Fellow Vandersteen Owners

Hi Mark...; I too own the Vand. 3Asigs, and also have the very similar 2Ces in our family room-- both are great speakers. The Vandersteen "boxless" speaker was VERY CAREFULLY designed and constructed to eliminate the sound of "box" speakers-- that is why they sound so clear and open. I guess I'm lucky as my wife rather likes both pairs. While I sympathize with your WAF problem, trying to modify (unless you are an expert speaker designer/builder) your 3As would probably, at the very least degrade the high quality sound you paid for, and may destroy it, and it would certainly destroy their resale value. Although I hate to say this, if your wife really can't tolerate the 3As as is, my advice is to sell your 3As and take her shopping for a pair of speakers that you can both live with. I personally think the 3As & 2Ces are very attractive. They are big. I've also always liked the looks of thiel speakers-- nice wood cabinetry and a contempory look, and I considered the 3.6s (but did not audition). I like the transparent, open sound of the Vandersteens so much though that I really didn't hesitate to buy them. Good Luck. (REALLY). Craig

.....Sorry, I should have said "significant other" rather than wife. But still best of luck.

I have owned several pair of Vandersteen speakers, I agree with Garfish, please do not modify the 3A, it will ruin the sound! I know Richard Vandersteen, and he is a brilliant designer, the speaker is constructed the way it is for sonic reasons. I also agree that if you cannot live with the appearance, go look for something else, as Garfish says. The only other possibility, is "hiding" the Vandersteens with a (Japanese?) screen or other decorative item, remove the screen or cover and place in another area when listening. I know it still shows when the music plays, but for musical wallpaper sound, it could possibly be left in place until serious music begins. This solution would allow you to hold on to the Vandersteens, which are excellent speakers.

I suggest you actually phone Vandersteen Audio and ask Rick. I have called them 3 times in the last few years and always got to talk to Rick (or his son, I think). Just ask for technical support. Anyhow, when the model 3 was first introduced, Rick was showing it at a high-end shop in Palo Alto and I remember him telling a story about how the prototype did not have the frame and fabric, just the functional units and [really!] he said his wife complained about how ugly that was, so he designed the "open" frame/fabric to hide the stuff. I'll bet anything you can take that off! Call and ask them.