?

As some might know, I run Atmasphere in the winter ( to warm the living room), and Ayre in the summer to keep the AC from increasing my electric bill.
Though not a scientific or well done comparison, I will say the Ayre KX-R (non Twenty) sounds ’better’than my Atma MP-1.-Sorry Ralph.
Though not by much.
The Ayre seems to offer more detail and cleaner bass than the Atma.- What the Twenty upgrade will do, makes me nervous.
I was very surprised by this discovery as I think Ralph’s products to be some of the best out there. In fact, I hope to get a pair of his Class D monoblocks as soon as they are available.

Bob
rpeluso
1,080 posts
 
tomic601, although we do not know each other, and chances are we will never get to meet, I always look forward to your comments, there is never a hint of envy, jealousy, anger in them just a joy in sharing with others here.   Quite admirable.  I have even taken to purchasing wine from Davis, and I hope I have it right that you once invited someone/everyone over to listen to some great music, and you would supply the wine.  If I have the right (or even if there is some error there), thank you!  You are so non-judgemental, its a revelation in these times.  
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