Hi Rayhall; The Vand. 3A sigs. are great-- and with a broad range of music. I had my 3As upgraded to Signatures last summer and noticed more crispness and detail but the overall character is the same-- relaxed, musical, and (I think) with very good bass. In the words of one audiogon responder "the Vandersteen 3As are about $5000. undervalued"-- I agree. Vandersteen speakers are attractive, but they are not expensive furniture.
Alon 5 vs Vandersteen 3A Signatures vs ?
I am interested in getting a full range loudspeaker system and would like to spend not much more than $6000 new, $3000 used. I like quite a solid, but not boomy bass, a musical but smooth midrange and sweet,airy highs. What others would describe as "tight" deep bass in my opinion doesn't exist in live music. Speakers which fall into this category are Verity Parsifal's and Audio Physic Libra and Virgo. I hate terribly bright or harsh sounding upper mids or highs. Having not auditioned a lot of speakers, in a long time until recently, I find that few speakers, at any price, deliver the kind of deep bass response which I like. I think I have heard quite a number of the speakers out there in this price range as well as above and below, including Audio Physic Virgo and Libra, Hales Revelation 3, Verity Parsifal, JM Labs Mezzo Utopia, Avalon Opus, Revel Salon and Studio, Magnepan 1.6, Wilson Watt Puppy, Sonus Faber Homage, B+W 802, and 804 and Proac 2.5. None of these speakers do it for me. I have yet to listen to Alon line of loudspeakers. I am particularly interested in the Alon 5. A competing dealer, who doesn't sell Alon told me that the 5 is extremely bright. I don't believe him since he had no interest in seeing me buy something he couldn't sell. I am also interested in the Vandersteen 3A Signature. I am very familiar with the Vandersteen 3 which is the only speaker that I have auditioned which has the type of deep bass capability anywhere near my price range. Although I find the bass a little heavy on the 3, I would take it anyway. However, I find the midrange of the 3 less than transparent. Since the midrange is the most important frequency range, that is why I have not bought a 3 or 3A. Does anyone have experience with the Vandersteen 3A signature or the Alon line (particularly the Alon 5)? Can anyone explain the sound of the Vandersteen 3A signature and/or Alon's vs. the Vandersteen 3? Did they improve the midrange/high end with the new tweeter in the 3A Signatures? My amps are Plinius SA-100 Mk III and Pass Aleph 4. My pre-amp is CAT SL-1 Ultimate. Any matching problems with the Alon 5 or Vandersteen 3A? Any detailed description which you can provide will be much appreciated. Thanks,
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