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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
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
12,911 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
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 

Teo_audio

If you think a thin layer of double knit polyester fabric one can see through to protect the drivers is a problem then we are in big trouble. Our favorite recordings include protective screens on microphones, pop screens/mic filters for vocals and guitar amps etc. at the source. My experience is that removing the grille assembly does improve the sound of some speakers especially if they are the type where the supporting structure is not integrated with the speaker cabinet but just tacked onto the front. You don’t want to listen to a pair of TREO CT’s with the grille assembly removed.  

JohnnyR 
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 
Enjoy the music !!!! Johnny R is awesome 
helomech
1,677 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’ve encountered quite a few who prefer the 1s to the 2s. 


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