While not perfect or free from flaws and not the last word in resolution, I think Stevecham nailed it! I've heard the Vandy 2's numerous times in numerous locations. They have sounded superb and dreadfull depending on room and set up. IMHO, these speakers absolutley need the right room and set up to work properly, otherwise they can be quite a dissapointment. On the other hand, while appreciative of quality up stream components they are not as demanding as some of their competitors.
Vandersteen 2ce sigs? Beginner needs guidance.
I'm brand new to the Audiogon community, and am so grateful to have found such a fantastic source for thoughtful opinions and information for audiophiles. I am trying to decide on speakers in the 1-2k range for a system I am putting together. This is intended to be my first acquisition in what will become a long-term hi-fi system that I will use for mainly music (85%)and movies on the weekend (15%). After extensive research, I am leaning toward Vandersteen 2ce sigs, as they are by nearly all accounts an excellent audiophile entry point speaker, particulary at the used pricing I'm seeing here on Audiogon. My setup will go into a dedicated 16'x 20' media room, which will probably be oriented along the long wall (i.e., I will have 16' to work with). I listen mainly to alternative and classic rock (e.g., beatles, pink floyd, radiohead) but also to more subdued genres including folk, accoustic, bluegrass, ambient and jazz. I am also looking for a strong solid-state two channel amp in the $600-1000 range that I can use to drive these speakers, and which can also become a long-term part of my setup. I'll run the amp through my current Marantz sr7300 until I can afford a better preamp. I was nearly decided on a Rotel 1080, but am willing to hear what everyone thinks about this. Finally, I listened yesterday to the Thiel 1.6s, which I expected to like. I instead came away feeling they sounded incedibly clean and airy, but overly clinical and somewhat dry. Further, they had nowhere near the soundstage, or imaging capability of the new LSA speaker from DK Design group, which I A/B'ed them against. The Theils were on a full Macintosh setup. So my questions are: Given my tastes and reaction to the Thiels, should I still be considering the Vandersteens? What other speakers should I be considering? And am I off-base in pairing the Rotel amp with my mains? Are there other well-priced two channel solid state amps I should be considering? Thanks very much. -Jonathan