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

Excerpt: "Note: I know people are sticklers for positioning and a proper listening experience means time should be taken to find the ideal axis to listen at and place the speakers in the room. While I did not have the OEM stands, I did, of course, take the time to try a few positions and sitting heights to find what worked best in-room. Looking around online, I found the OEM stands have a slight tilt to them so I experimented a bit with that as I moved the speaker about the room as well. Though, I do find it odd that so much attention was put into the physical offset of the drivers to time align them via the large step-stair enclosures yet the design still uses a stand that has a physical tilt as well to time align them. Seems a bit redundant to me. One would think you’d have one or the other and not need stands to do what the actual build of the speaker seemed intent on doing"

⏩ It would help for her to have listened to a very recent pair, and also to have read the Vandersteen setup manual. The stands are very important. I have mine weighted with about 30 lb of lead shot for coupling with the floor. And the rear tilt is critical to have the tweeter aimed at the listener’s ear height, and that depends on distance to the listening chair. Toe-in is also important. When Vandersteens are properly set up, the performance is excellent.

@patrickdowns I just sit in the cave crosslegged on the dirt like an ascetic monk.
And use more cushion thickness, if the ears are too low…

holmz

🤣 Speakers powered by good Karma?

"Toe-in is also important. When Vandersteens are properly set up, the performance is excellent."
That's interesting.  When my step father ran his 2Ce's, we did a fair amount of moving and testing and measuring in his listening loft, and toe in made things measurably worse.  Granted, rooms have everything to do with the need or harm from toe-in, but it was holographic with NO toe in.  He also had the flat Sound Anchor stands without the lean back.  Again, this seemed to give the best center focus and widest presentation.  Man, those speakers and that loft were something to behold.  It was like the perfect set up and experience, and super comfy!

Toe-in can certainly vary depending on the room, the distance between the speakers, and the throw to the listening position. I’m using more now than I did for a long time, based on the recommendation of somebody who’s set up a lot of Vandersteen systems