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Anyone care to share their opinion of the Vandersteen 2ce sig mkII?

I've been searching the speaker discussions and have found many comments.  But wondering if anyone would like to chime in about the mkII specifically.  I have a pair in my room for the last month and have done extensive comparisons to my Snell type D and Maggie LRS.  They certainly are very good speakers!  They image and soundstage really well.  They also have good tonal balance and range.  I can see why some say they are the best value around.  But, there is something bugging me about them that I am trying to nail down. 

For 2ce owners, what do you like best about the speakers?  What are you using to drive them?  

For those who have auditioned and passed on them, what was it you did not enjoy about them?  

This is a tough decision to be sure!  But, I can't keep another set of speakers, especially ones of this size.  More listening to come as I try to sort my thoughts.  

All opinions welcome

pkatsuleas

Showing 4 responses by holmz

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

I have an older model, and they are sensitive to placement in the room.

They are pretty easy to drive though, and I have been through 5 different amps, with 1 failing after 10+ years, and 2 other temporary jobs, and a couple of tube amps.

I would review the set up instructions on the web site, and/or hit the Vandy forum.

If you can try an intimate what is bugging you, that could possibly help to ameliorate the cause.

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

Also, they are designed to placed close to the front wall (within 12")  so the rear-facing acoustic coupler can actually work.

^maybe for a party^.

Setup starts on page 5.
https://www.vandersteen.com//media/files/Manuals/2cesignatureiiimanualprintcopy121121.pdf

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

But, there is something bugging me about them that I am trying to nail down. 

When on a trip 20 years we were discussing wines that we had tasted earlier. And our favourite one of the day was a Super Tuscan style, which I described as “there is nothing wrong with it”.
The others had super jammy, or this or that, which made them stand out.

If you had some particular songs that give you the bugging feeling, then it could help.
But it is possible that the the bugging feeling is a lack of something overly sharp and exciting?

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

It did good things for the bass of course but I didn't like what that did to the imaging. I am somewhat limited with width getting them max of 7' on center. The room has some treatments with fairly thick floor to ceiling corner traps and first reflection points.

I've moved them around quite a bit as well as my seating position. After app. 6 weeks of listening and experimenting I find that the issue is in the midrange. It is always a little dry and lacking of warmth or sufficient tone. At times even being a bit shouty to my ears. In the end, I think they just are not my cup o tea. Maybe it's my room, not sure. I doubt it's my Hegel or Rogue amps. Could be just be my ears getting older!

I would be looking for a used Vandy 2W (subwoofer) and then you can keep them away from the wall, and still have the sub on the corner for bass.

Maybe dialing the pots on the back of the speakers to find some tone control?

Is it possible that the room was treated with wider dispersion speakers, and now appears to be over damped with the tighter dispersion? And do the treatments do the midrange, or mostly the high freqs?

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