Vandersteen 2CE Signature Speakers


Hello.  I recently auditioned a used pair of Vandersteen 2CE Signature speakers. I found them to be amazing for jazz (lots of detail, great imaging) - really everything I read about on how these speakers sound.  However, upon listening to classical (full orchestral recordings of Mahler symphonies and Strauss tone poems), I found them to be boxy, dull and closed (quite the opposite from the jazz recordings).

Is this normal?  Why would this happen?  What can be done to fix this? I would like to buy them. 

Thanks
cspiegs

Showing 2 responses by 2psyop

I have the 2CE sigII. I had auditioned about 11 brands and various models and liked the sound of the Vandersteen and Magnepan the best. As with many audio components, one has a great amount of choices in speaker brands and models. No need to settle, if one has the patience to keep listening and auditioning the many offerings. Keep looking until you find what suits you. The arguments about which speaker is best are comical. The overwhelming variety and many choices of speakers benefit the audio consumer. I have never been a fan of measurements and the scientific end. My ears are my tools and I can listen to many, many speakers to decide what sounds good to ME.
I agree with ctsooner. Overall, I think a well designed speaker should do justice to all music played through it. If a certain speaker plays jazz well, or another plays rock well.. it might mean the coloration of the speaker or design matches well with that type of sound. But that does not mean it is a well designed speaker. I think well engineerd speakers are difficult to make and above average in cost. Most people I know compromise and find speakers that may only suite their tastes.