Vandersteen 5 vs Green Mountain Continuum 3?


Curious to know if anyone else has made this comparison and, if so, what you thought?

It's interesting to me that Green Mountain and Vandersteen both subscribe to the same "time and phase coherent" design approach, yet do so in very different ways.

It's also interesting to me that both manufacturers tend to be pretty well respected - inasmuch as you seldom hear a bad word about their products or their designers. Clearly there's more to their products than fancy veneers and exotic drivers. There's credible science behind their designs.

I've heard both speakers, albeit at totally different times and in very different systems, and find them both to be world-class...and particularly excellent given their under $10K price point.

To me the Green Mountains are a little more airy and transparent (almost electrostatic) while the Vandersteens sound a little "heavier" and authoritative. Both are decidedly FULL RANGE with the edge going to Vandersteen in the bass department - definitely more options to integrate them with the room.

On the upper end, however, the C-3s seem to disappear better. Maybe it has to do with the minimal cabinet diffraction and the cast marble enclosure??

Overall, I'd say it's a tough call.
gullahisland

Showing 1 response by mauiaudioman

Not sure what Macdadtexas heard that was wrong with the Continuum 3's but boy did 6moons.com ever love them. Have you read the review? Suffice it to say they were enamored. Roy uses more math/physics in his products than any other designer I'm aware of. They are world class. Vandersteens are also a very good speaker. Listen to them both again....this time with good and not so good recordings. It's the junk you have in your record collection that will bring out the worst in speaker designs.
Good luck