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Vandersteen fans..need your input (TREO CT)

Hey Guys, I love my TREO CTs, but I feel like they don’t really start to shine until I crank up the volume to 85dBs or higher. I feel like the details are missing at lower volumes. I know I have a lot of acoustic issues in my space, but generally speaking, at what volumes do you guys listen to your system. Just to give you an idea of my system, I’m using an Ayre AX-5/20 integrated, Aurender N100H streamer, Denafrips Terminator DAC (also an Ayre Codex DAC), AQ Earth XLR cables and AQ GO4 double run bi-wire speaker cables. Any of you guys do low volume listening...like the when your family is a sleep. Any general tips to improve the low volume listening experience? I suspect I would benefit the most getting room treatments but it’s not an option for me at the moment sharing the living room.  Thanks in advance.
Also, check out this link on youtube, it’s rare to see TREO CTs in videos on the web.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zKxBalxq1c
nycjlee
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,914 posts
 
the loudness button....somebody must have invented it for a reason
before the sales and marketing guys ruined it...

johnnyr dont you have a decent preamp with tone controls ?
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,914 posts
 
the temporary rug subwoofer loudness button....

wf is good
chefrob
2 posts
 
I upgraded from 30 year old 2cs to the Treo CT in April and I find that for them to really shine they do like the volume cranked a little.
Just think though how loud a real piano or trumpet would sound in your room.  Isn't that what we are striving for?
alanholvey's avatar
alanholvey
96 posts
 
It might be as simple as you not having enough power for the paticular speakers that you are presently using.  I myself have the same problem running my Martin?Logan SL-3 speakers with only 130 watts per channel from my Odyssey Khartago Extreme amplifier.  Yes, playing it at a generous sound level they sound fabulous, but at lower volume levels they do not really come totally alive.  Possibly it might be mainly the lack of low-base audio reproduction, possibly the midrange does not really come into focus until I turn up the sound level.  Living in an apartment, or with others allso is a major factor for me.  Anyway, until I can afford to save up for a more expensive, as well more costly amplifier I will just have to live with limitations.  Actually presently my amplifier is the only part of my audio system which needs to be upgraded, so don't feel sorry for me.  Actually Klaus does a major uprade on his Khartago amplifier for only $400, but I would be totally without an amp during the upgrade process.
alanholvey's avatar
alanholvey
96 posts
 
Let me expand as someone who has had a very expensive audio system, but there remain certain limitations in certain areas of audio reproduction that do not suit your own personal needs.  I do know for certain that the Vanderstein 7's when they first came out needed a humongous amount of power to run properly.  A pair of Audio Researcj Ref 200 tube amplifers did not have enough power to play rock and roll.  That is why, even with your 25 watts per channel of Ayre power might not be enough-again for your paticular needs.  Sounding great at low levels.  Most other speaker systems will not have this problem.  Call a Vanderstein and ask them.
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