LOL, Jim, same here. He has talked me into his M5 amps for the Quatro's. Call me when you can and let's catch up. I have been BLOWN away by those amps. Best amp I've heard under about 40k.
Listening to Elton John, Live from Moscow with Ray Cooper. I always love when he does stuff with Cooper. It's a really fun stream. Kind of playful.
Agree on his value proposition. I just get blown away. I can't wait to hear the new 2's with some of the affordable tube stuff like Quicksilvers or Rogue or even the SS Belles Aria that Johnny uses a ton to audition them. That's one of the most underrated integrated amps on the market I think.
Dream value system:
NEW Vandy 2's
Belles Aria integrated
Aurender A10 streamer/DAC (what a freaking buy) or the Room NUC into the Ayre Codex DAC, which is still my favorite DAC under 2k
That's a true high end system right there with great value products that all work really well together as I've heard them a ton ;)
Back to music,.....er toys......er both |
Thanks Sunil. I can't wait to hear how you like them with the all in one Hegel. I can't believe they still are under 3500 a pair (off the top of my head I think I'm even a couple of hundred too high). |
yes, it's amazing how shorting the signal path is to sound quality, lol. Get as much out of the path as you can and he's doing that. It's pretty exciting to see this in the 2. Did the 3 have the same controls as the 2 that are now gone? |
Bump, just saying that he has constantly upgraded every part of the 2's since the last model. He's found recent ways to upgrade even more. Just upgrading basic components on boards can cost hundreds per pair. Just saying that we shouldn't think that upgrades are always 'seen'. It's all good as folks will want to go hear the new ones and upgrade if they want to. Of all folks, Richard isn't looking for free rides,
I've never spoken with him about the 3's upgrading, but I assume that will happen soon enough. I also bet that he's upgrade the 3's with at least what he's done with the 2's as that's how he's done it since day one. Again, I've never discussed this with him. Just exciting to see the oldest model in production upgraded enough for another mark. :). |
Hi Jafant (Mr Theil, lol).... Welcome. I need to get to LI to hear your system and you are always invited to CT to come listen. I will get Sam Laufer who owns Laufer Teknik's to come over and show off his source gear and DAC. Pizza is on me! lol.
Guys, Richard is the most conservative designer I've ever met. He constantly finds better components for crossover, wiring, boards, solder, teflon connection strips and the list goes on. He implements these changes over the years without coming out with Mk 2,3,4,5 etc... unlike most other speaker designers. HE's frugal beyond all get out (most of the older timers were, including Jim Thiel, for jafant!).
He only comes out with a different number or 'signature' when there are so many changes that it makes sense. I know that we all hear differently, and for those of you who have spoken with Richard, you know he's a no BS guy in every way of his life. For anyone to think this isn't a much much better speaker (for only $100 more), when you haven' heard it, it's not fair to make the statement that things are anticlimactic.
Go listen before feeling it's anticlimactic. |
Not yet, but if you know someone who wants mine with the built in crossover for Vandersteen Quatro on up, let me know. I can't post exactly what they did, but let's say the x over they installed was with their premium components and sounds as transparent as the 7 series one.
I will be upgrading to the M5's soonish as they will install an analog volume control in my sever/DAC. Not sure if I have posted that or not. |
Richard just won't talk about his upgrades unless asked about them. He's just a modest guy who loves to talk audio. When he finds special caps for instance, he won't talk about implementing them, but will just do it.
Personally, I own Ayre too and Ryan is the same way. I think it's why they are so successful for so long with the same models. You can hear the differences though, no doubt.
Jim, I have the whole upstairs of the townhouse for you to stay at. Live on a lake as you know, so the views off the back room are not shabby. Nothing like your fishing charter at sea, but hey, water views are still water views, lol. That would be a ton of fun. We will visit Johnny too. He'd LOVE that. I bet we could get a bunch of guys to meet us there too. I will get Matt Clott there (new TAS reviewer and an uber close friend as you know) too. |
Don’t worry Bob, you were part of my thoughts as I know you are on the island lol. |
Jim, it's an analog volume control rather than the digital one it already has set up. I don't need a switcher, so Richard said this was a good way to go. Yes, let's all get together when we are able to. |
You will love them I bet. The components on that board that are new will take these to another level. Folks just don't realize how great capacitors can make such a difference. There are better and better ones made yearly and Richard knows what he wants and makes an upgrade like this. Heck, he is using the mid range from my Quatro's in the 2's and we all know what a difference that makes.
I'm really excited to hear this one as you can mate it to the Hegel all in one or one of the NAD units or even a Rotel and have a great system for not too much money (high end standards). It's a great time to be into high end audio even if you can't afford 5k plus speakers. |
So far only the dealers. Oh, of course Richard, Brad Richards kids, etc..... lol... I was told that these are on another level than the last version. He's using top of the line components in that crossover. The caps and inductors are VERY expensive, even at the number he purchases. The amps are also upgraded, so even the bass will be much better. This is probably why he gave it the new designation.
I personally can't wait to hear it. Put this with an all in one integrated/streamer and what a system you can have at various price levels (depending on whether you want a Rotel all in one or an NAD or Hegel or even better. |
Guys, if a speaker is good, it will sound good on anything. I asked Ricahrd about this some months ago as I too have always felt this way. He totally agreed.
The one nice thing is that they are a full range speaker. That's most important IMHO for classical music. You will never get fatigued and they don't smear (like the other Vandy's that don't smear).
No one who's posting has ever heard the new ones that we are discussing. That said, there are a ton of classical music lovers who own a pair of 2's. Time and phase alignment makes a huge difference. |
Brinkman is other worldly gear. Just beautiful music... |
I have a bespoke DAC built into a custom The Memory Player server/DAC, but if I didn't and I had the coin, the Nyquist would be the DAC I probably get. It's never got the digital glare.
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There is no new model 3, just the 2. It's not close. The Treo has the carbon tweeter and it makes a large difference. The Treo was based on the 2, but using a cabinet. He was able to do a lot of things with the Treo that he didn't on the 2 because of the extra money involved.
Richard upgrades components all the time in his speakers/gear and don't say anything. Many changes are subtle. When he has whole sale changes, he will come out with a new designation. That's what happened here with the 2's.
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Guys, I'm basing my opinion on what I was told. Marketing wise, they could never have their 3300 speaker come close to the Treo. There are so many differences when you add in how much more they can put into the higher priced speaker.
That said, I bet the new 2's will be crazy good. When he upgrades components in one speaker, he ofter upgrades them in the other ones, but doesn't say anything. How about this...I'd be in a state of shock if the 2's are nearly as good as the Treos, but they will most probably do some very special things (based on what I was told by someone who has been hearing them for a while now). |
M, all is great man. I spoke with someone who's gotten his broken in and he says it's a large upgrade. He's not one for hyperbole, but Richard has never been one to upgrade until the sound is just on another level than the past model. I can't wait to hear them. |
That's what I was going to say. I've heard the Treo's with the subs and it's about 90% of the Quatro's. They were the older subs adn not the new ones though.
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I bet Bob. That will be a crushing system you have! When we can get Jim to come east......:). |
lol... go for it Bob, lol. Would be a fun trip I'm sure. I've done coast to coast in my 20's and loved it. |
Wow. This is the new travel thread lol. Wife is from WI and two of three kids and family still there. Good VAndy dealer or two in state if I recall.
Has anyone been able to audition the new speaker yet? |
I"m sure he can. Not sure if he has sold the older ones |
LMAO...You crack me up Johnny. Great stuff. Can't wait to hear your thoughts. I've heard one other's and he LOVES them. I bet the Mimas would work with them nicely too. |
My college friend is a long time pilot with Alaskan Air. She lives on Brainbridge Island. |
