Vandersteen 5 vs Model 2c/2wq Combo

No one seems to like the Vandersteen 1c around here? If you have a budget crunch they are one of the best values in speakers under the price of 2's and sell for real bargain prices here on Agon. There is a pair of 1b's on now for $325, and 1c's can be had for a bit more. 1B's or 1C's wont take up any more floor space than a monitor on a stand and you dont need to spend lots of cash on realy good stands. Think of them as monitor speakers with the stands built in and deeper bass than tiny monitors. These may even be overkill in a 12X12 room. Check out the Sound Dynamics RTS-3 at Audio Advisor. I have several friends with a pair of these and they are amazing for about $200 a pair right now! Seriously these sound great. Don't let the price put you off. HP from The Absolute Sound loved these things and so do I. I have a friend who sold his Silverline Panatellas and went back to listening to these.(he did like the Silverlines and am not sure whay he did it, same guy who sold his 3A sigs after a few weeks)

Good point Maxgain, re the Vand. Model 1 speakers. I've only heard them in-store, but they sounded good to me. They would be easier place and use in a 12 X 12 room. Cheers. Craig.

FWIW, my son had a pair of Vandy 1's for almost 10 years while in college (currently finishing his PhD thesis). About 18 months ago, I helped him acquire a used pair of 3A's, but he is still using the Model 1's for rear channel surround. The 1's have served him very well, making good music although they don't go much below 40 Hz.

I don't have nearly the experience of some of the other posters. With that said, I find the Vandersteen 2's to be the best value in their line and amongst the best values in audio. You did not mention your room. I think that Vandersteens can be quite fussy about room and placement. I believe that all of the Vandersteen options should be easy to audition. BTW, I'm not a big fan of the McCormack amps in general but they do seem to work very nicely with Vandersteen.

After using Vandersteen's for a long while and going the progression-2Ce-2Ce Sig and then to the 3A Sigs, I would stick with the Signature versions of these speakers. The 2Ce does not sound as refined as the 2Ce Sig like the 3A does not sound like the 3A Sig. In fact, the 2Ce Sig and 3A are very close in sound and I personally would take the 2Ce Sig over the regular 3A. The money is close on the used market. I currently use the 3A Sig and a pair of 2WQ subs. It takes a LOT of setup but worth the effort.
To me, unless the equalization is precisionally done on the Model 5, they overload a lot of rooms. Not to knock the model 5 (because it wasn't set up) but I heard a pair in Atlanta (dealer) and I know he could have sold them to a kid for a car and the kid would have been in heaven! He said listen to the bass. That's all you could here. I wish dealers who sold Vandersteen's would take time and set them up correctly (a very uncommon thing in my experience) The Vandersteen line can SUCK without proper electronics and setup. Most people don't understand them because dealers don't understand them and don't want to take time.
I used McCormack amps for years and they are a good match but when I went to a 4-ch. Theta Dreadnaught with 4 200w modules biamped and biwired---WOW!
I really think the ARC 100MkII or III's would be great. I heard this combo and I have to use another-WOW!
All of the Vandersteen line will give you beautiful music but setup is the key. Also, If you do use the 2Wq subs don't use the x series filters. Those things are as about transparent as mud. Buy some Infinicaps and make your own. It is not hard using the formula 6.28 x imput impedance x crossover frequency (80hz for the 2Wq) Michael Percy Audio carries everything you need (along with some other stores) try it, you'll like it! And it's cheaper to boot(about $40 vs $125). Otherwise use the Model 5 crossover box ($695).