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Vandersteen 5a, 15 years old vs. new Vandersteen Quatro Wood (upgrade or downgrade)

I currently have a Vandersteen 5A purchased about 15 years ago in great condition. My  equipment  is Thor 150 watt  tube EL-34 monoblocks with a Thor linestage, Sony SACD player and a middle of the road VPI turntable. Was reading about the Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT which I believe retails for $15,000.00. The wood has the carbon tweeter, my 5A's do not. The Quatro also has a 250 watt amplifier for the built in sub while my 5A's have a 400 watt amp.  If I purchased a new Quatro Wood and sold my 5a's would the resulting sound be better overall in my 8 1/2 by 15 foot room?
 My rationale for considering this upgrade, is that I would be getting a speaker with all new parts and would obtain a new warranty.  Any thoughts would be helpful.  In short is todays' Quatro Wood CT a better sounding speaker than my old 5A?  Would this change be an upgrade and would it yield an improvement in sound to justify the cost?

Thank you. 

M

kjl1065

Showing 5 responses by ozzy62

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,363 posts
 
in my 8 1/2 by 15 foot room?
 I hope that was a typo. If not, I'd say you are a prime candidate for a headphone only system........

Oz


ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,363 posts
 
My room is 15 feet long by 8 and one half feet wide.

Well as long as you accept that you get about 60% of any speaker's potential in a room like that, you should be ok.


ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,363 posts
 
Actually, no to your no.

Even only allowing 8" (which is not enough room actually) between the speaker and the sidewall, you can barely spread the 5a any further than 5' apart. That is not optimal by just about any standard.

So agree that maybe they sound good in that room. Also agree that it's only a fractional percentage of what they were meant to do. EQ or no.


ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,363 posts
 
No to your no, where did he say he had them on the short wall ?


Well let's consider the long wall option.

If he places them 3 ft. from the front wall, that would make his listening position 4 ft. away. Speaks for itself.

Not trying to be contrary, but just pointing out how far too many people shoehorn large speakers in essentially what amounts to a walk in closet and convince themselves they are getting great sound. The OP is not alone. He just happens to have the spotlight on him right now.

This is a very valid point to make in this thread so don't have a cow......

Oz



ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,363 posts
 
Crickets indeed.

No, I am no vandersteen set up expert. I don't even play one on tv, nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn last night.

But I want either of you to tell me that you can get 100%, hell even 90% of what the 5a is capable of in a room that size? 

I don't doubt you can make it sound good. My only point is that that is a challenging room for ANY speaker and you won't get all of what you paid for as opposed to having them in a larger, more rectangular room.

Best of luck to the OP. And carry on.............
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