Vandersteen 2WQ


Has anyone had any luck blending the Vandersteen 2WQ sub with any speakers other than the Vandersteen models?
timo62
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Bob , It sounds like you never owned a 2WQ subwoofer.

I owned just one 2WQ for years and was completly happy with its performance and blend.
I was able to move it around the room for different bass response. A 25ft pair of cables come with each 2WQ sub so you can move it around the room. It does not need to be close to the speakers whether you have one , or two subs.
The issue with the 2Wq sub is the first order low pass filter. It effectively forces one to use them in pairs and place them close to the main speakers.
I think it's a High Pass Filter allowing everything above 80Hz to pass straight through to the amps.
They fit on the ends of the interconnects and plug into the amp/s.
The subs themselves can then be situated anywhere you wish.
Timo62 - Because the amp in the 2Wq rolls in, 1st order, below 80Hz, reaching full output at 40Hz and below, and the high pass filter rolls off below 80Hz, first order, your mains should be able to output smoothly down to about 40Hz or below. If not, you might get a dip in power response in that 40Hz zone. But if you speak with Richard Vandersteen, there may be a work around, but I don't know. I think the M5-HP battery powered crossovers are hinged at 100Hz instead of 80Hz, as they were designed for the Model 5 rather than the 2Wq. Richard Vandersteen told me how to set the dip switches inside the M5-HPs so that the hinge point of the roll-off would be 80Hz, as required by the amp in the 2Wq for flat response.

Bob - My 2Wqs are in the corners, behind and outside the speakers, about 2.5 feet away. Before I had two, I had one, in one corner. I never had a localization issue with this setup. YMMV, I guess.

Halcro - The in-line filters are 1st order, "elbowed" at 80Hz, so they are only down 6dB per octave, meaning 40Hz. That's still a significant amount of signal for the main amplifier(s). FWIW, the Vandersteen in-line crossovers are good, but not totally transparent. A great upgrade is to the M5-HP crossovers, which, IME, are more transparent, and provided subtle, but easily heard, improvements in soundstage openness, imaging, and transient reproduction.

Bondmanp,
Thank you for the information and feedback. I have a 2WQ being built right now at Vandersteen. Should be shipping soon along with the M5-HP Crossovers. It is a great sub and I am looking forward to hearing it in my system again.