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My Venture into Hifi with Vandersteen Model 1

First off I must truly say how much I love this form and the wealth of information, the members provide. I was lucky to pick up a pair of Vandersteen Model 1 Speakers for a prayer. Lets say they were almost given away. The aesthetics of the speakers are I would have to say about a 9, seems as though they were frozen in time. I do not know much about these particular speakers. My question to the knowledgeable members out there, are these speakers any good and are they worth giving a go! I was planning on using them with my McIntosh MC30 tube amps. I got these from my Step father, he no longer has any use for them and figured I would like them. I guess I will hang on to them for a while and see how the Vandersteen sound with them.

Any input will be well appreciated.

Thanks
dhunte21
ljs_fin
14 posts
 
They are well worth trying out with your tube amps. If it turns out that there is an issue with the speaker, such as a bad driver, replacement parts are readily available from the factory. The later models of the 1 are definitely better than the earlier ones but even the old ones are worth setting up.
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tsugury
251 posts
 
I own a pair of the model 1's and found they sound best with tube amplification. They are not the most detailed, but I found them to be very enjoyable with the right electronics. Never heard them with Mac gear, and all rooms and listener preference's differ. Give them a try, you might like them. YMMV. TG
dhunte21 OP
4 posts
 
Gentleman that so very much for your input, to answer Rickman post yes this is my first post in this forum, a good friend told me about it. I do know that at times members can be a bit harsh towards new members, but I am just trying to get some input from the more knowledgeable veterans here. Adam 18, I would have to say that the speakers are the model 1, I did drop an email to Vandersteen, and included the serial number of both speakers in hopes they will be able to give me a bit more information.

I will keep you posted in my findings, once again thanks for giving me the time of day.

Dave.
zanon
114 posts
 
If you have speaker and amp then why are you asking people on forum what they sound like? why not play them and see for yourself?
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Zanon, OP may not have an comparative context for the price - simply listening to the combo, and if a beginner, he won't be able to assess how good they are versus other options in the price range. I think they are much better than "decent" for the price - some might argue they are the best sub $1000 speaker with any semblance of full-range bass. Might be one of the first choices I would pick for a non-audiophile that wants a good, full range-speaker (with an NAD or Rotel 100 watter) and then wants to stop thinking about audio and the next upgrade.

The MC30 is a wonderful amp (good enough to look for a speaker that is likely to mate well with it), that may have just enough power, but my sense is that Vandersteen in general really needs SS or a very high power tube amp to deal with the large impedance swings and low impedance (2 ohms or so?) in the bass - not to say you won't like it, but you might not know what the 1s are capable of without trying them 100 watts and high current output. Personally, I think your amp deserves a better and better matching speaker (though the VS is very good for the money), the MC30s are first rate, with a little maintenance (cleaning, capacitor replacements, etc) they should last you a long time. Let us know if you ever think of selling them. One of the great vintage amps!! Really in another overall league than the VS1s IMHO.
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