NYC, YES....that's exactly what it was. Sorry I wore jeans and a leather jacket into their store, lol. |
Bob, I LOVE what I have as you know. Heck, if you show me a very current clean bill of health, you can come up when Sam does to listen, lol. He has my server/DAC right now for upgrades and the new cases are close at hand. :) |
The OLED's are another story, lol. That's what I would purchase if I was looking today. No questions about it and that's another reason the plasma's are gone.
I have a hard time not gawking at the speakers as they are so beautiful. I LOVED the wood Treo's. They do such a great job on the cabinets, but paying the extra for this upgraded finish is WELL worth it. For those who feel the Vandersteen's don't look as pretty as some other metal cabinets or polymer ones, you need to see a pair of painted Vandersteen's. As pretty as any cabinet I've seen. The cut and buffing looks even better than what Audi delivers, lol. The cool thing is that you can have any color you want.
The carbon fiber tweeter is the sweetest and most accurate sounding tweeter I've ever heard. The BE or the Diamond sprayed tweeters, to me, just are not as musical. The all have extension, but the extension on these Quatro's is really starting to show what it's going to sound like. There are always milestones in break in for any product. I think that overall, 30 hours and then 100 hours are key times. Then 250 and 500 are the others. I am not timing my break in and I"m doing this on purpose. I have an idea I guess, but I want to hear the differences daily. What I'm finding is that I will start listening early in the day and then by night, I have a totally new system in the room. I don't notice that until I get away for an hour or so and then go back up to hear before I have to turn it off for the night.
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Once I get better light in the room, I'll take the picture. I broke my phone and lost all that I had so I need to start fresh. They have so much metallic flake in the paint, that it's amazing when I put the LED lighting directly on them. It's a copper color, but black. With the black grills, they just melt into the corners of the room. That's why my wife loves them. Anyone can get any color they want. Very cool if you ask me. |
Bob, i knew they would be. I'm SOOOO happy. I told you I wanted them in a good home. |
Guys, it keeps breaking in and getting sweeter and sweeter. I changed back to my Niagara balanced interconnect and the detail opened up in a huge way. I also have a much sweeter sound with that added silver in the path. I eventually will try to get a pair or Wild Blue Yonder AQ interconnects and I may even swap out the CastleRock speaker cable with one of the top of the line tree series as I like an internal biwire and those are thicker gauge. I know dealer with Quatro's who shows with Aspen and said that he may go up to Oak or higher. Music is sweeter and more detailed with the better cables. It's like complete component upgrade and worth it if you can.
What are you guys running your's with? |
Tom, you are going to be stunned based on my listening as well as many friends who have upgraded to his amp. IT's a SICK piece of gear. I only hope that someday maybe we will see a smaller version for the other speakers, lol. A guy can wish can't he? Ha...
Cable do make a big difference. I'm astonished at this, but they must be neutral with such a revealing speaker. I don't understand those who match them with cables that run hot (many do). Most companies don't use silver properly and they sound hot on top, but if you work it properly like AQ has learned as has Cardas, then you have a warmer cable than all copper. That's the reality.
As for fuses, you can open up your amp and install an equal value fuse and you'll be fine. It will change the bass a bit, but honestly, for FREE you can use the pots on the back of your speaker's amp. It's an EQ and it's made to be user friendly. No offense to the fuse guys, but just play with your pots a bit if you want to change the bass eq on your speakers. It's not even hard if you read up, use the Vandertones disc that came with said speakers and then use a meter. Much easier to do with a friend helping, but it's not hard like some want to make it out to be. PLUS it's FREE...
I love that word in audio, lol......Also, listen closely to any changes like that as they change the sound and sometimes it's not for the best in the long run. I know of a few amp makers who purposely DON'T use the special fuses when they easily could. Heck Richard uses tech from the Niagara power deals, HRS for vibration control and the built in DBS from AQ in his top designs. That's a huge part of what separates his designs from others. He aligns himself with the top designers of problem areas of an amp or speaker and then uses them to correct problems that others have in their designs. It's what sets him apart from others and keeps Vandersteen on top of affordable great sound in all price ranges. That's not easy and now you can customize your finish to whatever you want from wood to exotic car finishes and all the paint colors are the same price I believe. :) |
Yup, was scared when he did that, lol. I am enjoying it though. I have to fix a wall in the room and then I'll listen critically. Got home today and more wow. Just love listening to them.
Richard has a deep voice and an opinion. Many take it the wrong way. Guys, he's a pussy cat deep down and a nice guy. Passionate as much as anyone in the hobby/business. He may have 'lectured' you, but it's the way he communicates. My take away has always been that here's a guy on the mount rushmore of audio and he takes our phone calls when needed. WOW. That's rare to say the least. He wants everyone to have the best sounding gear they can afford and over time he's proven that he can do that.
When you think about it, it's too expensive to offer upgrades to the lower priced speakers. He has to charge a mark up to make money and if it takes a couple of hours to undress the speaker, unsolder and screw an older component and then put it all back in place, solder and reinstall the grill, that's going to cost at least 4 or 500. HE only offeres his upgrades to the more expensive speakers. Plus to offer an upgrade, there is shipping which isn't cheap as hey are all full size speakers. What many don't realize is that anytime he makes a change in drivers, he must also change out components in the crossovers too. That's two speakers he has to do it on and for a speaker that costs under 2k or so, it's probably not worth it for anyone in the long run. He also only offers the upgrades to the original owners (you may or may not have been one) when they are offered. Ayre is one of the few who don't have that restriction I believe. There are a couple of others, but most don't even offer an upgrade path still. JMHO |
Wolf, I totally agree with you. For the price of the 1's you basically can get speakers that are very small and missing anything down low or floor standing speaker that just isn't musical or tight. I've even heard the new 1's sound OUTSTANDING with top Ayre gear (yes and it was a fun experience)
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That's cool Wolf. I get it about the cover. I have Quatro's now as I stepped up from the Treo's as the title says. It's designed to keep the grills on. I can honestly say that the Treo's I sold to Bob from these boards have NEVER had their grills removed since they were installed. I have a strong feeling it will be the same for my Quatro's. It's not lame to want to see the drivers, but I owned Proacs for years (many pairs at the same time...long story) and watched the surrounds dry rot on each driver on every pair. I also had a problem with the mid/bass drivers bolts not being able to tighten as the anchors in the MDF became lose. It was a nightmare. I'm just glad that I will never have to worry about that with Richard's speakers, because he builds all to such high standards. Most companies do these days I'm sure. Glad Lyric isn't selling VAndy's anymore as I hate them after being treated so poorly and being told my Ayre AX5/20 sucks and can't compete with the lower priced Sim Moon integrated. It was a wow moment for me in all of my audio listening. I actually went in to hear the DCS Rossini and clock to see if I should save up for it. I'm glad I found it dry compared to the Ayre as they are my 'local' dealer. I'd never buy anything from them ever. |
Yogi, yes the old owners. I dealt directly with the store own in Manhattan. I was in the market for a new DAC and was a real customer. I came down to the city, but didn't call for a special appointment. They made me feel as though they were doing me a favor just letting me in the store. Years ago I purchased a couple of system from them along with a Jadis amp/pre. I hadn't been in there since a divorce in 1999 when I stopped buying new gear.
I told the owner what I was looking for and what I wanted to listen to (the DCS Rossini and clock). He took me to the room on the main floor in the back and asked what gear I owned. I told him an Ayre AX5/20 and an Ayre QX5/20 and Vandersteen Treo's, but I was also going to upgrade to either Quatro's or another speaker in that price range within the next 6 months (I did). He had me listen to a Wilson, Sim Moon integrated and the DCS pieces. It had Nordost cabling. I don't like Wilson as it doesn't have the detail I like and it's not coherent for me. Darryl has done a better job with the soft tweeter and the sound to me is much improved, but it still lacks detail although it's much much warmer than before. I fully get what Wilsonites love about their speakers. I actually understand why anyone likes the gear they own. It's audio and there are no rights for wrongs. Just our opinions.
I have never liked Sim Moon gear as for ME, it doesn't convey the warmth, pace and rhythm I love and need. Again, that's just me. He completely tore down my love of my own gear and told me how badly Ayre sucks and how he was a dealer and dropped them. He trashed my gear during the second phase of the sales process (5 steps total no matter what 'guru's' want to call them) which is fact finding (which also builds the relationship). WOW was I put on the defensive. I know that many audiophiles don't deep down have the guts to listen to what they love. I know many depend on being told what is good or bad and he surely is the sales guy who tells folks what to like. Either way I still had an open mind to the DCS as I was told by good friends how great it is and that I should go listen again. I have heard the full stack on many occasions and found it to be too dry for MY tastes. Highly detailed and it does some stuff really well, but it hasn't been for ME. I was serious about the Rossini/clock though as it seemed like a winner based on reviews and threads I was reading. Again, trying to keep an open mind (I never would have owned the Vandersteen's if I didn't have an open mind as I didn't like what I heard at my dealer in the 90's. Bruce just never set them up correctly and didn't understand rake angle etc...).
Well, I listened for a bit, but realized that it wasn't my cup of tea still. I wanted to hear a few more things they had in the store and I was the only one there at this point (mid afternoon when stores aren't quite as busy as on a weekend). He ushered me out in a hurry when I told him that the sound in that room wasn't what I loved. I was really nice when saying it and never trashed any of the units or anything. He was just a total prick the whole time and made me feel like I was wasting his time. I know some on this board think I'm a shill for Johnny Rutan at Audio Connections, but I'm anything but that. I have said repeatedly that I purchase from many different vendors. I almost always go brick and mortar though as I believe in that business model and in the end, I don't may anymore for the quality of sound that I have than I would if I went mail order or even used at times (although I do buy used too like so many of you guys do).
I will bring up terrible experiences and I know of many others who I'm friends with who can say the same thing about Lyric. Just old fashion snobs that are in it for the money and not the listener, unless said listener has the bucks in their mind. Funny thing is that I've made purchases of over 40k for my system SINCE that visit to Lyric and all from different dealers. Some gear I've had in was returned or resold as I didn't like it once in my system. He lost potential sales, but he obviously didn't care. Big name, small heart. Stupid business model. OH well...
Loving the Quatro's. So happy I got them. Just easy to go listen to music. |
Bob, for 7k more or so, it's a huge difference. By upgrading to the built in subs, you get a much much more dynamic system with huge depth and it frees up my amp so it only has to handle 100hz on up. It's a killer speaker AND it makes the amp better. I personally love an active system if implemented properly. Doesn't mean that all active systems are great as some I've heard are still too bright for my ears or when done in the digital domain, it masks the sound a bit and throws it off. This is why I personally don't like speakers like Persona and some others that are using DSP. I have personally never heard any DSP sound as good as without.
Bottom line is that it's smoother and more natural. Those Treo's you have are outstanding. The tweeter difference is big, but in an incremental way not a night and day per say. |
Dentdog, placement of the Vandersteen semi actives are very very easy. That's why I needed the Quatro. The bass has that eq and it allows you to set them up where they sound best and then you dial in the bass. It takes a little time, but it's fairly easy (with two people it's quicker) and sounds GREAT. Huge difference in a difficult room like mine. |
renter, GREAT way to put it. I try to say what you said about amp and room, but you are much better than I on the keyboard, lol. Thanks |
You can get the Quatro's when I get a new speaker if he ever makes one in my lifetime, lmao....:) |
Oh, and when my Juice Plus business grows even more! |
Tom, you do crap me up. I was never a huge Dynaco fan. Had them twice, but got a nice CJ rig instead and realized how bad some of the other gear really was, lol. Sorry, had to. I know how much flac I'm about to receive, but who cares. Had to say that. lol |
Not surprised as you saw in my post. That's a nice amp. Runs fairly hot like all Class A stuff, but it's a good match I would think. Never heard it with that specific speaker, but....since you love it, that's all that matters anyways, lol. :) |
You can do it if the high current is there. Double the wattage of a tube amp and then put it back a SS. With the powered bass I can see it being plenty in a regular room. |
Tom, I don't know many who ever tax that amp. lol...even the engineer of another super amp (don't have permission to use his name, but their mono's double into like 1 ohm) was telling me that it's got as much headroom as any of the super amps costing a ton more. Well engineered gear should work like that. |
Congrats on the new Quatro's. Ricks. Johnny is a cool cat. |
Bella Fleck
Dire Straits Private Investigator and Telegraph Road are well recorded tracks and I love the songs. It shows off how fast the mid range driver is. That's the actual foundation of that fast upper and mid bass that we love in a 'fast' speaker. So many don't realize that the mid is so important to set up everything else. That's why it's even more critical than the tweeters, but so many other companies just sell us on their tweeter or their metal or plastic cabinets etc... To me, this is why I love the Vandersteen line as it's like a point source and the cohesion is there that it missing on so many of the other major players/names to MY EARS. Not putting others down as some folks loved the others. It's all good as long as we are happy. We do need to talk about favorite recordings and the emotions they bring us. That's why I think so many audiophiles care a bit more about components than the music.
Since getting the Quatro's I am now listening to a lot of high res, well recorded orchestral music I never would have listened to. It was on my server when I purchased it and was used in demonstrations for Empirical Audio at their shows (if you ever heard their rooms, you probably have heard my personally server, lol). I think it's because I now know what it's like to have a true full range speakers. I know the 5 and 7 take that to a bigger and deeper level and it's just so important when listening.
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Johnny has the Nola stand mounts. I'm not a fan of those, but I have heard their largest one and it was nice. I didn't get to spend enough time to really make an informed decision for my ears though, lol. |
Funny you posted this as I have done the same type of thing. I always go through and know what's going to vibrate and I try to move it around.
Lot's of good listening lately. I need to post thoughts when I have a chance. I've been getting lost in my listening and not posting as much. That's a great thing, lol. I do need to upgrade cables finally. I can hear the differences as I"ve put different ones in and out of the system. I really really need to get a new Audioquest USB Diamond cable. Nothing less will be as warm and detailed. I also think I may be wanting to move from the Niagara balanced interconnect up to a Wild Blue Yonder if I can afford it. I think the differences will be very very noticeable. Time to start saving as I can't afford to do that now. I surely don't NEED to, I WANT to, because these are THAT revealing. Crazy as I didn't expect this to be THAT big an upgrade from the Treo, but it really is. The Treo was exceptional and for the price, to my ears, is as good a value buy as you can get under 15k, but going up to the Quatro's, it's another league I"m playing in now. I never expected to get this type of sound in my home due to cost, but if I was doing it all over again, I'd go with Quatro's and build a system around them. You can start with good, but not the top components and you will max those out. Then you can upgrade one by one as you can afford it and it's like getting an even better and better system. That's why a great speaker should do for you. Back to listening . |
Bob, same room. Yes, they are close to the corners and I'm building a portable wall for the staircase that's next to it. I will be making that soon, but I have a temp deal there now. I'm sure that it's not the best sound wise, but once I get the perm solution in there, it will be fine. I'm going to probably use the green glue to bond two 3/4" drywall pieces together and dress it up with nice wood surrounding the edges. As long as I can do it and not have it vibrate I can make it work. I'm liking the larger soundstage we like that it's not way in the room.
Ayre installed the crossover in the AX5/20 for me Bob. No outside box or pigtails. I can have them take it out when I go to sell it or sell it with the Quatro's if I ever upgrade. |
Love all the woods. I build furniture for fun and have worked with many cool figured woods. If I had done the wood Quatro’s, I would have asked Richard’s veneer guy if I could just send him a flinch of the wood that I wanted. I have a great veneer guy (the one he uses is as good as it gets btw) so I could have chosen the most figured, quilted type. I also thought about asking if the could do a carbon fiber look for the Quatro’s. I wonder if folks would want to have painted cabinets and show off a bit of the carbon fiber that the 7’s are made of?
I do love the fact that for an uncharge, you can chose any auto paint on the market. I know a dealer who’s next 7’s will be in Ferrari Red with a matching amp. Very cool if you ask me, but I love the Havana Black.
Interesting on the WEL as I spoke with someone yesterday who said he may send me a pair to see if I like it or not. I need a new USB cable first and foremost. I LOVE the Diamond. I do wish I had the TotalDac cable to try out with the Diamond though. That would be an interesting listen. I’ve heard the TotalDac cable in the past and LOVED it. So far, those have been my two favorite cables.
I was told the WEL cables will be the most revealing you can get, but with gobs of warmth. Interesting that they weren't for you. Maybe the Wild or WBY would be best. |
Thanks for the kind words on my woodworking Bob. As you know I only took it up about 6 years ago. Just fun stuff.
I'm waiting on cables, but MUST get an AQ Diamond USB as soon as possibly as I am not getting the most out of my server. Not even close.
As for too much of a good thing, not with the Quatro/Ayre system I have going Bob. The more I get, the better it's sounding. |
In my system it's a huge leap. Warmer more organic and much more detail. There is a reason for the price difference imho. That said the Carbon is one of the top cables to me in its range and higher. I'd take it any day over some of the 500 plus USB cables. Jmho |
Mr M and I are on the same page, lmao. Bob was teasing, that's for sure. Bob knows how happy we are, but IF an upgrade is worth it, then we figure out if we can or will afford it. Personally, I love the sound of the Diamond cable. I will also use a Diamond ethernet cable when I get my full system and network set up. It's all worth it, lol. |
1. not sure. What year are they?
2. his speakers have always been so neutral and the threes will move more air than the Treo's, just don't expect to get the same tightness etc... Compared to much of the stuff out there now days, I personally feel the soundstage is as good or bigger and that's on the older ones.
3. As far as separation, 8' is fine. Just go to the site and make sure you set them up properly with the proper tilt back. They will sound like a point source and are time and phase correct as you know, so they won't smear. That will give you the layering of any genre you want.
The newer the better IMHO. They will make changes and not change the nomenclature of the speaker, so a 20 year old 3 isn't your best buy. I'd much rather have a newer 2 that has the newer drivers that filtered down from the original Quatro's. THAT would be a good deal. If it's not that, personally, I'd try to save for a pair of new 2's, but that's still more. I'm sure that you will get a good deal within your budget and get a great speaker. If you know the serial numbers, sometimes they can help you on their site in the ask Richard area.
Please keep up posted. |
Feel free to get in touch with me if u want to talk. Ctsooner@alumni.ou.edu |
Tom, as usual we are in total agreement. No question that the base is essential. I don't know any owners who don't agree with that either. I heard the newest 2's with that 1900 Belles integrated amp. What a system starter. Synergy is always important. |
Been too busy with other peoples stuff lately. Been doing a lot of listening just to relax, lol. I have to get pics up, I know. It will be one at a time as they are so far apart, lol.
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I have pics and wanted to share as I know some have asked to see. Where do I share them? |
Oh, ok, I'll try there. Thanks. |
I am trying to post them on my system's page. Bear with me. |
Ok, I think I updated my system and put the right pics in. Please let me know if you guys can see it under my system. Thanks.
I removed my Basis 1400 TT with Benz Glider, Aesthetix Rhea (recently updated with new power supply and tubes), ultrasonic cleaner (never used), AQ Water balanced 2m cable (maybe 1.5m) and the custom TT isolation platform as I'm going to sell all of them. If Bob had seen the vinyl gear and can vouch that I take good care of my stuff. |
Hi admin! lol. Thanks for getting back on that. It's rare to see that on a large forum like this. :) |
I try Bob, lol. I need to get over to get everything posted. Been busy getting my car ad up and going today, lol. It must be Spring.....cleaning time. |
really? That would be cool, lol. |
