I don't like the sound of my system. Help please.

I heard a current generation ARC switching amp recently at Lyric in NYC. Brief audition but sounded promising.

Shakey,
What do you not like about the Vandersteens? What would you get for the same price? You'll be glad to know that I know longer have my 1c's. They are sold and I am currently speakerless and on the hunt.

Thank you all for the excellent replies. I replaced the Vands with an old pair of Vandy1c's and the sound improved. Highs not crisp or thin, midrange solid but not the depth I' m looking for.

The room is 20 feet square with a vaulted ceiling 15 feet high. The electronics are housed in wood cabinets along one wall. The speakers must sit in front of the cabinets. A wall at right angles to the cabinets is all glass windows and opposing this wall is a large opening to the dining room.

My ARC experiences have not been good with several tube amps but I do like their sound . This is why I bought the 150.2 and it has been reliable.

Ii want a rich , clear , sound in a large room with poor speaker placement and no room treatment. Also I hate playing with different cables.

Thank you.

The less expensive vandersteens are pleasant to listen to, but not very resolving and rolled off on top. That's ok if it's the sound that you like.

Here are a few that are on Agon right now under 1500.00

Devore Gibbon 8
Northcreek Rhythm Signatures
Totem Hawk
GMA Callisto
Revel F32

I would take any of these over any Vandersteen up to and including the 3A.

Shakey

Perhaps your speaker/listening position could be tweaked some to improve your frequency respponse as well as eliminating harshness etc.

I think you are pushing the edge of what is possible out of SS components in a tough room, but if the speakers are out about 5' from the walls behind them, and the listening chair and the speakers form an equalateral triangle (or close to) and the speakers are toed in so the axis crosses well in front of you when you are in the sweet spot you will have, at least, minimized first reflections off that glass wall.

You might also pick up a sound pressure meter (Radio Shack will do) and a test disc (Stereophile) you can measure the frequency response and, especially, get placement of chair and speakers so there is some warmth in the bass frequencies (up to 200hz).

This is a tough challenge in a square room which will have large nulls and nodes especially in the bass. You could be sitting in a null that contributes much to 'warmth' or moving your speakers about a bit might also do the same, but having a SPL meter and disc makes the job much more simple (and its cheap!).