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Vandersteen sub purchase and placement?


Hello.

Before I start I would like to let you know what I am running in my "theatre". This is a multi purpose room in which we entertain, watch movies, and listen to music. it is an "L" shape with the "theatre" portion being 13 wide by 16 long. (I plan on posting some pics as soon as my screen surround and my fireplace granite work is complete.)

My system consists of:
Vandersteen 3A Sigs for main, VCC 5 center, VSM 1s for surround, a V2W sub, Bryston 9BSST 5 channel amp, SP 1.7 processor, BP1.5 phono stage, Harmon Kardon T-60 with Benz Gold MC cartridge, Benq 8700 proj, VINC Bravo D2(DVI),and an old Mission PCM7000 that desperately needs replacing.

I want to get another sub. I was thinking of a Vandy 2WQ.

The way my room is set up, placement is very limiting. I can't put subs in the front corners due to the placment of my 3As. My VCC5 center is of course in the center on a custom Sound Anchor stand which also holds my amp on it's base. The sub (V2W)is positioned between my center channel and my right main speaker.

The VSM 1 surrounds are on the side walls close to the back wall. There is no room for a sub on the left rear side wall due to a door way.

So this leaves me with 3 choices for additional sub placement: between my left main channel and my center channel, on the side wall in front of my right main channel, and at the rear under my right surround speaker.

If I were to get one 2WQ then the thought was to put it up front between the left speaker and the center channel. Now having said that Vandersteen says in the manual for the V2W to not use a single V2W and a single 2WQ together!? But yet it's OK to use a pair of 2WQs with a V2W?! My thought was to use a 2WQ with the appropriate X2 crossover and use the V2W for LFE only without the X2.

If I were to get a pair of 2WQs then I would put them both up front and move my V2W. BUT...where the heck do I move it to!?

I wouldn't consider myself a hardcore audio or videophile, but I do appreciate good sound and vision. Right now I just feel that my 3As are a little light on the bottom end when listening to music (I like rock). Especially on 5.1 music DVDs. For movies the system rocks! Pearl Harbor and Devil Boy (yes lame movie)shook the house!

Help and advice would be appreciated, especially from some of you seasoned Vandy owners (of whom were helpful in assisting me in my component choices in the first place - thanks).

Later,

Dwight
redsierra

Showing 1 response by douglas_schroeder

douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Greetings,
I have a HT in which I'm using twin Vandy 2W's. I've never missed anything about the extra driver in the 2WQ. I also understand that it's less exact in the bass, since it's purpose is more for video than strictly audio listening. So, I chose the 2W (that is, the older 2W sub)so as to have the best quality bass whether audio/video at a very reasonable price. A pair of 2W's and you'll not think you're lacking in low end. You can always use the "trim" or whatever it's called on the back (the adjustment) to make the second 2W blend with the room.
My guess is that the warning against blending the Q sub with the regular one is that you'll possibly hear qualitative differences from each, or that it'll be hard to get the sub with extra driver to blend with the other one.
I spent tons of time obsessing about bass anomalies when reading about building HT's and worried that I'd get bad bass. All for nothing. The sound is terrific. I'm guessing you'll do well also with a couple 2W's, and they are cheap! Used for about $6-700.00 on audiogon. My goodness! With twin subs and 3's you'll have PLENTY of bass!
Then again, I'm now in middle of obtaining my second pair of Eminent Technology LFT-8's so I can run TWO pair of them as my main speaker. Each one has an 8" woofer. So, I'll end up with ten bass drivers running - Six in the two subs, and four in the main speaker(s). So, I'll get my share of bass too! What's sweet is that all the bass drivers will be 8" which means less distortion (typically)than using larger drivers.
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