Vandersteen 2CE Signature III — video review on YouTube by Steve Guttenberg (1/15/2023)

vandy’s classic designs certainly have an enduring degree of excellence

seems true what folks say though, as richard v has gotten older, has some high frequency hearing loss, and as he still personally voices new designs and version updates, the speakers are getting brighter with each iteration

does coincide with the overall market movement towards a more treble-forward, upfront detailed sound... certainly seems to be the case with ol’ 2ce (new in version 8) according to steve g...

I would not call Vandersteen’s bright or forward. At all.

With the 2CE III, it has more to do with incorporating the more refined drivers of his more expensive models (Treo & Quatro). Something Richard has done since the advent of the Treo. The same was true with my Vandy 2CE II’s, which I still have, but Treo’s are now the main speakers for 2 channel listening.

Yes, Richard does personally voice his speakers, but not only by ear. From the web site:

Vandersteen does not rely on listening alone to make claims of sonic excellence. Vandersteen Audio is the first loudspeaker manufacturer to use the Gen-Rad 2512 Fast Fourier Transform Computer Analyzer in research and development and remains a leader for interfacing complex loudspeaker parameters and performance computer analysis with practical design and engineering.

Yeah, I wouldn’t call a Vandersteen speaker “bright”. Street smart and savvy? Maybe. Never bright. But what do I know? I’m a Vandersteen fanboy, too. 

Whether or not you think Vandersteen models are getting brighter will depend on how far you go back with the company.  I bought my first pair in 1996 and my last pair in 2014, my 4th, and they were voiced differently to my ears. I always suspected it was finally a reaction to the reviews. 

my 3a sigs are from 2007, definitely a smooth top end, slightly rolled -- made alot of popular cd’s -- and powerful but not so subtle solid state power amps -- sound listenable

of course, there is enough resolution there that when you hook up some fine, tippity top flight power amps they certainly sound great, but treble still a little recessed, coupled lots of mid/midbass warmth... like how real music sounds in at the symphony!