Connecting Vandersteen 2Wq

Use a set of your favorite male and female connectors. Solder the cap between the center conductors and a piece of wire to join the commons. The caps can be figured using uf required is =1 / 6.26 x crossover frequency x input impedance. (Cover the entire assembly in a meltable strink tubing for strength.) If you wanted a 80hz crossover with a 100k input impedance to the amp, the cap would 1/ 6.26 x 80 x 100,000
The cap would be about a .019uf. I use 19ga Wonder Wire for the commons(silver over copper) Pick your favorite cap, I have used Hovland, Infinicap, Auricap and a few REL. Vandersteen uses REL is his x-2 filters. I personally like the Auricaps.

I see it mentioned that the crossover filters are easy to make. I just changed amps and need to change the crossover/filter to match the input impedance of the new amp as a starting point. I'd love to get any info on what is required for a homemade version. Anyone out there that has made their own?

I'll give it a try since it want cost me anything either. I used 8tc for a good while. Thought its bass performance was great but seemed a little grainy in the highs and lacked a little in sounstaging. I still feel it is a heck of a bargain in wire though. I use it on my home theater system.

Aural differences between IC's and speaker cables are generally subtle, but I thought the Kimber 8TC cable provided slightly tighter, better defined bass response. This may be due to the Kimber's somewhat larger gauge. Kimber 8TC has, over the years, received a number of positive reviews for its bass-reproduction characteristics. To be honest, I had about 20 feet of 8TC that I was no longer using, and decided to substitute it for the Vandy-supplied wire. Again, I'd emphasize that the improvement was subtle, but nevertheless worthwhile -- particularly given that I spent no additional money.

Sdcampbell, What subtlies did you notice with the 8TC? I have a couple of sufficient lengths to use. I tried the AQ Type 4 wire since it was solid core. I didn't notice much. I have been using the Vandersteen wire cut just long enough.

I have a pair of Vandy 2Wq subs in my current system, and I replaced the Vandersteen-supplied speaker cable with Kimber 8TC. There was some improvement in the bass, although the difference was subtle.

If you decide to keep the Vandy-supplied speaker cable, I suggest that you trim the length so it is no longer than necessary. I think the Vandy cable is supplied as a 20-foot length, which may be considerably longer than you need (shorter is always better with speaker cable -- unlike some things...).

Thanks for the response. I'm not surprised to hear that the wire is Audioquest since Vandersteen uses that for the Model 5 crossover pigtails. Guess I should have put two and two together! I've read quite a few posts on the crossovers and will try to make my own. I would love to use the Model 5 crossovers as I did borrow a set from the dealer, but I think I can get pretty close for a lot less money. Plus I've got single ended interconnect right now, but I hope to upgrade to balanced (by getting a new preamp) in the near future. No sense in buying the Model 5 in single ended then having to replace with balanced.

Sorry for the multiple posts. I had a little trouble with the submit button! It wouldn't submit but I guess it actually did!

The wire supplied with the Vandersteen is Audioquest I believe. I've tried different wire but to be honest, it didn't make much of a difference (as in I couldn't tell anything).
Vandersteen recommends using the same wire that goes to your speakers but this could get expensive for something I really doubt will make that much of a difference.
I made mine as short as possible and let it go at that.
I think the filters you use at the amp makes a lot more of a difference. The boxes supplied with the 2Wq aren't real good. I also didn't think the x-2's were much better. You can make filters fairly easily and I would recommend you experiment with that before changing the wire. I'm now using the model 5 battery biased filters which have made the most difference of anything. They are like not being there.

The wire supplied with the Vandersteen is Audioquest I believe. I've tried different wire but to be honest, it didn't make much of a difference (as in I couldn't tell anything).
Vandersteen recommends using the same wire that goes to your speakers but this could get expensive for something I really doubt will make that much of a difference.
I made mine as short as possible and let it go at that.
I think the filters you use at the amp makes a lot more of a difference. The boxes supplied with the 2Wq aren't real good. I also didn't think the x-2's were much better. You can make filters fairly easily and I would recommend you experiment with that before changing the wire. I'm now using the model 5 battery biased filters which have made the most differnce of anything. They are like not being there.