2. speakers
  3. 157689-4724

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. 
karl_desch
gdnrbob
4,485 posts
 
@karl_desch ,
Great post.
The Vandy amps are on my dream list, but owning not only the Atma MA-1's, but the Ayre MX-R's, I feel truly blessed.
If at all possible, I would try to audition the Ayre KX-R preamp.
I have no experience with the ARC preamp you listened to, but my experience with the Ayre really floored me.
Bob
karl_desch's avatar
karl_desch OP
446 posts
 
@gdnrbob.  Preamp!  Oh no!  I got to keep this search to amps and speakers.  I would love to hear the Atma MA-1, the Ayre MX-R and the Aesthetix Atlas. All Amps with “A”s. Just not sure how I make that happen in Ann Arbor.
gdnrbob
4,485 posts
 
@karl_desch ,
I hear you, and, no, I don’t want to scramble your brain
But, preamps can make a huge difference in what you hear.
Cables, too.
For me,
I just trust the great information John Rutan gives me.

So, for the present, I will use my Atma’s and Ayre’s until I can score a Vandy amp.
With AQ cabling, too. (Read my other posts on William Tell and Thunder). Of course, you can also PM me.
After chasing this dream for over 40 years, I feel I should acquiesce to those with more experience.
It saves me time and money.
Bob
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 
Karl, After many comparisons here, is an experience thread on audiogon of a fellow that had owned the Pass XA 60 Monos and Vandersteen M5 HPA this is a typical outcome when our customers do that comparison.
((((. I was pretty happy with XA60.8s when I had my Quatro CTs, but the more open midrange on the 5ACs made me feel something was amiss that no room treatment, positioning, or Roon DSP tweaking could ameliorate. Essentially, there was a glare in the upper midrange - at times. On good days, when I wasn’t too fatigued from other things and perhaps the AC quality was good, (P20 is only on upstream components), I could be floored with my setup. At other times, trying to get through an extremely difficult piece to do well on a system - for example, Brahms 3rd symphony, especially the opening, was a bit fatiguing. RV himself chalks this up to the XA60.8s having global negative feedback, which causes time smear and is especially evident with his time and phase correct speakers. Also, I’m sure something could be said for the simpler circuit path in his M5-HPAs. All I can say is that once I heard the M5-HPA’s, there was no going back. )))JohnnyR
karl_desch's avatar
karl_desch OP
446 posts
 
I have heard great things from both John R and Jon S about the William Tell and Robin Hood speaker cables.  Seems like a big leap forward for Audioquest.  I currently use Kimber 12TC shotgun Biwire which neither of the Jons likes! Something about a midrange suckout... I am happy to try a nice short run of these AQ speaker cables when I convert to monoblocks.  I’ll also be auditioning some AQ Water XLR for my 30ft run between preamp and amp. See if I can hear the diff between that and the Mogami XLR currently in place.  
I am interested in your experience too @gdnrbob!  I’ll read about the William Tell and Thunder power cables too.  Oh and the Niagara 3000/5000....those were also involved in my Ultra Fidelis auditions.
More to discover