I got my 1C pair after hearing my friend's 1B, and the 1C is a definite improvement. The drivers and their alignment were improved, yielding a significantly more lively, clear, and coherent presentation.
I love my 1Cs, combined with an ACI Titan II subwoofer to flesh out the lowest octave and beyond.
That friend who started my Vandersteen enthusiasm just replaced his 1Bs with a used 2Ce pair. The tweeter in the 2Ce sounds very similar to the fine tweeter in the 1C. The 2Ce is a very impressive speaker that does not require a subwoofer for music. Compared with my 1C-Titan II setup, the 2Ce lacks a bit of very-low-frequency impact, definition, and extension (but it certainly is not at all lacking in bass), and the overall balance is a bit darker and maybe richer, and not quite as airy. The 2Ce images a bit larger overall and has higher power handling, while giving up just a little efficiency (which is especially negligible with my friend's tube amps).
Which setup is better is a matter of taste. Both systems retain that wonderful Vandersteen magic.
The 2Ce is just larger enough than the 1C so that my wife and my living room's decor would not have accepted them as readily. But these days you can find 2Ce pairs used and in fine condition at bargain prices (I think because Vandersteen is no longer upgrading 2Ces to 2Ce Signatures at the factory). Given the 2Ce's fortuitous pricing and their virtually full-range sound, I think they are more cost-effective than a 1C-quality subwoofer combination. On their own, I'd favor the 2Ce over the 1C (I like that extra bass). Between the 1C and the 1B the choice is even clearer: the 1C.
I love my 1Cs, combined with an ACI Titan II subwoofer to flesh out the lowest octave and beyond.
That friend who started my Vandersteen enthusiasm just replaced his 1Bs with a used 2Ce pair. The tweeter in the 2Ce sounds very similar to the fine tweeter in the 1C. The 2Ce is a very impressive speaker that does not require a subwoofer for music. Compared with my 1C-Titan II setup, the 2Ce lacks a bit of very-low-frequency impact, definition, and extension (but it certainly is not at all lacking in bass), and the overall balance is a bit darker and maybe richer, and not quite as airy. The 2Ce images a bit larger overall and has higher power handling, while giving up just a little efficiency (which is especially negligible with my friend's tube amps).
Which setup is better is a matter of taste. Both systems retain that wonderful Vandersteen magic.
The 2Ce is just larger enough than the 1C so that my wife and my living room's decor would not have accepted them as readily. But these days you can find 2Ce pairs used and in fine condition at bargain prices (I think because Vandersteen is no longer upgrading 2Ces to 2Ce Signatures at the factory). Given the 2Ce's fortuitous pricing and their virtually full-range sound, I think they are more cost-effective than a 1C-quality subwoofer combination. On their own, I'd favor the 2Ce over the 1C (I like that extra bass). Between the 1C and the 1B the choice is even clearer: the 1C.