Vandersteen Forum


I bought an older pair of Vandersteen 2Ce and did not like them. Found out one woofer was crackling (what I did not like was poor tweeter and midrange). I went onto the Vandersteen forum to see if changing a component or two would better the sound than 25 year old speakers. In 2022 almost anyones speakers sound better than 25 year old Vandersteen technology. 
The replies raised my eyebrows. I was just wondering if anyone else has had any experience with that forum and did they find it cult-like or is it just me?

128x128geworthomd

Just buy the 2CE Sig III and be done with it. Enjoy the sound. The Vandersteen speaker brand and 2CE model would not around for decades if it were not for the fact they are well designed and sound very good even in 2022.

I guess one could argue they are a better speaker engineer than Richard and replace his woofer with a Bose woofer and not ever hear the difference?

The OP likes his B&W speakers, so leave him alone.

We tried to help him, but he had other ideas which are fine and dandy. As Sir Vandicream said to you, as well. 

 

I just don't get the reason for the issue here.

 

Yes, they are your speakers, and you are free to do as you wish to them. But, to go on a forum for that brand and expect others to agree with your desire to 'modify' them, and then lash out against them when they disagree, seems a bit strange.

Bob

 

Restore them to their original condition and then decide.
Vandersteens need a lot of power, by the way. Very sensitive to room placement.

I've had 2CE, 3A and now have Model 5s which are breathtaking, according to most people. And me. 
I called Vandersteen with a question about replacing the batteries in my crossovers and I was told someone would call me back. About 45  minutes later, Richard Vandersteen called me. I was thrilled.

Vandersteen speakers have a sound. I love it. Some people don't. That's why they make different speakers. It's all good. 

Have fun!

 

As a public service announcement:

Pretty much any driver in a Vandersteen speaker built since 1977 can be rebuilt or replaced by contacting the factory in Hanford CA. There are a few exceptions to this, the model 4 ( note NOT the same as Quattro ! ) , and the custom matched drivers in Treo and up. Treo and up definitely require a call to factory. For a Model 2, as was the DIRECT input given by the inventor, “send the suspect driver in w RMA form, and we can rebuild it.”

Lets also take a moment to clear up some factual errors;

Yes, Richard is extensively involved in designing elements of drivers, including many unique drivers partially fabricated in CA by Vandersteen Audio. He ( not Scanspeak, etc ) holds the Vandersteen unique patents. For fun have a look at the Vandy website, the 5A and 7 mk2 use a Vandersteen designed push pull titanium subwoofer driver, lots of tricks there… Vandy owns the tooling to produce it.

Hopefully all are enjoying the music and beating the heat !

back to my day job improving Quantum computing…. well, for a few hours a week…anyway….