That was enlightening ebm...
Looking For Advice After Dumb Vandy Purchase
Good evening fellow enthusiasts. Looking for advice after just making a stupid purchasing error. I usually do good research before making any transaction but I fell in love hard and got burned.
Just paid for some used Vandersteen Quatro for a "decent" price but failed to notice the purchase dis not include the crossovers. I live in the boonies so dont have a dealer handy to maybe just make my gear work without the crossovers, and it seems now the cost of new ones are a staggering $1295.00. This was for sure not in my budget as I am needing a couple of other pieces to complete this puzzle. Worse yet...once I take delivery of the Quatros...I wont have a way to even give them the once over sound wise to make sure they sound fine.
Any advice? I am bummed beyond all get out at this moment.
Just paid for some used Vandersteen Quatro for a "decent" price but failed to notice the purchase dis not include the crossovers. I live in the boonies so dont have a dealer handy to maybe just make my gear work without the crossovers, and it seems now the cost of new ones are a staggering $1295.00. This was for sure not in my budget as I am needing a couple of other pieces to complete this puzzle. Worse yet...once I take delivery of the Quatros...I wont have a way to even give them the once over sound wise to make sure they sound fine.
Any advice? I am bummed beyond all get out at this moment.
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Yes, I got the cloth pair. The seller has been kind and he threw in some other stuff to help me offset the issue. It wasn't clearly stated but its more on me for my lack of due diligence. Its gonna be all good. Juat excited now. I just went ahead and ordered a new pair of crossovers. I didn't want to wait for a used pair and didn't want to riak a failed DIY project. I have heard Quatros before and I think the 150s will be a good match. |
“ I would never use any quality cap as a high-pass that is not biased! There is a reason coupling caps have gone bye bye unless they are biased in the circuit (typical of tube circuits). A coupling cap at line level never sees more voltage than the signal provides so the cap never forms properly in order to become transparent. The required high-pass is 100Hz. “ Richard Vandersteen
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First, I don't think as a "dumb Vandy purchase", having owned 2C's as my entre to this crazy hobby and later Quatro's. They are really great speakers. If you only plan to use one amplifier, then you don't need the configurability that the Vandy crossovers offer, and a DIY mod to the amp input could be very cost effective. I honestly contemplated doing just that when I owned the Quatro's, mostly so I could optimize the capacitor selection for my system and tastes. I would think it incumbent upon any good Audiogoner to clearly spell out that the speakers do not come with the customary Vandy crossovers. If it wasn't positively declared by the Seller, well then, shame on him. That's less than ethical, in my book. |
So I am guessing you bought the Quattro cloth pair off of Audiogon that were advertised with an ARC integrated with modifications to insert the correct value caps to effect the high pass. They were advertised that way for a reason. the M5 does have bypassed WIMA, DBS battery, and normally AudioQuest fire or better pigtails and DIP switches so it works with just about any amplifier. Pretty sure you can’t diy and save $1,200... must be the new math. you should be calling Vandersteen and IMO modify the Rogues ( which btw sound fantastic w Quattro ) Richard can tell you what cap he uses in his $55k monoblocks lots of super high end gear w WIMA caps bypassed correctly - see Aesthetix, Brinkmann, etc Vandersteen since 1977 for a reason |
If the M-150's input impedance is 200kohm, a 0.008uF or 0.01uF cap
as a high pass filter
will work. http://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/High-pass-filter-calculator.php#answer1 |
cost of new ones are a staggering $1295.00.https://img.usaudiomart.com/uploads/large/1141365-a2834c09-vandersteen-m5hp-crossover.jpg If you can find the schematic, you can clone one and save $1200 |
Does anyone have a schematic of the crossover? I know I can figure one out from there. For 1200 dollars a pop.. I'd be looking, and building, my own. I'm sure there is a workaround and from the pic I saw.. AND better than factory.. Full of Wima caps, from what I saw...They are good stuff, BUT, there is a better cap for certain applications in a crossover, no doubt. The straps are inline filters too? If so... that's PA stuff... Lots of options there... I saw an XO called "Sirl's Killer" too. Seems to be an alternative. Danny at GR research... He may have something... Regards |
Thanks for the kind words everyone! I will be running an AR pre for now (can get the model number in the morning as its boxed up) and my monoblocks are Rouge M150s. The seller has been really nice, but in the end I should have done more research even though the ad is a tiny bit misleading. I will constsnt Johnny tomorrow. Jackd...maybe that is an option as well. I will let you know. Thanks everyone! |
What amp are you going to be using with the Quatro's? I've got five pair of SE inline filters of different values for a mint pair of 2W's I don't use anymore. Maybe we can work something out if you know what value you will need and I have that value. We can just go up one value to get the crossover point to the needed 100 hz. |
Yes you must roll off bass via the external filter placed between the preamp and power amp!!! Running the mid bass unit in the Quattro without the filter will damage them! The Quattro and up in the Vandy line have an external filter that is adjustable for the input impedence of your amplifier to attain correct crossover frequency- Vandersteen is open and you can with consultation get some lower quality in line filters until you can get the M5HP. You can also modify or have modified with proper value components your power amp to effect the high pass function. Call factory !!!! |
You’re not dumb Brother. Sounds like you got burned and taken advantage of. Someone with knowledge of the quatros will chime in soon enough! Were the crossovers removed from the speakers? Or do they have external crossovers? Im ignorant to the quatros but this sounds confusing to me as well. Maybe there was a misunderstanding and that you’ll be just fine. Wait until delivery to really find out! |