Magnepan, Ohm, Spatial or ??

@corwlli Yep.  I can move the chair. 

Yes, keep the dog. *S*  They generally have better taste then their 'umans.  If they sleep through a session, that's good.
If they 'lift leg' (Sunny, our f/m, can do both...a real 'switch hitter'), then lose the speakers...*L*

Her 'aim' is remarkably accurate, BTW....;)

That's good.  I have a speaker in transit that might be your ticket.  So be patient for one week and I'll get back to you.

At the XFI Premium show in Holland last year I heard Spatial sounding good and also PAP (pureaudioproject)  I spoke to the owner/designer Ze'ev from Israel at length. He produces a 2-way open baffle design with the ability to swap the high frequency module.

I see he now builds a smaller unit compared to the D'apollito style he started with. Of course these, Spatial and PAP, were in different rooms with different electronics so I can't say which I preferred except to say both were very good. PAP will also provide drivers for the DIYers out there.

https://www.pureaudioproject.com/
https://audioxpress.com/article/fresh-from-the-bench-meet-the-pureaudioproject-trio15-heil-amt-speak...

I’m ready to try/buy a pair of Vandersteen 2Ce Sig. III.
Only place I can find them is MusicDirect and the only color is mahogany. Go for it?

Or get the Signature II? Don't know anything about the upgrades to the III.

Color preference? Can't tell much from my monitor. 

soundchasr, good listening with the Vandys'.

Hope they fullfill your desires...*S*👍

Regards and best, J

I may be in the minority here but I strongly prefered the Vandy 1ci over the 2ce in two rooms in my house that are similar in size as yours. I made the mistake of thinking bigger is bettter. I suspect if you go with the 2's, the bass will quickly overload your room.

I also agree with the recommendation to take a road trip. If you come to NJ you can demo both the Vandy's at Audio Connection in Verona, NJ and the Ohms in Brooklyn, NY. 

You will learn a lot in the process and be in a much better postion to gauge what you want. 

Good luck!

I was wondering about the room size (19x13x8) and 2ce.

Right now, with the Onix RS750s, I don't have much bass at all in this room.  Was thinking the 2Ce would fix that..... 

ok, I thought your room was 10x13. You should be ok then.

Not familiar with those Vandy models but have heard Treos I believe it was in a much larger room in a mid room setup and liked those very much.

Matching speakers to room especially bass levels is important. You can always add more bass via subs if needed but too much is harder to deal with.

Soundscape in Baltimore is a dealer I am familiar with that has sold Vandersteen for many years. I believe they sold Ohm Walsh prior as well I was told back in the 80s prior to direct sales only when Ohm was still sold through an independent dealer network that went under largely and almost took ohm with them.


You might give them a ring and see what they may offer. I see several Vandy models on their sale website page.

Here is the room:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Sz9oaHmHUxrK2wat5

With that room I would get Ohms and forget it. Measure the cubic feet and get the right speaker. If the bass is a little weak or to much  for your tastes there is a switch behind the binding cups you can adjust.

If you get to the Audio Connection in NJ they carry both Maggie's and Vandy's I'm sure Johnny will give you an awesome demo.

Will the new speakers have to be in the same corner location?


Corner placement like that provides a big bass boost so keep that in mind.

Also early reflections work against soundstage and imaging when speakers are very close to walls.

So you have a double whammy with the current speaker placement

Often when placement options are constrained, less can be be more.

In that room, with very close to corner placement, in the Ohm Line, I would keep it small, along the lines of Microwalsh. If needed add a sub later. That gives you some flexibility in adjusting the bass levels.

Neither Ohms, Vandys, Maggies or Spatial are designed to go directly in corners. Other more conventional and more forward firing directional designs would frankly work better. Best thing would be to have the discussion about your room with John Strohbeen if you have not had that already.

If you can go out just a another foot or two or three into the room then that opens up more options.

The Ohms can work well with only a foot or so to walls, so some space from corners/walls is needed but not a lot.

I have never seen Vandersteens set up near corners, usually more towards the center of rooms/walls, so you might want to check that.

Maggies will be very compromised that close to rear wall though side walls matter less.

Spatial not sure about those either in corners....

Another good option might be just smaller monitor speakers on short isolating stands like Isoacoustics, similar to the Vanatoo setup in my wife’s sunroom (less is more in that room as well due to lively acoustics and limitations in placement). That would be very inobstrusive and provide more flexibility in placement perhaps. Also add a sub in this case afterwards perhaps but only if needed.

I can definitely move the speakers into the room.  I have the current speakers in the corner because I was trying to increase the bass (was that wrong?).  

So, it sounds like the group is leaning more towards Ohms vs. Vandersteens? :-) 

No corners will deliver more bass so that is right.

Those speakers (what are they?) appear more directional/forward firing so soundstage and imaging might work OK there.

It is always a tradeoff....walls/corners deliver more bass but early reflections kill soundstage and imaging. For the best of both, speakers must be somewhat away from walls (how much varies by design based on dispersion pattern) and deliver proper bass levels there.  Using a separate, adjustable  powered sub with crossover to handle the lower octaves provides flexibility.

They are Onix Rocket RS750 Sig.

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/rocket-loudspeakers-onix-rs750-rsc200-rs250-and-rss300-loudspeakers

Amp is Jolida 1501 Hybrid (tube pre).  
Source is Flac through Roon, Topping D70.

Thanks for suggestion.  

I'd really like to try and Ohms and compare with Vandy but Ohms are 4-5 months out.  I guess I could buy them and wait until they are in and then order the Vandy's right before they arrive to compare.  BUT I HATE WAITING.  :-) 

Yeah I know waiting is no fun.

Microwalsh do come up used on occasion if you keep an eye out.   They are small and easy to ship so there is maybe that.  1000s or older 100s are just a tad larger.

Just talked to Ohm again.  They say probably 2-3 months now. I may do what I mentioned above: order the Ohm and Vandy and compare in 2-3 months. 

Now to pick some reasonably priced speaker wire.  :-)

You are ignoring Spatial Audio at your own peril.........

LOL.  

Ozzy, I agree!

My wife tried to meet up with Paul at Anticable today (as she's in MN for a couple days) to listen to M3s but it didn’t work out. Trying again tomorrow.

All 3 are good. 
Get a pair of each!  🤑

If I could figure how to get them here all at the same time, I'd probably do it.  Only way to really compare them.

Just talked to John at Ohm.  He really thinks I need to consider the Walsh 1000 and that the 2000s would be too much.  I'll take his word for it.  Think I'm going to order them tomorrow .....and possibly a few others....

JS is the expert but in lieu of his calculator I was thinking no larger than 1000s in there.


Another cool thing about Ohm Walsh is that room size determines how big and how much. They all sound similar set up well.

I have a set of Ohm 1000s and love 'em. No problem with bass or volume in my setting.

What size room?

John is great and knows his speakers.  I tend to think he sizes "one" down.  BUT I like bass a bit (not crazy, but I do like it).

Also, if you are in a basement, or on a concrete floor that can really change the bass response.  I have speakers that if they are on my second or third floor - almost boomy.  In my finished basement... tight, punchy bass.  

Not sure I would be afraid of the 2000's... 

I've got wood floors.  If the 1000's don't work I assume I could just get the 2000s.

The question is whether the 2Ce's are too big for the room......

On upper levels I put my ohm 100s on Auralex subdude pads to tame the bass compared to foundation level. 
Isolation from suspended plywood floors is almost always a good idea IMHO. 

I interchange Maggies and Ohms with room corrected subs. The presentation is just different.  With some material I prefer the Maggies, but for most it’s Ohm.   The biggest difference  (to my ear) is the weight and body that the Ohms deliver.  On massed voices (for example), the Ohms are dramatically more realistic sounding (again MHO)

Auralex subdude pads

Oh good. More stuff to buy.  :-) 
Looks like a good idea.  

room corrected subs

@martykl What subs? 

A pair of 12” Rhythmik subs with Audyssey DRC

Ohms are very special speakers, IF you can give them the breathing space they need. If not, I’d go with a good electrostatic or panel speaker 

off-topic:

Dog #2 is a brindle! *VBS*  Ours is a Plott/Pitt mix, smart and loves everyone.  Loves anything edible more...;)

Happy to see the Ohms are still in contention....

My original Ohm Walsh 2s don't need any breathing space but I give it to them. Panels? They need a lot of room away from walls. Just my experience.

The placement of a speaker is critical to its sound. The idea is not to equalize or change the characteristics of the speaker by placing it in different positions,but to get the speaker to interact as little as possible with the room.
The Larsens speakers where designed in a real house in a real room.
You should take advantage of their risk free trial period.
For more info Drvinyl.net or Audioskies

@asvjerry three dogs. Two Danes and one Mastiff. They absorb a lot of sound... and food.

Talked to Richard Vandersteen last night. He was not helpful - told me to get the Treo CT. LOL.

My wife couldn’t get to Anticables this week to see the Spatials so going to try again in 2 weeks.

Ordered the Ohm 1000s.  Three month turnaround according to John.  He's sending color samples.  

Ohms are very special speakers, IF you can give them the breathing space they need. If not, I’d go with a good electrostatic or panel speaker

 You won't be any better off with a panel speaker. They need as much or more breathing room than most others.

Oz

@martykl 
Do you find the subs are necessary with the Ohms? Or just a preference?  Wondering if I should be looking at subs.

I should have plenty of room, don't you think?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TBakr2TnzCuo4ZH16

Ohm Walsh actually need less distance to walls than many others.  They are specifically designed for that by default. 

They will do a wall to wall sound stage normally so giving them room to breathe does have benefit in that sense.