Vandersteen-like "In-between" speakers


I have a pair of Vandersteen 3A signature speakers that came on loan from my brother and I have to give them up in about a month. I am using them with a McCormack DNA-225 and they sound great. I have heard from others that Vandersteen works well with McCormack.

I don't want to spend more money than I have to, but I have about $6K set aside to buy my own speakers. This amount is much more than the 3A signatures. There is no way that I can stretch to buy the Vandersteen 5 or 5A's. A friend of mine has them and they are fantastic.

Can anyone suggest a speaker in my price range, which falls between 3A and 5A, that will give me the same "flavor" as the Vandersteens and will mate well with McCormack? I listen to all kinds of music except very little classical - mostly rock, jazz, bluegrass, vocals.
motdathird

Showing 2 responses by audiophelia

IMHO you should stick with Vandersteen, or find a speaker
with similar characteristics, e.g., dark, recessed, nonanalytical sound, because your amp tends to the lean and lively side. Maybe the Quattro will be right for you. It won't be my choice because I won't be dependent on a dealer for dialing in the room adjustments. Modern psychiatry tell us that audiophiles, tweakers, DIYers, want the freedom to move things about and make acoustical adjustments themselves. Do I want to make an appointment with my dealer whenever I move my speakers or change upstream gear? Not this audiophiliac! The high-end Vandersteens are some of the best speakers in the world. But they are for people who want to listen to music, not for the restless afflicted who enjoy the never ending search for the absolute sound.