Not Thrilled with Vandersteen 2CE Sigs - where is the first place to work on?

 I think we could be dealing with two different potential situations here 1) It is not possible to have significant problems in a system and have some recordings sound great especially when they are known great recordings. You could change some of the components in the system and improve the sound but the fact that some great recordings sound great is meaningful. 2) you could be chasing recording quality and the only way to deal with that is to use tone controls on the recordings that need them or dumb the whole system down to the point that everything sound OK by trying a speaker with many drivers that smear themselves, a dip in the mid range, plenty tweeter(s) and up in the bass that play loud as for some audio enthusiasts enough volume cures all. I would sort this out before spending any more money because even though several hundred thousand of these speakers have been sold they are not for everybody. If you decide to keep the 2Ce Sig’s I can help you get the most out of them cost effectively.

 Best, JohnnyR

We have been selling Vandersteen for 20+ years and never had a comment they sound like “s**t”! We have sold hundreds of pairs new and previously owned in that time and experienced a few previously owned pairs that were not up to Vandersteen standards. Some examples had non OEM drivers installed or burnt parts in their crossovers because of age or abuse but still functioned albeit with substandard sound. 2Ce Sig speakers are 14-20 years old and may be on multiple owners with no one realizing something is wrong. I can assure you that if they sound like “s**t” something is amiss and they should get a complete check up.  
 JohnnyR

Teo_audio

If you think a thin layer of double knit polyester fabric one can see through to protect the drivers is a problem then we are in big trouble. Our favorite recordings include protective screens on microphones, pop screens/mic filters for vocals and guitar amps etc. at the source. My experience is that removing the grille assembly does improve the sound of some speakers especially if they are the type where the supporting structure is not integrated with the speaker cabinet but just tacked onto the front. You don’t want to listen to a pair of TREO CT’s with the grille assembly removed.  

JohnnyR 

WOW! Why the vitriol?  As a dealer for many years just trying to keep the effect of the grille in perspective. All Vandersteen’s are designed to be listened to with the grills on for what ever reason he chooses. Richard has told seminar attendees that the grills on the lower cost speakers allows him to put more of ones money into the drivers, crossovers and out of sight low diffraction time aligned enclosures. Only he knows if that is a worth while compromise but I can tell you they would not sell without grills because the inside is not finished. Maybe you would make a different choice if you were the designer and outsell him, no one is stopping you.  Many on this forum promote numerous components passionately because that is part of the hobby. Thank goodness not many are as passionately negative and I doubt Richard or Wendel lose any sleep over the fact you won’t own their products. Back to helping audio enthusiast get better sound and enjoyment from their music.
 JohnnyR