For Vandersteen owners & lovers: Which other brands do you like?

There are other sub manufacturers out there, but Vandersteen subs have shown they will work for decades without issue.

Now if I can only manage to last for another decade or two. 😳 If I get new Treo CTs at my age (65) I'll write them into my will. 

tomcarr

Congrats on the B&Ws and getting a good deal! To be fair though, they are in the same (new) price bracket as the Vandy Quatro CTs, and I would buy those in a heartbeat and never look back. They are special. Cheers.

If you’re reading this, a certain person whose handle begins with T, don’t think I am a heretic or defector or don’t appreciate your advice and generosity. I do! I get analysis paralysis or over-analyze and second/third/fourth guess myself. It’s a drag.

gdnrbob

You should post this on the Vandersteen forum

I would never do that...that is Richard V’s house. He has been generous with me in offering information (even calling me once) as have others on that site. One member just had me to his home to hear his Vandy 7s (WOW), and thinks I should get Treo CTs, and he isn’t wrong. I am interested in what current or former Vandy owners who love/loved that Vandy sound think of other brands of speakers that also appeal.

The speakers I have not heard that appeal because their design is so different (omni or cross-firing, with a much more "live" presentation) are the Larsens and the MBLs. It is a different experience than front-firing speakers. In the case of the Larsen, they can be placed against the front wall and are much less finicky as far as placement and room interaction goes.

In the end, I will likely get Treos but it never hurts to to a bit of research, right? I remembered you have Treos and you're right... adding a Vandy Sub3 or two at some point gets me close to the Quatro in a phased acquisition.

Cheers

soix

I heard the Josephs at the Seattle show recently and they sounded VERY nice. I'll look up the others...thanks.

P

tomcarr

I’m still a Vandy fan, just wanted something different currently

I get it! I used to laugh at the guys who say "I’m a Ford man" or "You won’t catch me driving anything but a Chevy!" 😁

Variety is the spice of life and all those other cliches, and yet I’ve had Vandys for so long I feel like I’m cheating on my wife emotionally, by looking at other brands. It’s MY issue (I am loyal to a fault)! If I had the dough, I’d have a bigger house, a perfect dedicated listening room, and a living room system (maybe with Larsen 9s), a listening room system (Quatro CTs or Kentos, and MBLs for variety), a bedroom system etc, and they would all be different. Alas, I’m lucky to have one small 12X15 room all to myself, and one system. No complaints.

Cheers

I appreciate the replies! Some brands are familiar to me and I’ve even heard some of those. Others I would have to look up and read about. Since I am somewhat lazy, the thought of driving near and far, or even very far, to audition some of the more esoteric brands makes me tired. I’m going to SoCal in a few months for a few weeks and may have time to visit some dealers. But—my sloth may overcome me and I will then just get Vandy Treo CTs and I know I will not be unhappy.

A review of the previous generation Vandersteen Treo, by John Atkinson. He loved them, so I wish he would review the newest CT.
Treo review from 2013

--> Hi jc4659
Actually, I have been keeping my eyes out for used Quatro CTs and Treo CTs (there is a pair listed here on Agon for sale in PA ... like new, xlnt price but for local sale only and I am in WA state).

"My" Vandy dealer in WA is brokering the sale of a 3 year old but mint pair of Quatro CTs for the seller, who upgraded to Kentos. They are spectacular in rosewood (which is probably a $4000 upgrade now for that wood). I mean, drop-dead gorgeous. $15,000 with the 7 crossovers.  Anyone interested can p/m me and I'll give the contact info. $15K is about 50% over budget for me, sadly. 

Greetings, Dan! I’m in Port Angeles. I thought when we moved here we would spend a lot more time going to Seattle but we really don’t (but should more). I do trek down to Tacoma to the local closest friendly Vandersteen dealer.

P

islandmandan Dan,

I’m 75 years old, taking care of my Dementia addled wife (still a lovely person, though), I’ve had a stroke a couple of years ago, my right side of my body is numb, but I can still walk, talk, and look the same, but its cut my activity level down a great deal, but my hearing is still good, thank the Gods up there.

I am sorry to hear that about your wife (for both of you)—it’s hard stuff. I have told my wife if it happens to me, push me out to sea in my kayak. Not kidding.

I am glad your ears are holding up and music is a source of joy. At 65 I wish the same for myself in 10 or more years. Your place sounds like a lovely oasis.

My best wishes to you. ~PD

skucie

Moving from the 2CE Sig 3 to the Treo CT is a huge leap.  Probably bigger than you realize.  I'm sure you would be absolutely thrilled with the Treo CT.  That carbon tweeter is really something, but you might also consider the non CT Quatro on the used market.  I'd expect them to cost about the same and they would have the edge in bass, if that's more important to you.

I know you are right! Those are good options. If I got a deal on like-new Treo CTs (I've missed a few deals) for $7K, I could get the Vandy sub to go with them for the price of a new pair of Treo CTs. Or, get lucky on some used Quatro CTs.

zimick

I ended up buying a pair of the Harbeth SLH 5 Anniversary about two years ago.

I've listened to the Harbeth 30 and 40 at Gig Harbor (WA) Audio (a fine store to visit)... sweet speakers! That "BBC sound" is special. It is interesting that their enclosures are pretty live, and are part of the sound they create much like the body of a guitar, with the resonances. Or so I have read. Richard V builds the cabinets for the Treo CT and Quatro (and the others I assume) with a box in a box, to eliminate as much cabinet resonance as possible (again, what I recall reading). Two different approaches, both right for each maker. That is the fascinating thing about speaker design. Magico takes it to the extreme, CNC milling their cabinets out of aluminum and using carbon fiber. VERY expensive, but they get an inert cabinet.

Someone else pointed out that the Treo is designed to go very near the front wall. which is something I need. The planars like Maggies do best 5-6 feet from the front wall, and my room is too small.

Cheers.

tomic601 / JIM,

what a lovely civil and helping thread…warms my heart….maybe just maybe there are great caring humans here after all….

I had the EXACT same thought as I re-read the replies.

I do hope to see you in CA, and hope you get together with my pal John. Thanks for all of your advice and input so far.

Best,

PD

emrofsemanon

both DEMAND a larger than average listening room with plenty of breathing space around the speakers to where they are no closer than 3 feet from the rear wall and at least twice that from side walls. put them in any room smaller than that and those speakers tend to sound shouty. if i had at least a 20’ wide and 20’ deep [8’+ ceilings a must] listening room

That hasn’t been my experience with 2CEs. YMMV. I’ve run mine in a 18x22’ LR with 16’ ceilings, in a slightly smaller room with 10’ ceilings, and in my current 12x15 room (speakers on long wall, so a 9’ throw to listening chair), and with careful setup they’ve never been "shouty." Vandersteen provides precise suggestions for setup and placement, which works. Tilt-back matters, as does toe-in. Mine are about 30" from front wall to front of speaker. IMO, the sweet spot isn’t super narrow, but there is one. (For that reason, the Larsen speakers appeal to me because they are much more placement friendly incl up against front wall, and have a wider sweet spot and when you’re out of it they still sound good.)

I get an excellent soundstage (width and depth) from my 2CEs, with very nice phantom center imaging (all dependent on the recording, of course). Ones front-end is also a factor in what the speakers produce.

Interesting that the Thiel CS.5 sorta looks like a 2-way version of the Vandersteen Treo. I've heard and liked Thiels back in the day.

Cheers

tomic601 / jim

the VLR - Signature which incorporates the carbon tweeter. They are designed for near wall, stand mount and pair extremely well w Vandy subs 3

I have read about these, and they deserve a listen. I don’t have a place for a 2nd (or 3rd!) system. In my dreams, I’d have the main system, and the 2nd one would employ a variety of speakers and amps to mix and match for fun. Wait—I tell myself that I’m not a gearhead so what am I saying! 😎

yogiboy

Spendor was founded in the late 1960s by Spencer and Dorothy Hughes – the ‘Spen’ and ‘Dor’ in the name. Spencer applied the knowledge and expertise he’d gained as an engineer in the BBC’s sound engineering department to create his first loudspeaker, the BC1. This game-changing design quickly became the monitor of choice for broadcasters and recording studios worldwide.

I'd forgotten how they got the same Spendor! And then there was the evolution, the "family tree" of the other BBC-type speakers, the Graham and Harbeth, and some of those folks were actual family of Spencer and Dorothy, iirc.

I have heard and liked Grahams and Harbeths. If I was interested in a 2-way stand mount monitor, they would be on the list. I'd have them for a smaller 2nd system for sure. Different flavors are good! I have no experience with the Spendor floor standers.

soix

I hope you have access to resources to help you (in addition to your stereo) so if things progress and make it even harder on you that you have help. I pray it doesn’t come to that for you, but I know how hard it can be and God Bless for whatever you’re going through because I know how hard, and how heartbreaking, it can be to watch someone you love slowly slip away and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. It’s a cruel and evil disease, and I only hope you the best.

Your whole comment was so compassionate. I can tell you are a good egg. Peace.

gdnrbob

Hey Bob! Congrats on the Treo CTs! I emailed the guy about them and he said he thought he had a buyer.

A few years ago I missed out on a mint, 1 year old pair on consignment at Johnny R’s Audio Connection. They were boxed and ready to ship, on a pallet. I hesitated and lost. Like-new pairs of them at a good price like you paid come up for sale very rarely, it seems. I look all the time.

I’m happy for you!

Pat

longbowbbs

I have read very good things about the DeVores—congratulations! I love the idea of a high sensitivity >93db speaker (the Stenheim Alumine is another one that caught my eye), and pairing them with something like a Linear Tube Audio integrated amp or what you have. Something like that would be fun for a simpler 2nd system, were I that fortunate. PD

O/93 review review

Sounds like fun!

<< When I speak of blessed events one of the more sacrosanct for high-end audio lovers in the New York City area is John DeVore’s all too infrequent Monkeyhaus parties. I know, they’ve attained the status of myth. A place where rare records spin on a 50-year-old turntable playing through equally rare amplifiers and choice DeVore Fidelity loudspeakers. Where you drink, smoke cigars, talk shop, drink some more, and talk some more. A place where you listen. And listen closely. While enjoying the camaraderie of fellow music lovers. Cats roam free. Sometimes children. Sometimes wives. The only admission to Monkeyhaus is good humor and a good vinyl LP. >>

DeVore / PosFeedback

tomic601

😂