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Not Thrilled with Vandersteen 2CE Sigs - where is the first place to work on?

Trying to build up the system this year, bought some Vandy 2CE Sigs.  Have the anchors, following instructions for placement, built bass traps and a couple of acoustic panels in my medium-sized but odd-shaped basement listening area - still not thrilled.  Using laptop with Tidal and Dragonfly Red - and some stuff sounds GREAT (Steely Dan, SRV, Beck, Dire Straits, Wilco) - but disappointed in a lot of other stuff.  Some objective opinions on where my issues might lie?  Expectations too high? Hearing the truth of production variations?  Running an NAD C272 at 150WPC and an original 1979 APT Holman Pre Amp.  Not MAC, Bryston, etc - but was expecting more.  Thoughts? Rebuild/recap the APT?  Amp upgrade?  Where might the low-hanging fruit be?
gjinwi
bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,596 posts
 
I have them both. I’ll take the 2CE’s as my mains all the time, every day. The 1C’s serve as my rears when in HT mode.

Don’t get me wrong, the 1C’s are great speakers as well, (they lead me to the 2’s), but they are not the full range sound you get from the 2C’s. I had to reinstall the 1C’s to my main 2 channel speakers a while back while having one of the 2C’s acoustic couplers repaired, and man-o-man, I missed the 2’s.

I’ll keep the 1C’s just in case I ever have to down-size.
audionoobie's avatar
audionoobie
357 posts
 
@helomech I’m surprised to hear you say that. I’m not sure the 1ci’s are necessarily better, but I’ve found they work better in my house with small rooms than the 2. 
There is something magical about the 1’s though isn’t there?

I was enchanted by them from my first listen in Johnny R’s back room. He really has them dialed in there.  
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
The Vandi 2 series tend to dance a lot better when you strip their clothes off, IMO. Just IMO, though. You might feel different. 

One can try it out and see what they get, if they feel it is better, or not. As the speaker was designed with that sock in place. A sock I would not design onto any speaker...... but that (original design time) was back then, and this is now...
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Of course speakers sound better when you don't place a barrier in front of the wave launch. This is basic and it is one of the fundamental problems with the Vandersteen line that uses socks. It's also a major problem for the Magnepan line. Paradigm has tried to make sticking a fat perforated plate in front of a driver a positive. Pathetic. 

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,869 posts
 
2’s of that vintage have very precise L pads on the back... but sure you can remove the sock aka grill. The $$$ in the more affordable  Vandy series 1-3 is in a functional non resonant cabinet, awesome components ( including precise matching ) and semi custom drivers with a LOT of trickle down technology. The $ ain’t in veneer. The Treo and up grill is not just a decorative screen but that’s a different thread....
model 1 are a very alluring speaker, work in many smaller rooms w very moderate power , you can see a pair along w many other speakers in my vintage room.
enjoy the music
jim
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