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Advice on replacing Vandersteen 2's

A close friend of mine needs to relace his old Vandy 2's (they are probably the original 2, dating from the late 80's). He needs something smaller and more decor-friendly. The rest of the system is modest: the small Eagle amplifier, a Bryston pre, Rega TT, JVC 1010 CDP. Nevertheless, this system really sings. It has tremedous drive, tons of bass, and never fails to sound musical on just about everything.

My friend is not an audiophile but he is very much a music lover. He doesn't sit in the sweet spot and listen critically to the system. He bounces around the room and the house when music is playing, and sometimes he plays along on his alto sax. He listens almost exclusively to jazz, mostly be-bop.

The Vandy 1C is his gut instinct, but I want him to explore some other possibilities. Let's say under $2500 new. I'm wondering about speakers from Totem, the Meadowlark Swift, Triangle? Any suggestions?
Ag insider logo xs@2xdrubin
audiokinesis
2,749 posts
 
Drubin -

Given your friend's requirement for a small speaker with an enormous sweet spot, I'd recommend the Oskar Heil Aulos. The Aulos uses a dipole Heil driver which has an extremely wide radiation pattern, giving excellent timbre even as your friend bops around the house. The Aulos sounds good over the widest area of any high-end speaker I know of in the two grand price range.

You can read a review at:

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/heil_aulos.htm

By the way, that's a helluvan amplifier your friend's got.

Best wishes,

Duke
Ag insider logo xs@2x
drubin OP
3,275 posts
 
Thanks everybody.

Moving up the Vandy line doesn't make sense since he wants smaller and more handsome.

I used to own the Spendor 1/2 and I think he wasn't too impressed (nor was I for that matter).

Duke, to my mind, you are the E.F. Hutton of Audiophileland--when you speak, I listen. BUT...would we be able to audition the Heil unit anywhere in the SF Bay Area? (Guess I'll go to the web site and find out.) Also, I owned ESS Heil speakers once and I simply can't imagine...

Paradigm is an interesting suggestion. I like their stuff.

Keep 'em coming.
musicmann's avatar
musicmann
21 posts
 
I have a pair of the Triangle Celius 202,they are an awesome speaker for the money,small footprint and very efficient.BEWARE! the break in on a brand new pair is recommended at 200 hrs. and I agree with that.Try contacting Wally at underwoodwally@aol.com he is fair and very knowledgeable,he also carries the Triangle Line.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Paradigm Studios VERY different from Vandys. Brighter, with good imaging but not laid back jazz type speaker, IMO. If he's really used to the Vandersteen sound, he might want to demo something for at least a weekend; Thiels I believe also would sound very different.
chelillingworth
309 posts
 
The new Meadowlark Osprey is amazing if he can stretch to $2995. Otherwise I would go for The Kestrel Hotrod which has a much more focused sound than the Vandy's and will give you goo bass, they have to be one of the best Jazz speakers out there.
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