Vandersteen 5a Carbons

Troy why can't yo show your face? Where have you gone? Hit and run?
Troy, just admit that you HAVEN'T heard the Vandy line in ages. Popping your head in the door at an event doesn't count.

Not one thing you wrote about the Vandy line is true. Not even close no matter WHO'S ears you are using. Not everyone will like them nor should they. The fact is that many folks FEEL that boosted highs are proper or hi fi. They have been sold and told this for years and years. It shows well in the store, but not in the long run in the home. That's where it all counts. There are always trade offs in speakers. That's the reality we face, but to say the things you have said is just WRONG and you owe this board an apology don't you think? Do posts like yours really help you sell gear?

I'll be shocked if Troy shows his head around this thread. lol....Glad to see many enjoying their sound.

I'm glad this thread took the anti-Vandersteen to task. His comments are totally wrong. I have 5A's, am a professional musician and chose them for their truth in musical reproduction.

String, I have thought the same thing. I know a TON of musicians who have Vandy's from the 1's to the 7's. You can live with them and sing along. If you feed them a top signal you will get everything you paid for. I also find it funny that when you speak to folks who love music more than the components (I love both), they gravitate towards the Vandy's...I've seen it time and time again when folks listen to the other brands when I'm at my dealer. I think the ears want what the ears want, lol.

The design and features of the top Vandersteen models are fantastic; they are very adjustable and livable (but heavy) like the hybrid Martin Logans. At their price, the 5As are less compromised than the Summits. Short sound but they are coherent and dynamic and more engaging. As a feature-driven, total package question, could be any easy call, but with $30k my mind can't help but wander. Considering sound only, the 5A Carbons have real competition at that price point.

I agree with you Oglala. There are so many choices for 30K. That said, I've heard the Vandy 5CT sound nearly as good as ANY speaker I've ever heard with all AR ref gear and top of the line AQ cabling at Audio Connection when Richard was there visiting. It was one of those days where the stars aligned and the sound was near perfect on all genres. Many felt the 5's were besting the 7's that were playing in the other room. Personally, it hit home as I've always said that too many audiophiles like everything to sound dynamic and 'detailed'. The 5's were rocking for sure, but the 7's were just layer after layer of detail and micro/macro dynamics. Much closer to live for my tastes. That said, the 5's were doing the same, but it was a lot of complex music and all digital that was being thrown their way and they just resolved everything as fast as they needed to. I was captivated and so were the others there. I spoke with many guy who didn't really like Vandy's until that day. There were owners of Verity, Wilson, Rockports, Proac, B&W, Legacy, Focal, Thiel, Dynaudio and a few others that I forget. Everyone one of them was in shock and said they were doing to come back and audition the 5CT's as they were floored by the sound even at that 30k price point.

To me it's telling that someone gets the Vandy's at first glance in a not so perfect listening environment. Personally, I need to listen in the sweet spot for any audition and I need MY music and components that I"m comfortable with. in a room that I know. The fact that often Vandys and ML's are compared is interesting. I always tell folks that the carbon midrange/tweeters that Richard uses in his top speakers SOUND as fast as panels/ribbons. There is no smearing in the way he designs his speakers and that's so huge I think. If you have a chance you can go to his site and see how he builds his cabinets and speakers. I know that it costs him more to make his speakers than most of his competition. You truly are getting a lot for your money, however to me the only thing that counts is how things sound. Again, he's not the only one who makes great speakers by any means, but I do feel that from the Treo on up his speakers are best buys and should be on anyone's audition list as they don't sound like they used to sound. He's really taken them to new heights I feel. JMHO