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Time to move UP, speaker-wise...

My vandersteen 2ci’s dropped dead after a couple decades of sweet service. Over the past year, I’ve had mixed success with a pair of reference premier Klipsch speakers, but now I’m wanting something a far more subtle, perhaps a touch more sweet, and definitely able to reveal more sound-field information. Perhaps I’m being redundant... I’ve been intrigued by the open baffle concept and I’ve read some reviews on Spatial Audio products as well as Tekton’s open baffle offering. There are fans of the spatial, and then I discovered there are people that are blown away by the Tekton open baffle design. Tekton is also running a special on the Electron SE @$3000, which I feel inclined to try... Another area of interest is the Ohm speaker lineup... can any of you speak to them, and particularly how they compare to Klipsch Heritage speakers, or open baffle designs, or Tekton's...?

I have to say, I’m die-hard for the musical information, for the layers of musical fabric. Wolf_garcia claims the heresy III is the best $1500 he ever spent, in a discussion addressing open-baffle designs, among others, and so I’m wondering where to put my bills... What should I check out? It’s time to move up. I’m thinking $3300 is about my limit... I’m running 80 watts per channel from the nuforce sta200, a schitt saga pre, Cambridge transport.
listening99

Showing 3 responses by gdnrbob

gdnrbob
4,417 posts
 
As a fellow Vandy owner, all I can say is to audition a pair of Treo’s. Quatro's would be the best move, since you have the built in subs.

I listened to the Ohm's at the NY audio show this fall. To be frank, they were a bit of a disappointment. I liked them when I heard them years ago, but this time they sounded muffled and lifeless. I think speaker design has moved forward, and Ohm has stayed the same. IMHO.
I haven't heard the Tekton's, but have listened to Zu's. I was thinking a full range driver without crossovers would be the cat's meow, but I ended up realizing Vandersteen made a better product. The Zu's were close, but just missed the mark in subtly.
Bob
gdnrbob
4,417 posts
 
@OP, 
Tomic is correct.
A pair of Vandy VLR's with a sub or two can be a killer deal.
When I was at Audioconnection, Johnny Rutan installed a set of AQ William Tell cables to the VLR's, and all I can say is 'Wow'. Those little speakers behaved like full range floor standers without subs.

I have a pair of VLR's for my office system with a pair of HSU subs, and I couldn't be happier- Well...., the Treo's in my Living Room do best them, but for the money/size, those little bookshelf speakers perform beyond their price point. In fact, they replaced a pair of Zu Omen Bookshelf speakers. The Zu's, though well made, just didn't have the charisma the VLR's possess.
BTW, where are you located?
Bob

gdnrbob
4,417 posts
 
@OP, 
When you consider Vandersteen is constantly updating even their older models- without adding a new name or designation- it might possibly be an upgrade if you were to have them repaired by Mr. V.
Though, to be honest, I would move to the newer series, like the Treo or Quatro. They are much more refined, and look nicer,too.
B
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