Gdnrbob,
Thanks for your response. I used to have Vandy 3A Sig, and they were nice speakers. However, when I moved to another home, their sound was less than satisfactory. I bought open- baffle speakers and they sounded fine, but I am in a totally new home now, and the OB speakers sound like cr*p. Shahinians sound much better, but I exoect some better performance from the Vandees, as the Obelisks, like I said, are smallish for the cubature of the current home... |
Or maybe Quatros?) Have a pair offered at $5200 mint ))
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Gdnrbob,
Thanks, but... The Q now is: Treo at $4K or Quatro at $5200? ;-)
But, I guess, this is now up to me. |
Sure, Bob, but calling a dealer in the US won’t help me much here in Russia :-)
The items are not on Audiogon. But I have spoken to the sellers, of course. Thinking...
Looks like Quatro is the way to go, since its bass performance can be tweaked.
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Gentlemen,
Thanks for the advice.
Bob, what is Johnny's nickname here on a-gon? Will PM him on the amp choice q.
tomic601,
I am aware that this amp is probably a weak link in my system. A good friend of mine who used to have the Quatro, gave 5 stars to Meridian G57.
Another amp I use is the Sringray II from Manley. Actually, I am listening to it with Shahinians as I write. Great little amp, but hardly a match for the Quatros. |
On the side note...
Why do you guys think Musical Fidelity is the wrong match for the Quatros? I realize this is a more or less "budget" amp, however its tech specs show ample power and current, it works well with low impedance speakers, and most reviewers praise its sound signature.
I used to have the Vandees 3A Sig powered by an MC402 Mac, and I am not sure this was a "match made in heaven". The sound was dark and laid back, lacking agility and punch. But, I guess, this was typical Mac sound.
Since MF has a different sound, why should it not match the Vandees?
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JohnnyR,
Thank you for your response.
What can you say about Treo?
A lot easier logistically for me, and costs less - $4K, almost unused.
Thank you. |
Also, can the filters be fitted between a source and an integrated amp?
That is on top of the fact, that the filter on sale is for XLR ICs...
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tomic601,
Thanks for your comments, no offence taken anyway.
If it is an integrated, I am not sure I will be able to fit those filters...
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Bob,
It indeed does, as well as the ht/aux switchable input. However, I am not sure that controls will be working, fully enabling usage of the amp as a pre/pwr pair.
Will test and report. |
JohnnyR,
Thanks for your comments.
No, I don't have any specific emotional attachment to the musical fidelity. Trouble is, I just bought it. So, I would like to at least use it for a while. However, I'm willing to upgrade the power section with a separate Power Amp. What brands and models would you recommend? I don't believe in NAD being high-end equipment. Musical Fidelity is also a dark horse for me. I was looking at Meridian but the amp I was looking at was sold too quickly for me to get a grip on it.
Also, you didn't say anything about the Treo. How inferior to the Quatro are they? In which department would the difference be most?
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JohnnyR,
Many an audiophile will not concur with your statement on little importance of electronics (or, say, WIRES - the marketing myth that never fails to amuse me).
I, however, will.
And in no way did I want to call NAD lowly )))
I just think that engineering-wise and component-wise one could expect more from a less "budget" brand. This translates into reliability, which is important for us cost-minding guys, who don’t like to buy new. Also, matching all those parameters (sensitivity, impedance, current, blablabla) sometimes really matters...
But. I do hear you about Quatros. If that pair (or another one) is still on sale in a month, when I am back from my US vacation, I will get them. |
Bob,
True, bit "lowly"?? A much stringere Word IMO.
Ohlala,
Thanks, nitty how do you distinguish them? |
Sorry, Italian keyboard kicking in on my smartphone... stringere=stronger
Nitty=but |
Finally received my newly bought second-hand musical fidelity A5.5 and hooked it up to the shahinians instead of my beloved, but child-unfriendly Manley Stingray.. So far the only good thing about it is that it doesn’t have any attractive switches or protruding glowing valves...
I guess, I must be doing something wrong. I did, however, phase the plugs and add a good DAC to feed it.
Underwhelmed...
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Bob, Tomic,
It’s definitely a plot: you have surely seen that picture on the internet where a lady is writing to customer support asking whether her password is safe from Russian hackers. Customer Support’s answer: Da.
That must have been me ,😂
Yes, indeed, I am a Russian. A Russian, also speaks English, French, and Italian. Hence the Italian keyboard.😁 |
I was expecting that "neutral, sweet, tubey" sound that everybody raves about. Fidelity to music. Something like that.
What I got was... like I covered the speakers with a blanket. Powerful, loud, yes, but ... mushy. No air , no clarity, no dimension. The music was in the speakers, it did not come alive.
Calypso Minor from Abdullah Ibragim’s Sotho Blue, or, better, Someday Soon Sweet Samba from Capetown Revisited - all... boring.
Maybe it will get better with time. |
Bob,
I'll think about it;)
Meanwhile, I am coming over to the US like... tomorrow :)) |
Tomic601,
Thanks, enjoying VA right now. Next stop Boston, then on to Niagara and on to Chicago :-)
You were saying "his amps". What exactly did you mean? |
Gentlemen,
Thanx for your support.
Once I am back home, I have a friend who owns a pair of Quatros AND an amp another friend (an ex- owner of this combo) recommended for them - a Meridian G57. Will audition them both.
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JohnnyR,
Thanks. Wil work on that. |
tomic601,
I do have those Shahinians, you know.
Thanks for your answer on the amp choice. |
Tom,
I agree.
Otherwise LOL 😂😂😂 |
Well, after a while I finally decided to go for those Quatros and did so.
Got them a week ago and only now got home to update the battery and tune the HP filters and get a dedicated listen.
Unfortunately I discovered that midwoofer on one of the speakers produces distorted sound (especially audible on piano). I did all the fiddling with changing the wires, amps, sources, powering the speaker off, etc, but the middle speaker (right below the tweeter) sounds distorted no matter what I do. The other speaker sounds better.
The seller tells me that all was good with the speakers when he was listening to them last. Also, a week passed since I received them...
So. Has anyone had experience of this sort? What can be wrong with them?
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Will call JohnnyR, thanks.
Wrote to RV, he thinks this might be the speaker itself. Willing to rebuild it, but oh what a hassle to send it in from Russia and to get it back. At least 2mo of speakers not working...
Yes, it is tightly screwed.
A big Q for you Quatro owners: when your power amp is off, but the Q is still powered on, can you hear some slight hum coming out of your midbass speakers? Only audible when you have your ear next to them.
Q#2: did your speakers come originally with some sort of spikes? If you can, please attach pics. Mine don't have them, don't know what to look for...
Thanks! |
Gdnrbob,
Thanks for the spike info.
Yes we do have dealers, but they only complicate things and slow them down: they outsource repairs, and, if I have to send a speaker for rebuild to RV, it’s going to be much faster to do it direct.
JohnnyR,
Will call you today.
Thank you. |
tomic601,
Thanks for the info.
If the crossover is faulty I will certainly fix it locally. If it's the driver, tough luck, off it goes to RV for rebuild.
Thanks to all for your advice and help. |
Gentlemen,
They were hand-delivered to me by the seller's nephew in his Land Rover (he was going somewhere further). Although they wrapped them up well in bubbly cellophane (whatever the name of this material is), I guess it took some damage. Or maybe it was defective upon dispatch, I don't know.
I got in touch with RV, he is willing to rebuild the driver, since he has none of them left in stock. A very helpful gentleman indeed. But this requires taking it out and sending it in, which takes a lot of time, especially around Christmas. |
Gentlemen, on the sidenote: what amplification you are using with your Vandersteens? power amps specifically?
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Bob,
On top of Shahinians I have a pair of open-baffle speakers of local make (Noize Fabrik) and KEF LS50s.
But... I don’t like the idea of backup speakers. Might give the main pair the idea that they r entitled to a vacation :-) |
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Tom,
They also sound incredibly natural. But. The room thing is really essential.
I do have two extra amps (a Stingray II (a keeper) and an ARC CA50 and 3 extra pairs of speakers (all on sale). So I guess you can say I do have a spare system. For now ;-) But in my second location - I have to confess - I am using a single Bluetooth speaker (a Marshall Woburn, replica of Marshall guitar amps). No hifi, but easy to use and good for easy listening and movies. And HUGE ported bass :-)
Stingreen,
Thanks. Will keep your advice in mind. |
Bob,
Like I said I will follow Stingreen's advice and carefully inspect everything. I have no intention of sending the driver overseas and learning that it is in perfect working condition :-) JohnnyR suggested a very simple, but very effective way of checking driver's performance: taking it out and connecting it directly to speaker cable at very very low volume so as not to damage it. This method will demonstrate the defect (IF it is defective) instantly. All effective things are oh so simple :-)
And kudos to JohnnyR for taking his time to help. It was a pleasure. |
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Well, it's the driver. Took it out completely, checked it, it's off center.
The seller suggested to take the speakers back, contemplated his offer, decided I want to keep them.
So next week the driver is going to California.
CJ pre is burning in with a new Tesla tube.
Will probably look for a Golden Lion Genalex, as they suggested on a CJ owners forum. The Vandies have a somewhat dark sound in my setup Ann's room, so the Golden Lion will probably make it brighter, closer to neutral.
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Yes, I suppose you are correct in your description.
Thanks. I will try to fix the problem locally, and if this fails, will send the driver in to RV. |
Bob,
It was generous, yes, but... overall not a pleasant type to deal with, the seller that is.
I am as "paranoid" as you are, believe me :-)
They actually don't have a database even of years of manufacture. I told Richard the serial number, he couldn't tell me year of manufacture...
On the sidenote, strangely enough, the speakers are playing quite nicely with this midrange missing. Go figure.
A sideways question to you Vandy owners: how would you describe the sound of Vandies? "Dark" is what comes to my mind...
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I think I found the reason for this darkish sound coloration: the Conrad-Johnson ET3 pre. It's either that it's still not burnt-in, or it's the Tesla tube coloration, or... that it's just not up to speed... |
Fixed it locally. Looks like it was a manufacturing defect. Disassembled, cleaned, assembled back.
These drivers are made by hand. Amazing.
Enjoying the sound as I write.
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Well, the preamp is improving. I put it up on sale anyway, so if it sells, will replace it. If not - will try to live with it, replace the tube once again, maybe. I am not 100% happy with the sound yet: not spacious enough, also not perfect in terms of tonal balance. Replaced the speaker wires, the Nordost gives a brighter sound, which is as improvement in my case.
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I was thinking Mcintosh D100, Meridian G02 OR a Mytek Brooklyn. One other option I was considering was a Cambridge Audio 851N.
3 out of 4 are DACs with volume regulator, the last one is a streamer with this functionality too.
But the CJ is improving. If it keeps doing so maybe I will keep it. |
Privet comrades :-))
I really don’t know how to put it mildly, but I think I found part of the problem.
Since XLR output of my CHORD DAC64 is somewhat better, than RCA, I was using an XLR->RCA cable. Simple and handmade.
Well, I read in Stereophile review of this DAC that it outputs over 6V of signal out of its XLR out and a bit over 3V through RCA.
Well I replaced this cable with a simple RCA-RCA cable (an Atlas something). And... it shone. The system and the speakers.
Wow. A totally different sound. Open, natural, airy. I'm loving it :-) |
Bob,
I Will experiment more, certainly.
Everybody on this forum seems to like Ayre a lot. Why? And what about other pre's ?
mr_m,
No more XLR-RCA's. No more. |
Thanks.
Waiting for the CJ to open up.
Frankly, looking at upgrading my power amp to an Aesthetix Atlas. Not sure that this is THE weak link in my system, but it got me thinking...
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JohnnyR,
What exactly do you mean by "a real preamp without ICs in the path"? My preamp is quite real, and if you go separates vs integrated, you will always have ICs ( interconnects?) In the path. Or am I getting something wrong?
Also, what’s wrong with Conrad Johnson?
I have no spikes/cones whatsoever, so no. Need to buy them.
And I haven’t done the in-room compensation thing yet. |
And what is that in a preamp? |
Tom,
They were centered initially when they came in.
There are plenty SPL programs for smartphones. I was planning to use one of them. Now, throw your stones at me ;-)
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Hey, listen, I AM WORKING ON IT :-)
Appreciate your advice anyway. |
Johnny,
This is plan indeed. I just can't spend much time on this: I only see my family 2 days out of 7, and my wife is already jealous of the audio and forums :-) The two small boys are too. So I am getting there, but just not too fast.
Who is Jacqeline V?
The previous owner promised to find those spikes.
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Tom,
I do have a USB mike somewhere: bought it for some room-compensating EQ SW that I never got to using...
So I guest it night work out.
Audiotools works on a Mac? |
