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Vandersteen question.

I got some advice in another thread to get rid of my speakers. It was kind of rude, as my question concerned digital devices, but it's probably true. My system: Rotel 951 CD player, Creek 5350SE integrated amp, PSB 5T speakers. Interconnects are silver serpents from better cables. Speaker cables are AR for bi-wiring, but some Ixos is on the way, as some of you called it the best bargain in speaker wire.
I've been looking into the Vandersteen line. I'm in a smallish room, 12X15X 8 high. I live in an area where there are no dealers within 150 miles, but I am planning a trip to see and hear for myself. My questions are: Will my Creek amp run the various models, 1b, 1c, 2c, 2ce, signature series, and with the size of my room would a smaller one be right? I'm not even sure of the difference between some of the models, like 1b and 1c, and 2 and 2ce, 2ci etc. If any of you have some thoughts I would appreciate the help.
elmuncy
wloeb
43 posts
 
In my (very opinionated) opinion, only three Hi-end loudspeakers are really needed to cover all price ranges:

Reasonable: Vandersteen 2ce
Expensive: Audio Physic Virgo
Stupid: Wilson Watt Puppy's

I feel the Vandersteens do enough right to satisfy most music lovers. I owned the 2ce's for 5 years and was always very satified with the sound. They don't offer the ulimate resolution but they do convey an awful lot of the music. The creek should drive them nicely but you are mixing a warm sounding amp with warm sounding speakers. If you like a smooth warm liquid sound you should be happy. Even though I have become stupid, I still miss the vandersteens.

Wayne
judit
217 posts
 
Marakenetz,
I believe I said, "in my opinion". Our difference of opinion serves Elmuncy well ... there is much to listen to in the Vandersteen line.
elmuncy OP
64 posts
 
I suppose it's kind of ironic. I began in the digital section asking about what digital device to buy. I was told to get rid of my speakers. In this forum I'm told to get a DAC. I have a Creek OB-14 and an Adcom GDA 600. If anything both of these make the sound more shrill and sharp than without them. I was trying to do an upgrade on the cheap. Would the MSB Link with oversampling be better? I know that this is the wrong forum for this question, but others have mentioned it.
elmuncy OP
64 posts
 
OK. I've driven the distance and finally heard the Vandys. I don't know enough about them to know if they were set up right or not. I heard the 1's, the 2CE signature, and the 5's. They all sounded fantastic. I think I'd like to have the signatures. Thank you all for your help.
02pete
59 posts
 
How would you compare the way that the 1C's and the 2CE's sound? Would 40 to 50 watt/channel amplification (NAD C340, Creek 4330, etc.) be adequate to drive the 1C's, which are Vandersteen's least expensive speakers, or do they require more power to sound good, like the 2CE's? Do the 1C's have sufficient lower bass to be used as full-range speakers in a system, without a subwoofer? Thanks to all who have posted -- this is an interesting thread.
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