The Vandersteen 1b gave me my first extended exposure to the Vandersteen approach, which I find uniquely appealing. Subsequently, I have spent a lot of time with the 2Ce and 2Ce Signature (which differ slightly in terms of overall refinement).
Because of aesthetic (visual size), placement, and bugetary constraints, I purchased a pair of Vandersteen 1C's (new), and I hear an even more significant difference beteen the 1C and 1b than between the 2Ce and 2Ce Signature. I know they changed the geometry of the drivers somewhat between the 1C and 1b. This may account for the somewhat increased coherency of the 1C. A more pronounced change for me is in the virtual elimination of the glare that was present with the 1b's that could excite my tinnitis. I don't get that with my 1C's, I think, due to the change from the 1b's soft-domed tweeter to the 1C's well-damped metal tweeter, which also seems to project with more detail and better dispersion.
The 2Ce's and, apparently, a few of the later 2Ci's also benefit from the use of what sounds like a similar metal tweeter, by the way.
Because of aesthetic (visual size), placement, and bugetary constraints, I purchased a pair of Vandersteen 1C's (new), and I hear an even more significant difference beteen the 1C and 1b than between the 2Ce and 2Ce Signature. I know they changed the geometry of the drivers somewhat between the 1C and 1b. This may account for the somewhat increased coherency of the 1C. A more pronounced change for me is in the virtual elimination of the glare that was present with the 1b's that could excite my tinnitis. I don't get that with my 1C's, I think, due to the change from the 1b's soft-domed tweeter to the 1C's well-damped metal tweeter, which also seems to project with more detail and better dispersion.
The 2Ce's and, apparently, a few of the later 2Ci's also benefit from the use of what sounds like a similar metal tweeter, by the way.