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Vandersteen 5

Hi over the weekend I purchased a set up Vandertseen 5's and a McCormack DNA 225. I have a few questions about the 5's and was hoping someone here could help me. I can't seem to get the bass on either speaker on the 5's to work. The mids and the high's sound great.

1.) I've connected the M5-HP high pass filters between my preamp (a rotel RSX-1550) using RCA to XLR cable (the high-pass is XLR) and XLR to the McCormack amp (which was upgraded to platinum and has both XLR and RCA inputs). Is the lack of bass because I'm using a cable to convert RCA to XLR to connect to the M5-HP high pass filters ? I've looked on the vandersteen site and saw opposing answers from Richard. If not that what else could be wrong with the subs? 

2.) would anyone here want to trade a my XLR M5-HP high pass filters for an RCA one? I'm in the bay area

3.) The speakers were missing the spikes. Does anyone the size. I'd like to order a generic set as vandersteen wants 22 per spike. 

4.) Anything else I should know? My prior speskers were 2CE sigs so I jumped when I saw the 5's for sale. 
mzwerner

Showing 6 responses by tomic601

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,164 posts
 
 @gdnrbob Just as Stringreen says, except the reverse sonic impact as the battery degrades....
DBS keeps the caps formed, audio signal does this but takes awhile

one cool benefit of the new Vandersteen power amps is 128 V DBS for the speaker wires and IF you order them the interconnect built in reverse from Audioquest DBS for those also



tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,164 posts
 
nice musical diversity - wow.....Not a sub workout but try Sol Gabetta - Prayer....

Steely Dan - Two against nature will show you what the magical aluminum honeycomb push pull sub in the five can do !!!! freaking great bass.... ya man have fun
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,164 posts
 
return the favor by sharing some music you enjoy!!!!

turn times about 2 weeks...

DO get hyper fresh 9V lithium batts as suggested !
DO take those photos before unhooking the wires !
DO NOT overtorque on reassy and whenever attaching speaker wires to the barrier strip...

YOU may not notice a change in sound with fresh batts BUT yours are close to the edge and when they go ...they go....
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,164 posts
 
mz.     

yes buy a meter as called out in the manual, the analog Radio Shack
Ebay from a seller w good feedback is normally the best source. The Vandertones are compensated for this particular meters foibles and positive attributes. About $40 seems to be street value for good condition functional meter.

a small camera tripod to keep meter at listening position also good, but I recommend an assistant also.

before you get all that together by all you can certainly set all the screws to neutral, they are not marked and there is more cut than boost intentionally which you will discover by rotating the potentiometers- a jewlers screwdriver works but you might try to get the yellow tool that comes w steens...Jaclyn in parts will know... I am away from my 7 or I would get you p/n but it’s not an exotic thing..partsexpress will have them


tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,164 posts
 
super good decisions Vandersteen is  hyper frugal Dutch engineer the things he sells reflect good value IMO
Randy is in SantaMonica and sells a lot of balanced gear, my 5a came from him
give a call he usually has several sets of used filters as customers move from se to balanced, etc...
you got fantastic setup advice
I suggest buying a $50 Leica Disto for precision measurement , make your life easy.
have fun !!!!! you will be shocked how really good they are!!!!!
enjoy the music
jim
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,164 posts
 
Randy at optimal in Santa Monica would be a good contact for RCA filters

you need to know with certainty the input impedance the filter sees from your adapter and the amp, I doubt conflicting advice
factory is open today, Nathan knows this stuff in and out
spring for the Vandersteen cones, washers and set them up right....
i hope you realize made in America anodized finish cone with washers and thread at $22 is frugal
enjoy the music not many speakers can do what 5 can imo
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