Vandersteen 2ci: what a pleasant surprise

I think Vandersteen is probably one of the most underrated speakers out there. I have been using them for years in various incarnations. Vandersteen is usually describe as laid back or lacking sparkle in the highs. The 1st order crossover and phase correct design allows highs to develop normally and not be thrown at you the way many speakers do. This gives a smooth overall character.
The speakers are much more revealing than people think. One thing is setup. You can't put them next to a back or side wall and get their best. You have to make sure the tilt back is in line with your ear height. The user must listen to them in the window of best sound, otherwise, you miss the point.
A lot of people make judgements about speakers from a dealership showroom. That is probably the biggest mistake you can make. Dealers have motives and most don't set up correctly due to space, acoustics or just don't care.
The other thing is Vandersteen's are not expensive for what you get. Seems a lot of folks are judging by price tag which is a big mistake. Anytime you see a thread on "Best" speaker, you see the price tag spiral up. Price doesn't buy better much of the time! Louder yes, more drivers, yes, more cabinet, yes, but better? Maybe not.
No, they are not going to impress the boom and sizzle crowd or the loud(as in LOUD crowd) Vandersteen is about the music and that is their strongest point. They reproduce what's there and don't add all the little extras that so many audiophiles think is high end and actually in the source.
I'm glad to see someone else has been exposed. They do make music and as you move up the Vandersteen line, you get more resolution, better soundstaging and wider response windows.
They are for the people who enjoy music instead of equipment.

The differences between the various incarnations of the Vandy Model 2C's (2C, 2Ci, 2Ce) are attributable to Richard Vandersteen's continual refinement of this fine speaker. While the basic design has remained the same for a long time (going back, infact, to the original Model 2 built in the latter half of the 1970's), Richard has upgraded the cabinet construction and improved the quality of the drivers (the mid-range driver's construction is patented, and found in no other speaker) and the crossover. Hence, the differences between the Vandy 2C models represent incremental improvements. Having owned the 2C, 2Ci, and 2Ce, it's been gratifying to see how Vandersteen has continually raised the performance bar of this speaker while keeping the price increases very modest (I bought my 2Ci's in 1988 for $1200 (MSRP), and the price has only gone up marginally in the ensuing 15 years).

Since you are so pleased with the sound of the 2Ci's, you should someday audition the Model 3A Signatures, which offer outstanding performance and can often be purchased used here on Audiogon for under $2500.

I hear ya Gemini..This is what I enjoy most about the hobby. Finding gear that doesn't cost an arm an a leg but is musical and pleasing! I am not looking for an end to all sound(because no such thing exist at any price). That would make things pretty boring to me. My goal is to listen in my home to as many brands as I possibly can. It makes things more interesting and also tunes the ears to pick up on things normally missed when anchored to one type of speaker or component.

Enjoy the Trip .It is the Best Part!!

Bigtee nailed it. I've heard Vandy 2's in many incarnations in many diferent rooms, dealers included. Rooom and placement are paramount. Set up properly they may be the best bargain in all of audio. Set up improperly and they are sure to dissapoint. Mind you, I'm a Thiel owner. While my personal preferences has led me in another direction, I can't help but appreciate the intrinsinc value that the Vandy 2's offer.