New Speakers up to $15k - The more I read the less I know!

John will take GREAT care of you. Yes, he can let you audition a varying array of speakers.  As Bob said I do own teh Quatro CT's and sold him my Treo's, but as he will tell you, I made him listen to them in my system first, lol....

There are a ton of gimmicky speakers on the market (IMHO).  I have heard so many different speakers from the one driver fits all mode (can never have a full range speaker sound as good as a speaker that has separated drivers that cover all ends of the spectrum.  

Crossoverless sounds great, but it just doesn't (law of physics) have the extension and then you lose the fun of rock or orchestra etc...  Using a great crossover with the best parts, will give you a crossover that most will never hear in their system.  There is a reason that 99% of speaker manufacture's use two or more drivers in their speakers.  YMMV.

I'm only a Vandersteen owner because they make the best speaker to my ears in the 25k and under speaker market.  We all love our speakers or we would never have paid for them, lol. ;)....  I do know that the majority of folks never actually audition more than three different makers of speakers when purchasing.  All too many just read about 'cool and new' stuff that is 'reviewed' and go with the flavor of the month. 

I've been in audio all too long to get caught up wiht flavor of the month. I listen to a lot of live music when I can and I want my system to recreate as much of that tonality and extension (without fatigue) in MY room.  I feel blessed to be able to afford a 25k speaker and that's why I went with the Quatro CT's.  I have enjoyed Maggies and others, but in the end, the Steen's haven't been knocked off the pedestal yet.  When they are, then I'll gladly switch, but these proprietary carbon tweeters are not just giving me gobs of micro and macro detail (where the emotion is), but also crazy dynamics when it's on the track and so much extension without any fatigue.

Also, please don't get swayed by someone claiming that speakers are genre sensitive as TOOO MANY do now days.  To me, that's a fallacy that is perpetuated by companies who's speakers are majorly lacking. 

A properly designed speaker will play everything great or everything poorly, lol....  Just ask any top designer and they will agree.  I have spoken to a few about this adn that's the only reason I make this statement.  

guswatte5 posts05-11-2018 2:03amCurious how you thought the Quatros compared to the Carbon 5as?
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The 5's are just a better speaker.  No doubt about it, but I own the Quatro and feel that they are also very special. Honestly, to me, I feel strongly that the Quatro is the sweet spot in their line.  Would I have liked a carbon fiber midrange too? Yes, I would have, but for ME, I just couldn't afford the 5's.  IF you have the money, then you will get a much better speaker in all aspects.  The bass is bigger and that midrange with the matching tweeter is incredible.  Personally I feel that the 5 is a GREAT bridge between the Quatro and the 7.  It should be selling for over 40k and the Quatro should be in the 25k range (with a carbon midrange upgrade).  

That all said, I did put my money where my typing is and got the Quatro and am not looking back.  

Tom, I agree with you of course.  I love Johnny. He's one of the few around who isn't about the up sell. He actually does the down sell as he knows how to put a true system together.  He also sells other than Vandersteen's like Proac and B&W adn some others.  He gets lumped in as a Vandy only guy and honestly, of all the Vandy dealers I know nationally (most of them), they all listen to the customer and show them everything and let the customer choice without pushing unlike so many other dealers I've met.  

aolmrd1241644 posts05-11-2018 10:10amctsooner said... " the Quatro should be in the 25k range (with a carbon midrange upgrade)."

ct...I do appreciate your input and sharing that knowledge with us in concern of the Quatro CT...sounds like a great speaker system indeed.

But,I have to ask though...do you really think with the addition of the carbon midrange it could possibly justify a $10,000.00 + price increase for the Quatro? That would be one uber- expensive drive unit!!! Report this

Do I think it's worth the upgrade?  If someone had the money, it surely would be.  That carbon fiber driver that Richard designed and produces (well he makes the cone and sends it out to have the custom driver made) is sick good.  Just is.  It makes (to my ears) a HUGE difference in the mids.  Just look at the 5CT's.  it's so much more than just better bass.  If you have heard the 5ct's, then you would understand why I say what I do.  There are so many directions he could go with his CF technology, that it's nuts.  I have heard other speakers with a carbon type of driver, but none come close to the Vandersteen one's to my ears.  Some are not implemented the way they could be for the best musical sound, but for marketing purposes.  

There would have to be other upgrades for a full 10k mark up, but not much.  Yes, I think it would put that speaker in a totally different class, but it should since it's also in the 25k range (hypothetically).  

Awesome and congrats.  What helped you make that decision?  Which wood or paint did you go with?  Also, wondering which dealer?  If you have questions feel free to ask.  Glad that you went to audition to many speakers as that's the most important thing you can do.  

New gear is always fun.  Just installed three new pairs of Audioquest Hurricane power cords and even though they need breaking in, the Quatro's are crushing it like never before!  

I'm so glad that you are enjoying that TT as much as I did.  I loved that thing.  For the price, I wasn't able to find anything, even used, that was close.

Wow, awesome. So you are the lucky one who got them.  There is another thead I'm on and they were all wondering if it was for real or not, the condition etc... Sounds like it was legit and that you are one lucky guy.  I paid Rutan to drive to CT to set mine up, but I can't move anything with the MS, lol.  Keep using this thread to keep us up on your set up.  

Awesome to hear.  Just glad you got a pair of speaker that you love.  I feel the same way, but others like the B&W better.  That's the fun of audio and boards.  If you need advice on pairings of amps or sources in the future, ask away, lol.  I've heard most everything with them since I got them.  I really want Richards soon to be released mono blocks and a preamp for it.  Would be amazing.