For Vandersteen 2Wq users.

I would like to add that from my lengthy experience...The passive x-2 filters will change the sound of yours highs and mids in a negative way unfortunately. The active unit is the only way to go for transparency sakes...it is expensive but to me the vandy sub is almost worthless with the x-2 unless you have an extremely unrevealing system. If the active is too expensive then I would HIGHLY recommend to have a custom filter built with much better caps i.e. DYNAMICAPS,Auricaps,Cardas caps etc. I had one built with DYNAMICAPS and I can hardly hear the influence of the added connection...It sounds MUCH MORE natural and open against the X-2 and is very close the the performance of the active units at a fraction of the cost. Just trying to help from my experiences..good luck!

I totally agree with Aniwolfe. You must either make your filters out of a much higher grade cap or use the expensive Vandersteen model 5 crossover. The x-2 doesn't alter the frequency so much as it just isn't as transparent as it should be. It uses a relative low grade Rel cap. I have used Dynamicaps and also Auricaps. I found the Auricaps to be more to my liking but it is a individual thing. The filters are extremely easy to make. I probably have no fewer than 10 pair laying around.
With the Auricaps, I hear no influence to the mids and highs. I felt the Dynamicaps imparted a touch of brightness.

Let me "piggyback" on Bigtee's post. I have a stereo pair of 2Wq subs in my system (Vandy 3A Sig main speakers), and found that there was a noticeable improvement in overall sound quality when I replaced the regular ($125) crossover with the crossover units used with the Vandy Model 5. The M5 crossovers come in two boxes -- one for each channel -- and have much higher parts quality. In addition, the M5 crossovers also have an internal 9-volt battery that keeps the capacitors fully charged at all times. While the M5 crossovers are certainly not cheap ($600 for single-ended, and $800 for balanced), you can occasionally find a used pair for sale. The M5 crossovers are more transparent than the "standard issue" crossover, and also (to my ear) seem to provide a more seamless blend between the main speakers and the sub(s). Let me close by making a further pitch for a stereo pair of 2Wq's, rather than a single sub. There is a BIG performance improvement with the stereo pair.

This is interesting information that needs to be seriously considered. The Vandersteen has a great reputation, but it seems to be a bit on the demanding side to get it to sound its best. And when it comes to building or wiring anything for myself, well, I can burn water. How bad is that? My birthday is coming up soon and I have been wanting to give myself a subwoofer as a present. My choices are narrowed down to the Vandersteen and a Rel. The Rel may be the choice of someone how has less time or less experience with sound systems, but wants something musical.

Choices, choices, choices...

One more questions. Since the Vandy is wired in a parallel method, along with the mains and only samples the source, does this also mean that if my amp is not producing good low frequencies, then the Vandy won't push those frequencies, either? In other words, the Vandy can amplify a signal it doesn't get, right? Can the Vandy get hooked to the pre-amp instead of the amp?