I did a lot of looking around before I bought my Quatros CTs. One of the key elements is not just the product, but the company behind the product. With Vandersteen, I found a family company working hard every day to improve their craft. After reading comments about how Richard may be losing high-frequency hearing, I called Richard to discuss the design process, as this idea that Richard's ears play a big role did not match what I understood as there is a lot of work done in an anechoic chamber. Most speaker companies don't have an anechoic response measurement and the consistency that it creates. In this case, 44 years and 8 models of Model 2 speakers.
I learned that Vandersteen speakers have always been Time and Phase Correct and measured flat in frequency response, in contrast to the tipped up highs and booming bass of many other designs. Over the years, passive components like internal wire, capacitors, resistors, input connectors, and driver technology advancements have revealed more information and transparency. The basic design has not changed, including the newer VLR CT, TREO CT, QUATRO CT, and SEVEN MkII being: first-order networks, one driver per frequency band above 200Hz, minimum baffle area, pistonic cones and domes, and time alignment. Richard has always referenced his product designs with live vs. recorded evaluations, which is self-correcting for age; besides, Nathan, his son, does all of the anechoic chamber work these days. I found all Vandersteen speakers still measure flat today like they always have, but modern technology does allow them to reveal much more of the recording. The continued effort at Vandersteen is to employ materials as they develop to better the speakers by reducing noise in the products. The Model 2 may represent the best example. Although aesthetics remain the same, the new model introduced in June represents another improvement in clarity and timbre, while remaining true to music, at least to my ears. If you have a Vandersteen dealer in the neighborhood, just go in and talk to them. Most of the dealers, I found, have 30 to 40 years of experience with Vandy. I see Jonny R posted here. That is a great place to start.
I learned that Vandersteen speakers have always been Time and Phase Correct and measured flat in frequency response, in contrast to the tipped up highs and booming bass of many other designs. Over the years, passive components like internal wire, capacitors, resistors, input connectors, and driver technology advancements have revealed more information and transparency. The basic design has not changed, including the newer VLR CT, TREO CT, QUATRO CT, and SEVEN MkII being: first-order networks, one driver per frequency band above 200Hz, minimum baffle area, pistonic cones and domes, and time alignment. Richard has always referenced his product designs with live vs. recorded evaluations, which is self-correcting for age; besides, Nathan, his son, does all of the anechoic chamber work these days. I found all Vandersteen speakers still measure flat today like they always have, but modern technology does allow them to reveal much more of the recording. The continued effort at Vandersteen is to employ materials as they develop to better the speakers by reducing noise in the products. The Model 2 may represent the best example. Although aesthetics remain the same, the new model introduced in June represents another improvement in clarity and timbre, while remaining true to music, at least to my ears. If you have a Vandersteen dealer in the neighborhood, just go in and talk to them. Most of the dealers, I found, have 30 to 40 years of experience with Vandy. I see Jonny R posted here. That is a great place to start.