Aerial 7T/6 vs Vandersteen Quatro/Treo/2Ce Sig II

My first recommendation would be to not buy speakers going just by reviews. If you end up with something you like it will be more of an accident than anything else.

Given the choices you list, I would go with the Model 2's. I have them in my main system and know them very well. If you match your components well and set them up properly, they will sound amazing. The Quatro and Treo are also very good but I like the Vandersteen's that don't have a traditional box. You'll save a lot of money also. The 2's will do most things better that the Aerials. The Aerials will play louder and go a little deeper in the bass.

JonnyR,

Thanks for the compliment. I have a great deal of respect for you and your store. I'll definitely stop by and listen to the new CT.

Knghifi,

"I have 2 friends using Vandersteen 2's and every time I listen to them, I want to rip the sock out of the drivers. It's muffled, peaky ... can't stand them."

Good call. No one uses socks to tune speakers anymore. They probably didn't even wash them with the special soap for best thread consistency. Vandersteen gives you much better setup options. Why don't you go over and remove the socks, position the speaker, set the back tilt using the formula Vandersteen gives you and make any necessary adjustments to the 2 gain settings on the back of the crossover. Show your friends how to set them up right. They'll thank you for it.

Knghifi,

I'm glad to see you didn't take post too seriously. I wasn't sure because it took you a while to respond. Unfortunately, my comments on Vandersteen setup holds true in many cases. So many people who have them fail to get the best out of them because of it. (Just to be clear, I'm not trying to fault you or invalidate your opinion in any way. Your take on the speakers is just as valid as mine. I'm just saying that poor setup is possible reason you, or your friends, didn't get optimal results. Nothing more.)

"I got the same advice on my Bose 201. After setup, it destroyed KAISER KAWERO."

Just think how good it would of sounded if you had a pair. By the way, who's KAISER KAWERO?

Geek101,

I won't tell you how to spend you money, but I would suggest you rethink your approach. Going by reviews and opinions alone is no way to buy equipment. I know that for a lot of people, demoing audio equipment is not always easy. I say that even it is a big inconvenience, do it anyway. Its worth it. Think of not only how long it took to earn the money, but the amount of time invested in research and education on your part. You owe it to yourself to get it right. Personally, I won't hesitate to make a long trip if I have to. I guarantee you that the system you build in your head won't be the system that ends up in your listening room if you do otherwise. I know from experience.