Joseph Audio Perspective. Legacy model on AG for under $8K. And they can be upgraded to the graphene driver version.
Speaker Recommendations - from Vandersteen 5As
I have been using Vandersteen Model 5 speakers in my system with excellent results. I like the open sound, balanced top to bottom sound, sound stage 3D dimension, and having deep bass that is adjustable. They really have a huge sound that is also very musical. I used to own Alon V MKII speakers and the Alnico mid-range driver produced a better mid-range sound compared to the Vandersteens in that one aspect. That mid-range was just pure magic and the Alons had more impact but were not close to being as balanced of a speaker. I recently sold my older model 5s because I got a great deal on a much better cosmetic condition Vandersteen model 5As. To me the 5As just don't sound like my old model 5s. I have not really had the chance to play around with them that much and my system unfortunately changes in some ways because my Audiomeca CD transport bit the dust. That was one hell of a great sounding CDT.
I am looking in the $7500 price range and usually purchase used. I have plenty of dealers in the NYC area that I can visit and people that I know so I will be taking the time to take a look around. I do like the size of the Vandersteen 5s so that if something I would be considering. I was thinking of a short list and thought Verity Parsifals, Sonus Faber, Legacy, DeVore, etc. I tend to focus on piano so I need a speaker that really can produce that sound first before I look elsewhere. I probably lean towards a musical sound maybe slightly warm, open on top with air. I can adjust the sound by changing caps and resistors in my components so I guess I just need a balanced sounding speaker with a great mid-range that can also product deep bass.
Also note that I build my own DAC (separate power supply), preamp (separate power supply) and power amp so I can build anything for any speaker. Right now my DAC is a DHT design, preamp 6SN7 design and amp is a hybrid 6SN7 design. My system is dead quiet and the components are reference quality compared to the best that I have compared them to at local dealer showrooms. I only spin CDs right now through a transport and I am using a Metronome CD1A transport with a separate power supply.
So knowing that I am in the NYC area, what speakers in the price range should be on my short list to go our and hear?
I probably sound like an A-hole but I would really like some recommendations. If you are in the local area, I would enjoy the company if you are interested. I'll buy the pizza and beer!
Thanks and Happy Listening.
I am looking in the $7500 price range and usually purchase used. I have plenty of dealers in the NYC area that I can visit and people that I know so I will be taking the time to take a look around. I do like the size of the Vandersteen 5s so that if something I would be considering. I was thinking of a short list and thought Verity Parsifals, Sonus Faber, Legacy, DeVore, etc. I tend to focus on piano so I need a speaker that really can produce that sound first before I look elsewhere. I probably lean towards a musical sound maybe slightly warm, open on top with air. I can adjust the sound by changing caps and resistors in my components so I guess I just need a balanced sounding speaker with a great mid-range that can also product deep bass.
Also note that I build my own DAC (separate power supply), preamp (separate power supply) and power amp so I can build anything for any speaker. Right now my DAC is a DHT design, preamp 6SN7 design and amp is a hybrid 6SN7 design. My system is dead quiet and the components are reference quality compared to the best that I have compared them to at local dealer showrooms. I only spin CDs right now through a transport and I am using a Metronome CD1A transport with a separate power supply.
So knowing that I am in the NYC area, what speakers in the price range should be on my short list to go our and hear?
I probably sound like an A-hole but I would really like some recommendations. If you are in the local area, I would enjoy the company if you are interested. I'll buy the pizza and beer!
Thanks and Happy Listening.
64 responses Add your response
I just got back and met with Bigkidz. It's nice to put a face with a name. We listened to the VLR's, Sub 3's, Belles Integrated, Ayre Codex, Bluesound Combo. Very nice, but I thought the bass was a bit exaggerated-I don't know if it was the Sub 3 settings or just the room (it got better if I pulled my chair forward). Thankfully, Johnny switched over to an Aurender streamer, and I have to say things got much better. Now, I am looking at Aurender, sigh...😉 @ctsooner . Have you gotten The Memory Player set up, yet? I really have to get Sam to look at my Mini and finally get it set up. Bob |
Full disclosure: I have and truly enjoy Vandy 5A's. I'm just wondering if you've (a) gone through the process of tuning the bass equalization to your room, and (b) looked at whether the batteries in your crossovers and filters are getting a little long-in-the-tooth. Either adjustment could have an impact on overall balance, I would think. Happy Listening. |
That's the name and Johnny will get them I'm sure. Glad he got on the thread. I would think that he can show how great those 5's can be. I've never heard them not sound balance and coherent. Based on what I know, the Kento will be a very special speaker. I would love to meet up with many of you guys at Johnny's. That would be a blast. |
Thanks JohnnyR. I sold the homebrew non-battery bias hi-pass units when I sold the 5s. I am using the original Vandersteen filters that I have always owned. When I had the 5s we compared the homebrewed to the originals and the originals did not perform as well. I will build another pair and we can compare them in the future when I get around to it. I will take a look at the amps and if necessary, we can send them to Vandersteen. I always appreciate your professionalism and being there when needed. |
I would also bring in those homebrew non-battery bias hi-pass units for comparison they may also be a part of your shortcomings. The 5As being more revealing may also be showing their lack of clarity and transparency or dip switch settings needing a different set of adjustments. while you are at it bring in both amps. Vandersteen only charges 15 bucks each to performance verify and always reasonable if something is needed. Cheers JohnnyR |
John I will give you a call or stop by hopefully this week. This weekend I was able to reassemble my system to where it was with the 5s. They sounded much better. I may have an issue with the sub-amps. I think they are supposed to be 400 watts each. I do not think I cm getting that type of output right now. |
Hi Peter Big Kidz Hope you are doing well........1 How did you assess and confirm the High pass setting for the 100 HZ minus 3db down point?2 Did you ever read the manual and perform proper tilt-back from your chairs ear height and distance in inches out to each ear? If so whats the speaker’s measurements in inches firstly tweeter to tweeter, and then left channel tweeter to your left ear then Right channel tweeter to right ear in inches? 3 What speaker/ Interconnects cables are you running? 4 What are the pots clock positions within the Bass amps EQ both speakers on pots.9,10,11? example Left CH pot 9 9 o’clock pot 10 2o’clockpot pot 11 4 o’clockRight Channell same as above.?etcCheers, JohnnyR |
So far this weekend I am thinking that the sub-amps are not working properly. Turned up to full volume they should be shaking my house but they are not. One has a pop when you plug it in and the other has a blown cap and resistor so that pop come on after about 30 seconds. I am going to have to remove them and go through them. The top end sounds really good so far. |
He built his own highpass filters, so the dip switches probably don't apply. Still, the first thing I always start with is checking with a voltmeter and 1kHz/100Hz tones that the frequency response of the highpass filters is correct. Then check that the subwoofers are working by checking with the Vandertones and an SPL meter (sounds like you've done that). I have problems with the bass level pots on my Quatros, and I sometimes have to wiggle them a bit if the bass response droops or drops out. Calibrating the bass response can have a large effect on the midrange transparency, so you may want to redo this (sounds like you may have already). Richard has a newer procedure for this which is a bit easier than the old procedure (it's in the newer manuals online and on youtube). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C60LoHGtI0 |
@bigkidz . I looked at your system, but see you are using your own (hand built) equipment, and since I don't know how it sounds, it is something I can't comment upon.- Though I would sure be interested in listening to it.😉 I never heard of the NY Audio Syndrome Audio Group. A quick Google showed nothing. And, I would be interested in joining in, too. I think Stringreen, and others have made good points regarding the possibility of the drivers/crossovers not being up to spec. Stringreen also made a great post saying that you should be able to send back only the amps/drivers/crossovers and save on the shipping. I, too, would have a hard time justifying sending back my whole speaker. As you are a very capable fellow, removing said items should be a walk in the park.😁 Sorry if the emojis are goofy, but I like to play with them... Bob |
Oops, not Model 7. I think it was Model 3. Sorry. I was just going off memory which is hazy and I looked at so many and it was awhile ago. But it was a $5-8k speaker in cost, that much I’m sure of (cause I remember thinking these were the direct compare across the brands as close as it got) and I did compare them over an extended period of time (well over an hour) because the Spendor’s and Vandy’s were side by side and I could do very nice A/B. Unlike Dynaudio which was at another dealer |
So I believe it was probably Model 7?, which may be an older model I’m not too sure. Whatever it was it’s price was in the 5-7k range like the Spendor D7. Dealer said house sound of Vandy pretty consistent thru their lineup, fwiw, you just get more or less of it as you move up in price or down. So I liked the Vandy’s either #2 or #3 (with Dynaudio) of the 20+ speakers I listened to - ie, really liked them. I loved the midrange smoothness, nice bass, pleasing treble, and general musicality of the Vandy speakers. Liked the tonality and found it much more similar to Spendor than different. I loved all of these things about the D7 too, but to me at least the Spendor’s had just a little more enthusiastic presentation with their sound while the Vandy’s seemed a little more laid back for my tastes. It’s interesting I guess because every D7 review I read the author started out by describing how Spendor speakers historically was a laid back, pipe and slippers sound - apparently that is the sound the brand was known for throughout 90’s and 00’s. But with the new tweeter of the D7’s I found them to be not so laid back in a very pleasing way to me. Just the sweet spot in what I was looking for that way. Don’t get me wrong. The Spendor’s are not a forward sounding speaker like some might associate with Paradigm, Focal, B&W etc., (at least that’s how i perceived those brands in comparison to Spendor, Dynaudio and Vandy -- I’m sure some would disagree, these are just my opinions). But for me the Spendor’s, while still sounding lush and musical, just had a little more energy for me than the Vandy’s did, and I liked that. I liked the looks of Spendor much more also but that was a very minor factor for me -- 98% sound, 2% looks. Again, just my impressions and everyone is looking for what they are looking for. Would never imply others are wrong if they disagree. Spendor D7 just worked for me and I kept coming back to it again and again thorughout the demos across several dealers and several months. |
@kren0006 what Vandersteens did you compare them to? I may be able to hear the Spenders this coming weekend along with Legacy. Thanks for the update info also. Can you be more specific why you preferred the Spenders vs. Vandy? I have only heard the older Spender speakers but they always produced a very musical sound. |
I would recommend listening to Spendor and Dynaudio. Reason I say that is that within last year I auditioned around 20 speakers from a dozen or so manufacturers in the $3-10k price ballpark and ended up choosing and purchasing Spendor D7. Reason why this might be relevant is that the runner up finishers for me were Vandersteen and Dynaudio. So I liked Vandersteen a lot but liked Spendor more, but of course everyone hears differently and has different subjective tastes. Vandersteen and Spendor demos were in same room with same electronics - I don’t remember exactly but probably either Ayre or Audio Research, maybe both (it was 8ish months ago). Take it FWIW. New Spendor D7.2 and D9.2 have been announced so current new 7 and 9 models are likely discounted. Good luck |
Thanks please keep your comments coming. @stringreen thanks for that info. The 5As are in excellent cosmetic condition not like my 5s which were in pretty bad cosmetic condition. My audio pal is on his way from Ohio today so we will have a go at this all weekend and see what we can figure out. I can repair any audio component and I repaired the 5 amps when I purchased them. The batteries I can do myself but they were replaced not to long ago. I am hoping to get them running the way they should be as I did really like the 5s. In fact my 5s sounded better than what I was hearing at dealerships! I will run through it all again and see what happens. I also will go out to hear what is out there just to see if I find something that interests me.
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