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Vandersteen VLR (non CT), my opinion

My office system consists of the VLR's, Belles Aria monoblocks or Atmasphere Class D monoblocks, Belles Aria Signature, Innuos Mini Zen with power supply and Innuos Phoenix USB. A pair of HSU subs are fed via the preamp.

I stream Qobuz via Roon only.

I wanted to report to the forum that I find this is one very capable system. 

I do so, mostly because the Vandersteen VLR's don't get the press that they deserve.

Due to space limitations, I have the speakers mounted near the ceiling. I played around with angling them, but John Rutan suggested they be pointed forward. 

I have to say, he was correct. They sound amazing without any toe in or angling downward, in fact they sound better.

Bass reinforcement from corner placement almost makes having subs unneeded. But, adding a sub or two will definitely flesh out the music.

Those of you who have followed my posts know I am partial to the Vandersteen sound. But, if you are in need of a really 'sleeper' bookshelf speaker, you should try to demo the VLR. They come in either standard or CT tweeter. IMHO,Either way, you can't lose.

Bob

 

gdnrbob
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

Thanks @gdnrbob.

The ASR review also noted that they we better on-axis.
And the low bass that they noted is also likely helped with them in the corners. Fortunately Amis showed a step function response there, which was as expected from a good design..

I suspect if the front edges were Radiused, then it would make them a bit easier off axis. And maybe some dynamat or something to quell any resonances inside.

I might rebook at these for the front room. That would be a quieter area where I stay below the loud range… where they look like don’t like too much power/SPL and distortion is going up.

I think I complained in that review about about testing them down to 2Hz and they were complaining about the impedance. I would likely use a sub or a Thomson rotary sub if I was interested in 2 Hz to 20Hz… but that is just me.

 

One thing that I think is a for sure, is that the testing and your positioning are in violent agreement.
I’ll give them a pass for not appreciating step response, nor phase.

Toole says it doesn’t matter, and they stick to it… but I like when they at least show the measurement.

gdnrbob OP
4,447 posts
 

Thomson rotary sub

Are those the ones that use a fan like thing in a box?

 

In any case, for such a simple box and driver, they perform amazingly well.

B

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

Yeah Bob, but they were like $20k … 😶

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,914 posts
 

@holmz it might to help clarify who the “ they “ is…..Amir in those last few sentences….. 

I have heard VLR in many homes w and w/o subs… always excellent imo….

Jim

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

@tomic601 the they I was refering to where the Thompson subs.
“They” as in a corporation.

Nice humour JT… that was very well done.

~Holmz
Pronouns: Was/Were


(Corporations are afforded legal protection like people, but I refuse to call a corporation He or She. Maybe “it” would work for a corporation? 😁 )

 

 

I am thinking about the VLRs for the front room, but I need to let the haus-boss finish filling it up.
I’ll likely have no room for a sub, but I could put a tactile transducer on the floor, which is the opposite of those speaker floating decouplers that the Carbon guy spruiks.

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