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Set-Up Advice for Vandersteen 1Cs

I'm beginning to piece together a system and having previously owned a pair of Vendersteen 1Bs back in the late 90's before I sold all my equipment I purchased a pair used 1Cs for $299 and $80 shipping... hopefully this was a good price.

I have a small apartment and these will be in the living room with the TV and I would like the sound from my TV, Cable, Apple TV or Roku 3, Blu-Ray, a DAC connected to my ipad/iphone/macbook pro, and eventually a turntable to be able to play through this system. I plan I have zero interest in a surround sound system, so multichannel is not a concern.

My understanding is that I should probably get an HDMI switch with audio out since things like the Apple TV and Roku 3 don't have audio out and I'll want the audio from those to play through the system. This area is new to me so any advice here would be greatly appreciated.

To complicate things I would LIKE to have a tube amp if possible. I am willing to go solid state, but I would much much prefer tube.

My budget is somewhere in the $500-$750 range. I am planning on buying used equipment to get the most bang for my buck. Something with a phono input would be best, but obviously I can't have everything.

I've been completely out of the loop and this was totally a spur of the moment purchase for me but I don't have a tremendous amount of time or disposable income so I'm looking to greater minds than my own for assistance.
greatwhitebat
greatwhitebat OP
35 posts
 
Here is a model of what my setup looks like within the room.
This was quick (not quick at all... room layout programs are not as easy to use as I thought they would be) and dirty.

Image 1

Image 2
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
Nice drawings. I suggest some very heavy drapes in front of that window as absorptive panels aren't going to work there. Especially if your seat is right up against the window.

Did you use the formula in the manual? If you set everything just right, it should sound OK as long as you don't have other problems like a bad room, or your head is too close to the rear wall.
Zd542

Yep I used the manual. Don't recall it being specific about the amount of tilt. No substitute for dialing it in with listening though. The stand up, sit down test is very revealing if there is too much tilt.
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
very cool. yes, I remember reading that at one point and hearing him talk about it now that I see it. (I have drop out at times with MS). Of all the designers I've been fortunate to meet, he's the best by far. He just gets it and when you see who his friends are in the industry you realize that they get it too. Just look to see who he shows his speakers with etc... All are great products overall.
czarivey
5,730 posts
 
it's recommended to form equalateral triangle so ideally either your speakers should be placed even further apart or listening chair should be closer or speakers should be moved closer.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"Yep I used the manual. Don't recall it being specific about the amount of tilt. No substitute for dialing it in with listening though. The stand up, sit down test is very revealing if there is too much tilt."

If you go through the manual, its the part where you hang a string off the back of the speaker (you tie something to the end of the string like a nut to keep it straight). Once the string settles, you measure the distance between the string and the bottom of the base of the speaker. That's your back tilt. How much is determined by all of the other setup factors, so you should know beforehand how much you will need. I think the last time, for me was about 1/2 an inch. If I were to move things around, though, I would have to set the tilt again to account for the changes. I know some people use a lazer level but the string is easy enough that I don't see the value in spending the extra money. Going back to what you were talking about noticing the differences when you stand up and sit down, yes, its a big difference and that's why back tilt is do important to get right.

Greatwhitebat,

After seeing your drawings, something tells me not only will you make light work of setting these speakers up, but you'll really enjoy the process. I wouldn't be shocked if you already have a lazer level. lol. It looks like you have plenty of room to either move the speakers out further in the room, or move your couch closer to the speakers. If you can, I would split the difference and do a little of both.
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