I have had 1B's, 3 models of 2's, Treo CT's and Quatro CT's. I have since moved on to DeVore O/93's. Zero bad to say about the Vandy's. Wonderful sound for decades for me. The CT upgrade was a big one. Finally, I walked into the man cave and looked at my system and realized it was time to turn it over. I went from 300 wpc monoblock based to a 25 watt tube Luxman and DeVore system. It is a hobby (for me at least). Both systems are very satisfying. The current one fits the music I am listening to very well.
For Vandersteen owners & lovers: Which other brands do you like?
If you didn’t own Vandersteens, what would you own instead and why? Or, if you switched to another brand what did you choose?
First, let me say that I am a Vandersteen owner for 20+ years, now on my 2nd pair of the 2CE, the Signature III. I have owned other brands, and heard many others and even liked some. 😀 I don’t change gear frequently once I settle on something. Lazy & frugal = me.
I am on the verge of being on the verge of getting the Vandy Treo CT. I have auditioned them at length. I have also heard the Quatro CT and if budget allowed (including upgrading my front end) I would get them for sure. I’m not a fanboy—there is a reason why Vandersteen has sold something like 100K pairs of the 2CE. They sound very good and all of their models are a real bargain/value in their category, imo.
I have heard and liked, for different reasons, Maggies, Magicos, Harbeths, Focals, Linkwitz-Riley, and other brands. Others that I have not heard intrigue me too. I keep circling back to Vandys—maybe it’s what I have known the longest. I have flirted with the Larsen 8 or 9, which is a totally different design (AbSound has reviewed them well), and also the MBL 120 and 126 (omnidirectionals).
I know I could be happy for life with Vandersteens (Treo, Quatro, or dreaming—the Kento or 7). I am interested in detailed opinions of alternatives in the $10K range though. Thanks!
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longbowbbsI have read very good things about the DeVores—congratulations! I love the idea of a high sensitivity >93db speaker (the Stenheim Alumine is another one that caught my eye), and pairing them with something like a Linear Tube Audio integrated amp or what you have. Something like that would be fun for a simpler 2nd system, were I that fortunate. PD
Sounds like fun!
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Top tip for the Vandy lovers with external subs (2WQ or Sub3), I recently upgraded my M5-HP filters to M5-HP TEF filters. This is the same high pass filter circuit and capacitors used in RV’s M7-HP filters in a more modest enclosure. The difference is SIGNIFICANT. The bass is so much tighter and punchier (traits often at odds with each other). The mids are more airy and expressive. Accuracy of all musical details notched up a level. I use them with 3A Sigs with two 2Wq subs. Highly recommended and a modest investment compared to the sonic returns. RE: VLR-CTs. I used these in my room with a Sub3 at AXPONA this year. I received many positive comments about the sound in my room from attendees that spent days listening to systems 10x to 25x the cost of my room equipment. They like backwall so placement is friendly. They are great by themselves in a small room. Add a sub and they continue to perform in medium to medium-large sized rooms. At AXPONA, I was asked repeatedly if the sub was “on” or “connected”. This wasn’t due to limited low frequency representation, rather, how seamlessly the VLR-CTs and Sub3 worked together. |
@raindog911 are you moving your older (non TEF) crossovers on? |
another vote for the teflon high pass filters ;-) I call them the Kento filters but they are as @raindog911 pointed out a great low cost upgrade. I run them on my Treo CT / sub3 system, the 7 high pass amps in my reference system have a built in high pass. Enjoy the music ! |
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