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$ 2500 ....Stay with Vandersteens ??...what else ?

Please refer my "system" to see my current set-up. Everything sounds wonderful together.....extremely musical, great soundstage depth and width, beautiful rendition of timbre and tone, natural presentation of voices and acoustics. BUT....I have the speaker "upgrade itch," wanting fuller, richer, deeper sound, and I need advice from my friends at Audiogon.

I spend around three hours a night of "serious listening," about 2/3 digital and 1/3 vinyl. Roughly 70% of my enjoyment is 1950's - 1960's jazz (Miles, Coltrane, Basie, Rollins, Brubeck, Ella, Mobley, Morgan, etc., etc.), 25% "classic rock" that I grew up with (Allman Brothers, Dead, Dylan, CSNY, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Led Zep, Yes, Hot Tuna, etc.), and the other 5% "newer jazz audiophile stuff" (Patricia Barber, Rebecca Pigeon, etc.)

Keeping the rest of my system the same (except for bi-wire speaker cables if needed), what do you guys recommend for new speakers ? Vandersteen 2CE Sig. II's seem a natural option, but what else should I consider ? I'm open to all kinds of suggestions. Thanks a lot, and Happy Listening !
adam18

Showing 9 responses by samhar

samhar
1,048 posts
 
If you were happy with the 1c's you'll have trouble leaving your chair with the 2Ce Sigs MKll!!! Break out the Ray Brown, Jazz will blow you away through the 2Ce's!!!! When you feel rich again buy a pair of 2Wq's and you'll be in Jazz Nirvana, they free the amp from having to produce the low frequencies the result being, the amp is quicker,sound is more open bass is better and you feel like you up graded the amp and speakers!!
If you buy used you'll be able to get biwired S/C's and possibly upgrade I/C's too!!
samhar
1,048 posts
 
Pubul57 you hit on my dilemma, are the 5A's 40%( as some say) and $10,000 better? I've passed on two sets of 5's because of the newer tweeters in my 3A Sigs!!
samhar
1,048 posts
 
The 1c doesn't have the Vandersteen mid range speaker one of the reasons to own Vandy's!!!! This is what you get with the move to the 2's Richard's own speaker creation the 4 1/2" mid range, very important!!!!! How can you compare inner detail and dynamics to a fuller bass??? When I had "just" the 3A sigs the sound was great (like it would be with the 2Ce sig MKll), when I added the subs the sound was better the point being they were good first!! The 1c just isn't in the same league!!!
samhar
1,048 posts
 
From a Minimalist Post Modern point of view they are very "cool", the 5A's aren't particularly exciting proportion wise and the Quatro Wood is bizzare looking. The more I live with the 3's and subs the more they grow on me, and now my wife likes the look!!! So my switching to 5A's would be for sonics not looks!!!
samhar
1,048 posts
 
My understanding is that the 2Ce Sig ll are a leaner sound more in line with the wood Quatro. The 3A Sigs have a more Vandesteen house sound and align with the 5A's. I've auditioned the Quatro Wood and liked the 3A Sig 2Wq combo better!
samhar
1,048 posts
 
Rufipennis I'm not knocking the 2Ce Sigs ll some prefer them to the 3A Sigs especially with the 2Wq's. I've heard the 2's, 3's,Quatro Wood and 5A's in the same room with the same equipment at Optimal Enchantment in Santa Monica CA. It was months back that I listened to the 2Ce Sigs ll so I can't compare directly. My opinion there comes from Randy's responses to my questions and other clients questions and opinions as to the 2's & Quatro. The QW is a great speaker, one I could easily live with, it seems "quicker" than the 3's with 2Wq's and less full (one less 8" woofer ?) and it doesn't seem like a mini 5A.
samhar
1,048 posts
 
It seems this was more a hypothetical exercise for personal enjoyment than a physical pursuit of audio equipment. I invest time and energy into answering posts to help someone if I'm able and find this annoying!!!
samhar
1,048 posts
 
"This has been a great exchange of ideas........So, maybe I'll just leave well enough alone for now, and keep on enjoying my system just the way it is. Who knows ?? This crazy hobby of ours certainly is a lot of fun. Take care, ya'all, and Happy Listening. I'll keep you posted".

This is what I addressed!!

That being said it's obvious you love music and I hope you benefit from all the responses!

Enjoy your 2Ce MKll's and here's to improving INNER DETAIL and DYNAMICS!!!
samhar
1,048 posts
 
Adam annoyance gone! Your willingness to stick it out and continue to respond is refreshing, post what happens.
Sam
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