Fellow Vandersteen Owners


Just purchased some 3A Signatures. Love the sound. Problem is the look and size. Have any of you guys modified the cabinets, you know, cut the dowls, removed the top, vaneered the rest, removed the sock, etc.? Is this a bad idea? I have acceptance issues from the sig. other. help me out guys! thanks, Mark.
marklivia

Showing 4 responses by garfish

Hi Mg123 & Mark; I have no doubt that you could remove the corner dowels and cover fabric of your 3As but what you would have is "80 lbs. of ugly", so that is not the point. Rather, Mark would like to add his own cabinetry-- an exercise fraught with peril (IMHO) (for the 3A and its sound quality).
Hi Mark...; I too own the Vand. 3Asigs, and also have the very similar 2Ces in our family room-- both are great speakers. The Vandersteen "boxless" speaker was VERY CAREFULLY designed and constructed to eliminate the sound of "box" speakers-- that is why they sound so clear and open. I guess I'm lucky as my wife rather likes both pairs. While I sympathize with your WAF problem, trying to modify (unless you are an expert speaker designer/builder) your 3As would probably, at the very least degrade the high quality sound you paid for, and may destroy it, and it would certainly destroy their resale value. Although I hate to say this, if your wife really can't tolerate the 3As as is, my advice is to sell your 3As and take her shopping for a pair of speakers that you can both live with. I personally think the 3As & 2Ces are very attractive. They are big. I've also always liked the looks of thiel speakers-- nice wood cabinetry and a contempory look, and I considered the 3.6s (but did not audition). I like the transparent, open sound of the Vandersteens so much though that I really didn't hesitate to buy them. Good Luck. (REALLY). Craig
.....Sorry, I should have said "significant other" rather than wife. But still best of luck.
Mark-- Mg123's post above is right on, and I don't mean to downplay your ability as a carpenter or your friends speaker cabinet building ability. BUT, this speaker was specifically designed to have NO CABINET. If you do what you are proposing, you may end up with a usable speaker, but I'd bet almost anything that it would no longer sound like the 3A you paid for. Good Luck. Craig