Initial impressions of my new Vandersteen Quatro's in Audi Havana Black


I will post pics when I get more time on them.  I had them delivered and set up by Johnny Rutan of Audio Connections.  He moved them out to the corners of the room and close up against the back wall. I love the look as does my wife.  I also LOVE the HUGE soundstage these things can now throw.  NO SUCK OUT either.  I was shocked at that aspect. I was scared to death when he started them in the corner of the room. I have a very difficult room for bass as it's an open floor plan. I lose a lot of bass on the right channel as it's by a stair case.  I'm putting up a temp wall by the railing.  I am using a screen right now, but I need treatment of some sort still. 

That said, it only has about 30 hours or so and it's already starting to sweeten up.  I'm hearing so many things that I haven't heard in the room before.  I'm hearing bass passages that hasn't been there before.  On one passage of a  Bela Fleck song, the room just moved.  The thing is that I've heard so many of these songs on Wilson's and Magico's and B&W"s and Focals, Paradigms, Legacy's and so many other speakers, but the tonality of the Vandersteen bass is just special.  It's so accurate. What so many don't know is that the way he designed the bass amp, you still have the same sound as YOUR main amp.  Not sure how he does it, but he does.  You don't hear the difference. 


I think that the reason some don't get the Vandersteen's at first listen is because it's not like other speakers.  We aren't used to hearing a speaker that isn't 'hifi' sounding.  Its very organic. To me, it's like analog vs digital.  Both can sound GREAT, but digital is still digital and that's why vinyl and reel to reel are still going strong after all of these years.  Kind of reminds me of a plasma TV vs the LCD TV's when I went to purchase mine.  I was originally taken by the brightest TV's in the showroom, but I keep going back and watching all the Plasma's in the darker room that Magnolia was showing them in.  I wanted the Pioneer, but could only afford the Panasonic's. I have two of them and love them.  People actually ask me why their TV doesn't look as good.  I first ask if they had it calibrated professionally.  The answer is always no and then tell them it's a plasma.  

Set up isn't fun for me, so Johnny does it for me.  I'm digging my new set up and will write more later, but i am Jonesing to go up to the loft to listen some more.  I'm really loving the organic sounds of my system right now.  All genres too which is just awesome.  Not taking any digs at others systems, just loving mine.  We all hear differently and I get that.
ctsooner
CT
i might have a good home for the Basis, arm, cart....
send me a msg on FB messanger
Darth's Dad...
Regarding John Rutan at Audio Connection, my two cents are these:  he is the most honest, patient, informative and compassionate dealer I have ever experienced in my 45+ years of living this hobby / passion.  

The 3A's were my second pair of Vandersteens, after my 2Cs.  I had them upgraded to the Signature, enjoyed them for another ten years and decided to move up to the Quatros.  I couldn't swing a new pair, so wound up finding a pair (rarely see pre-owned available) on this website.  It turns out they had been purchased at Audio Connection.  

I live on the West Coast, but had met John, via the telephone, when I was interested in a used Audio Research preamp he was selling.  In fact, I even placed a bid on it.  Afterward, I realized it was a line stage only, no phono section.  I panicked and picked up the phone.  He was so gracious and told me, "don't worry, no problem; we want you to get the right thing."

Fast forward a couple years.  When I discovered the Quatros, I had a lengthy conversation with the owner.  One of the last things I asked him was if he still had the boxes.  Turned out he only had part of the containers, but suggested that John may be able to help.  When I called John, (mind you, I wasn't buying them from him) to ask for help with obtaining a full set of boxes, he replied "just tell Brian to bring them to the shop, we'll get them packed up and shipped out to you."  A retailer who is going out of his way to facilitate a transaction that is not even in his business!  For a ridiculously nominal fee, John packed both Quatros in the original containers, strapped them to a pallet (just as Richard does at the factory) and sent them out to me, at the going ground rate.

In the last five years, since their arrival, I have had numerous, lengthy conversations with John regarding set up and tweaking.  I could go on and on .........
@spe .
Great post.
It just goes to show that when you 'do the right thing', the world is a better place.

Bob
How fun and a great resurrection of a thread....
Johnny R is indeed a treasure:-)