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MAKING THE JUMP ... From Inherited Speakers to the right choice < 2K Price

So my uncle got my listening jump started about 15 years ago when he began unloading his old speakers on me. A roached pair of Klipsch Heresy Decorators that I refinished and straightened out with some new Crites woofers, a pair of Celestial DL-10’s (which I always enjoyed) and some newer Klipsch bookshelf speakers have satisfied my listening until this point. Now I have been scouring the forums for reviews for some new speakers. Ready to go for some NEW OR USED UP TO 2K but just can’t seem to get past a couple speaker models and was hoping to get a more expert opinion on these and thoughts given my rig and space for best application.

Room size is a funky 18x20 - living room main listening area (speaker placement either side of TV in corner, so speakers on either side)

Rig is currently either a Luxman C-02/M-02 or my Luxman SQ-N10 tube amp (which I would like the option of running as well albeit very low wattage - just have no plans on going in on another tube amp in near term) Yes bitten by the Luxman bug. Just can’t get over the look and that sound.

I’ve been really eyeballing the Vandersteen 2CE - Omen Dirty Weekend MKii and the Tannoy XT6F,
I am all about source material and finding that intended sound- but do like to be engaged at both low and high volumes.

Any thoughts before I make the leap ?
jjack5182000
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Oh, and BTW, you won't make the "RIGHT" choice. The only right choice is the one which you would select after you tried all three - or some other technologies such as a panel, omni, line source or horn speaker, etc. 
Just sayin', you may think you're striving for a perfect selection. That's not really an option at this point. You would have to gain far more experience with different speakers to have a much more informed opinion. 

So... don't over stress about making the "right" choice. The array of sound capable with simply these three speakers is staggering. I could make literally a dozen different presentations with them. So, look at this more like a longer term car lease which can be changed versus having to make a "correct" decision. It will alleviate a lot of unnecessary pressure put on yourself.  :) Trust me, I know; I've been there a long time ago.  :)
wolf_garcia
6,644 posts
 
I recently bought a new pair of Klipsch Heresy IIIs after auditioning them and they might be the best 1500 bucks I've spent on audio. They need a sub though…but so do most other speakers.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
I’m not familiar with your Luxman gear but in my experience the Vandersteen Model 2 speakers need some power to show their full potential. I’ve tried mine with amplifiers ranging from my own 10wpc Class A tube to 200wpc McIntosh MC2200  as well as a borrowed pair of Bryston 7B-ST monos and they sounded the best with my MC2200 amp. Zu is almost at the other end of the spectrum and can sound very lively with a low powered tube amp.
chrisr's avatar
chrisr
542 posts
 
Also, the vandersteen 2CEs employ 4 drivers, and they are a true full range set of speakers.  In the right environement and with power, I am sure there would be little to gain by adding subs.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,869 posts
 
not sure about running the Vandersteen with a low wattage tube amp, the 2 minimum recommendation is around 40 watts...so hearing it before buying with your power amp is probably a good idea....also the corner placement might do some strange things with the rear facing acoustic coupler...you are likely to get a lot of room gain and a lot of bass.....IF you wanted to stay in the Vandersteen line you might consider the VLR and a sub which you can adjust output on.
iF you like Vandersteen also check out Theil and Dunlavy

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