No image from Vandersteen 2ci sigs?


I'm new to the hobby & just put my system together with 2c's, a CJ MF2200 & a PV 10AL. I can't seem to get the speakers to image well in my room. The speakers are forced to be kiti-corner in the room fairly close to the side walls & rear walls (i.e. every side less than two feet away from the wall, more like 1 foot in spots) No matter where I place the speakers I just can't get a nice image or soundstage. The room does not allow many options for placement & I really have no other choice than place the speakers on the outer edges of the entertainment center. I really love the natural sound of the speakers but am missing the soundstage that I really desire. What can be done in this room?
fishwater
I know it's not the speakers & is all the room. I really don't want to get rid of them but don't know where else to place them. The backs of the speakers are about 6 inches in front of the entertainment center, I can still move them forward a little but to get the left speaker away from the one french door is impossible. I may be able to steal another 6 inches but not much more on that left one. The right one is next to an open door way so isn't as much of a problem. I didn't know if a bass trap behind the left one would help clean it up a little b/c I really can't cover the glass door unless I use a rug over it every time I listen to music.
Don't give up on the Vandy's! You will have a *very* hard time getting something better anywhere near their price...

First question - have you checked to make sure that the speakers are hooked up in phase? If they're wired incorrectly from the amp you will get no image...

Second - how good is your amp? Unless it is very very good, it is going to have a hard time creating a decent image with the speakers 7 feet apart... You are at the outside of what most amps can do with your distance. Try an experiment; move the speakers out about a foot further and then move them a foot closer together. See if your image snaps into place... If it doesn't, then I would begin to look at your other equipment...

I have used the 2c's as well as the 4's and have always found both to be pretty forgiving compared to other speakers I've used. Sure, room placement makes a difference but I've never had a situation where I wasn't able to achieve an excellent image...

Just a couple of ideas...

I can promise you if you hooked those speakers up to a Pass Aleph amp you would be blown away!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck to you,

Steve
Fishwater try this site acousticsfirst.com They offer various room treatments for noise, home theater and music systems. If you submit a drawing of your room with all dimensions and placement of everything within the room they may be able to guide you with room treatments that can maximize your system. It wouldn't hurt at this point as your options seem quite limited. Last thing you want to do now is jump into another speaker until you explore all options otherwise you will end up spinning your wheels. Unsound's advice is sound and definitely worth exploring further.

Steve, no offense meant but as nice as the Pass aleph amps are, it seems quite clear the Pass isn't going to cure the problem Fishwater is experiencing. Room and placement is first and paramount in setting up a system properly.
I've moved them in about one foot & the image is much better but still not where I would like it to be. Yes, tubegroover my issue is with placement not amplification. I have the CJ as well as a McCormack DNA-1, both of these should get me where I would like to be once the speakers are placed properly. Thanks for all the help, I will be moving stuff around as much as I can before I leave on a business trip this weekend.
I noticed a huge improvement in imaging, soundstaging, and especially frequency balance, by adjusting the vertical angle of my 3A sigs. It might be worth a try if you have the adjustable stands.

Patience is a virtue needed when dealing with the Vandies. Sometimes those few inches make all the difference in the world, and WOW is it worth it.