Aerial 7T/6 vs Vandersteen Quatro/Treo/2Ce Sig II

"I am unable to audition Treo/Quatro/5A with the Vandy dealer that is close to my place."

That's sad. Also, not to be judgmental, but powering $10k - $15k speakers with an Emotiva amp???

"I want speakers that disappear when I listen to music. Large soundstage, clear separation of instruments and accurate voice reproduction is important for me."

Well, that certainly is in Vandy territory. To get what you're looking for and to get the most out of them you'll need good amplification and a good preamplifier (haven't seen you mention what you use for a preamp -- what are you using?). Not sure how they do at low volumes. I'd also mention Joseph Audio Perspectives in your price range if you can find a dealer. Not sure how they do at low volumes either though.

If you're currently using a prepro you could insert something like one of the new Rogue integrated amps (or many others) for stereo and use your prepro and Marantz amp to run center/surrounds in HT duty. Not hard to integrate all that into one system, and you'd have the best of both worlds. Best of luck.

Hi Soix,

Emotiva is one of the many options, the reviews seem to suggest the XPAs and XPRs are more than match for Vandys. I am impressed by Rogue Audio too either will work fine with me.

ARC or Ayre gear seems to be favorites with respect to using them with Vandersteens but I do not want to get them unless I can notice a difference that will justify the cost bump.

Good call. No one uses socks to tune speakers anymore. They probably didn't even wash them with the special soap for best thread consistency. Vandersteen gives you much better setup options. Why don't you go over and remove the socks, position the speaker, set the back tilt using the formula Vandersteen gives you and make any necessary adjustments to the 2 gain settings on the back of the crossover. Show your friends how to set them up right. They'll thank you for it.
Zd542 (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

I got the same advice on my Bose 201. After setup, it destroyed KAISER KAWERO. I guess the instruction works for all speakers. Unfortunately my friends traded them in after 6 months NO thanks to me. I guess with friend like me, who needs an enemy. LOL!!! Many Thanks for the suggestion.

Knghifi,

I'm glad to see you didn't take post too seriously. I wasn't sure because it took you a while to respond. Unfortunately, my comments on Vandersteen setup holds true in many cases. So many people who have them fail to get the best out of them because of it. (Just to be clear, I'm not trying to fault you or invalidate your opinion in any way. Your take on the speakers is just as valid as mine. I'm just saying that poor setup is possible reason you, or your friends, didn't get optimal results. Nothing more.)

"I got the same advice on my Bose 201. After setup, it destroyed KAISER KAWERO."

Just think how good it would of sounded if you had a pair. By the way, who's KAISER KAWERO?

Geek101,

I won't tell you how to spend you money, but I would suggest you rethink your approach. Going by reviews and opinions alone is no way to buy equipment. I know that for a lot of people, demoing audio equipment is not always easy. I say that even it is a big inconvenience, do it anyway. Its worth it. Think of not only how long it took to earn the money, but the amount of time invested in research and education on your part. You owe it to yourself to get it right. Personally, I won't hesitate to make a long trip if I have to. I guarantee you that the system you build in your head won't be the system that ends up in your listening room if you do otherwise. I know from experience.

Given your total budget, I think the 3a sigs are an excellent choice, though the Treos will have a higher WAF.