Vandie .7 vs Maggie .7

Congrats on the purchase! For the benefit of those who are looking at such decisions, there is another option which "splits the difference," the Eminent Technology LFT-8B. I reviewed it, and found it lovely because it is a sort of synthesis between the two speakers discussed by the OP. I found significant differences and weaknesses in both speakers, and wished there to be a speaker capturing the strengths of each. The LFT-8B is about as close as one will get at the price. 

Got the Tung sol into the Saga.. And I'm liking it very much. Have not switched the digital cable yet... Thats on the board next.

Bdp 

Talisker for me, please

OP: 
Once you decide whether you prefer planar or dynamic speaker presentation, you can then dial in the rest of your system.  As a long-time fan of Magnepans, I find it unfortunate that there is so much plain bunk and misinformation online about Magnepans.

I usually listen to my .7's at modest volume levels and they sound great in an all tube system.  In some ways they are easier to position than dynamic speakers, as long as you can bring them out from the front wall at least 3'- and that's also the case for most other speakers.

In any event, upgrade your front end and your speakers will give you what they're being fed, more or less. 

Mmmm, Scotch....
I prefer the Balvenie....
B

a NOS made in USA Tung-Sol ?

let us know what it does....

tube rolling is like sampling bottles of Scotch....ha

Tom, I did catch that... I bought a Tung Sol tube for my Saga...my first tube rolling. I'll see what it does. Someone else bought the same tube for his Saga and was very pleased.

catch JA video interview of Richard at CES for insight into his designs and i believe an interesting VLR development..... he mentions SEAS as the driver supplier now but an upcoming change to Scanspeak.....

nice
spades are your friend !
yes banana is easy and in the garage and repair bench Pamona bananas everywhere
but for a good gas tight high current connection, pretty much nothing beats a soft metal low mass spade....yrmv
well nice to hear on the LINN amp singing ;-)
let us know how the signal digital cable works out !!!!!

Good evening.. I hit the Linn Lk140 yesterday... And tonight is my 2nd session.. The Linn like the NAD has a stand by mode.. So the power supply is always charged.. After 24 plus hours... It's the best sound I've had to date. Very musical... That Linns are know for.

The orchestra instruments have more character... More meat... My favorite female singers are much more fleshed out than ever before... Same DAC V90... The amp made a good difference...

I'm back... I got gold plated AQ copper spades today and removed the AQ silver reusable BFA bananas... And I'm a believer... Everything is tighter.. Better in every respect... That was easy...!! I'm listening on all DAC comments.. Is there anything between my V90 and the Codex?
I have a budget.. As far as speaker wire I use Signal Cable silver reference.. Don't feel I need to change these out.. Pretty darn  happy with them. Sorry to say the Blue Jeans digital coax beat out the AQ Cinnamon.. Easily... Might order the Signal Cable silver resolution digital coax to Compare.  Next purchase will be heavy stands... Oh some more news... I'm selling  my NAD 326BEE.. It's here on Audiogon and Ebay.. Lower than the 4 other ads I see out there. 2 years ago I owned a Linn LK85 sold it to buy the NAD... I went fishing and saw a Linn LK140  got it for 350.00  its on its way.  I know this opens up another thread.. But when I sold Linn back in the 90's.. I grew to love their stuff  the LK85 was very musical.. I expect the LK140 to be even better. I took the NAD out of the system to take pictures.. I have an Adcom GFA535II.. And it's doing a very nice job.. A little mellow compared to the 326bee.. But imaging and soundstage are all there. I'll be selling this too.. I modified it with an IEC AC socket and swamped out the  input connectors for some better oxygen free ones.. I'm using a 10 gauge power cord and this one modification has made a big difference... Replacing the 14 gauge zip cord this amp comes with... Before power cords became the rage.

After the linn gets into the rig I bet I'll have more to talk about  Main things these speakers have really been wonderful to own. Thank you guys who put me onto them!!!

In my opinion, the Schiit Yggy or Gungnir is comparable to an Ayre Codex. I owned just about all the Schiit DAC's and can honestly say that sound reproduction gets better with each model up. The Bifrost (I had the Multibit) is a great DAC, but compared to the Codex, it is way behind. 
B

Otto,
 Ill take that bet, strongly agree with Tomic on this one.
 Get an 8 Ft DBS AudioQuest Go Four about 5 bills new as well
After 4 days run in it should easily outperform what you have now, the other Shiet as well, and save your postage.
 Best,
 JohnnyR
PS
As Well, Hey that would make a nice name for one of AQs Cables Initials WEL  As Well the last cable you'll ever need.

Otto
i have been to Schitter mecca, it all sounds the same thru the junk cheapo cables they use.......
but hey it works for them....
and yes i love his book
and his business model
but i do wonder if they have had a listen to the room the demo in.....
i run blue jeans in my vintage system
a 25’ rca out to the power amp cause my preamp can drive that
and a bi-wire set of the Belden
but you just know tge Audioquest old as the hills type 6 set i have laying around kills it.....
solid core, geometry, ?????
maybe Bill Low can hear.....
let me know if ya want to borrow a set...
of course they are terminated for Vandersteens

Thank you for the comments on digital cables... I've been using a Blue Jeans coax.. Their best... They make a strong case on their site for materials, construction and termination. These guys do NOT buy into the total crazy mania of multi 100's and 1000.00's of dollars spent on exotic cables. I am NOT defending their philosophy here... As I know this is a wide open subject... And many will defend their current use of whatever cable costing whatever... Does in there system. To divurge a bit  back to my selling days.. The store I worked at... We had Audio quest and we sold Miles and miles of all the models... Stick a Lapis cable in place of stock wire... Or a Ruby(  I'm dating myself)  along with the still ever popular Type 4 speaker wire.... I get it... And it's about budget and return on the dollar. Back to coax.. I took the Audioquest Cinamon out 6 months ago and did not change out the Blue Jeans.. Pretty happy with it. I will swap it out soon... And see what happens... Now that I have the VLRS.. I also have a run of the best optical cable from Signal cable... ( many many positive reviews in Audiogon.com and customers)   and have my little face off with these 3 wires... I'm not going to buy a 500.00 digital cable.. I'm not in that realm... Small bites. The speaker stands are next. It will be very interesting to me to hear the difference in cinder blocks and heavy steel stands... I'm expecting an improvement based on all feedback. I sold speaker stands.. I've used them in the past.. I have a very good steel and wood equipment rack. Past 25 years  I've had BW 603s II so no need for stands... When I bought some monitors I had some block around the house and just threw them up on them.

Can't I mention the Bitfrost again... The single bit version fully tricked out  with the latest USB Gen 5 board is 599.00...one of the best features of this model is.. Schiit says it can ALWAYS be updated and will not be dumper trash in tears to come. For 600.00 bucks I think that's a great feature. With 15 day return policy... When I get to this.. It won't be a problem... If it doesn't sound any better then the V90.. I send it back.

Have a great night
Otto

Agree with Tom. I have a glass optical by Wireworld called the Super Nova 7. It makes a really good case for toslink. Using it to connect my Bluesound Node 2 to my Ayre Codex.

Glass, real glass Optical
but I like Your and Johnny R thinking, now that you have a resolving speaker use it to find what works best in your system
enjoy the music !!!!

Otto
 Make sure you Compare Audioquest Optical and other interconnects like AQ Vulcan and AQ Go Four w DBS all the way through for best coherence.
With the Coax drivers try 24 inches first and then pu some books on blocks to and raise to 30 inches to see what you like best the lower 24s may give you best bass closer to wall and floor.
 Best JohnnyR

Thank you Tom!! I think it will be 28"  I measured the height of my ears at my seat.. About 30".  Audio Advisor.. 229.00  spades are on order... By the way.. Any recommendations on digital cable? I use the best blue jeans coax... I took out an Audio quest Cinnimon months ago... I think I plug it back in.... I now have speakers can can reveal these kinds of difference... Also... I have an optical cable... What is the general concensus on coax Vs optical? I've read in some posts long ago.. Optical is superior? 

You will not get any guff from me on shot or sand filled heavy Pangea with carpet spikes and bluetac 

have at it !!!!!

Hello Tubes.. We'll this seals the deal... Unless I can get a big beast if an amp.. No point owning Maggie's... I'm ready think the 2wq sub will be a great addition someday... I don't know what can beat these VLRs.. Without speaker many, 1000s...which can be spent in a better front end...

Combining all the wires made a nice difference....MK sub is better all the way around.

Bob and TOM,,,got it  Locked and loaded! 2 hours ago I cut off the Bi-wire bananas and used the Audioquest Silver ( reuseable) Bananas to combine into one. Here's the model of this connector Audioquest Suregrip 100 BFA's. I WILL order their heavy duty silver plated spaces and I will redo the wires. Back in the day... this kind of attention to detail was so much fun...like listening to different kinds of solder >..when Wonder Solder was the BuZZ. So.... I'll be listening with the BFA's   and then have the chance to report back on the spades and what difference they are going to make!! Back some comments, I said I was going to change Sub's; to my M&K MX125  its a dual 12''s in a push pull configuration. I'm running a cd on repeat for a few hours and will go and listen a little later tonight.. On listening to 1 track, I like the MK....its been sitting in my PC system all along...using the HSU crossover and their sub. John, I am running the sub from a 2nd output for the Schiit SAGA..line level.. and controlling the bass level and xover point manually right at my listening perch. I have the sub close to me. I think this is going to be MUCH BETTER,,,until I can get the VANDY  sub.

I'k looking at stands next. I might take some lumps here... but not willing to spend 600.00 on sound anchors..I was looking at Pangea  they have a regular weight and a heavy weight..**249.00 for the heavy,,,reviews are very good and say these stands are HEAVY... much more in my range....I will either fill with sand and or shot. I am convinced better stands will add more definition. So I have a few new things going on. I wish I could POP for the Ayre Codex I see 3 for sale,,,just can't right now. I will sell the V90..and I am selling on Craigslist my recent pair of Wharfedale Diamond 240;s  for 650.00 I'm on board for the Codex! 

Huh?

The mighty 7 use gold plated soft buss bar terminal strip cause he can’t find ANYTHING better at any $$$$, so do the model 7 amps

every speaker in Line uses the terminal for an excellent reason IMO

just do the math on contact area cause you know those banana plugs deform

i use them when I have 2

Otto, I was warned not to use the terminals for banana, as they weren't designed for that purpose-I think it was Mr. V, himself). And, I think it was Mr. V. who liked spades best because they provide the best connectivity.
There are some banana to spade adaptors available if you don't want to cut things up.
Bob

John I agree 100%,I read through the site and never knew RV handles the sub woofer so differently than everyone else. It's alot smarter for sure. John do you agree I can combine the biwire together... I can use spades.. I'd order some more... I use the Audio quest silver reusable Bananas. And will push into the terminal strip. Unless you insist on spades and use the screws...  thank you John for all your help for comments and advice I will give you a call one day

Otto,
When the time comes for a 2WQ the Cool thing with your NAD is it already has Preamp out and main in
Easy to work with a Vandy 2WQ Sub and maintain phase and time correct and full range operation.
The bass transition w/ VLRs and or any Vandies is unique and well thought out. The design offers its seamless full range response hooking up at speaker level off your speaker jacks.
This Vandy X2 inserts between (Nad jumpers removed) Pre out main in allows for your NAD to be relieved of heavy lifting (lowest bass) and focus better with 80 hz on up this makes the NAD or any amp faster more transparent and clearer.
The 2WQ is famous with Music, it’s 3 8 Inch woofers in a sealed enclosure, non-current limiting self contained amp takes on lowest bass and is flexible with the adjustments needed to bond with your room,
In my opinion, is easily preferable or settling for less transparent sounding IC type designs w steep order x overs found in most other types.
Best JohnnyR

Thank you all for your great comments. The stands will have to be next then! I don't have a multi K. Budget.. So I'll have to go in small steps. Making it a little harder.. Squeezing what I can from  every move. After the stands we're spilt on DAC and better amp. If the bananas,  which are Audioquest Silver.. Fit right into the terminal strip... What is to gained by re terminating the wires to spades and using screws? I can send the wires back to Signal Cable... Just don't see it... Please enlighten me. I will admit... Lol full disclosure.. The signal cables are a biwire set up... I'm only using half.... I have other cables... Some Audioquest, Mogami,  I'll try them... I'll re terminate the biwire myself into silver spades. I also changed the hi pass cutoff from 91 to 62... And the results are working out as I hoped. Down the road... I'll definitely look into the Vandy sub.   Cheers

How wonderful:-)

i second the rock rock solid sound anchors, there are other brands also, Johnny R will know

you really should re reterminate to spades, any decent Audioquest dealer will do this for Low money $$$$

finally you will be shocked what a Vandersteen sub can do with it’s speaker level integration 

but it take time to enjoy them !!!!!

An Ayre Codex is probably more similar to the Schiit Gungnir or Yggy, than the Bifrost.
Either of the three would be a significant upgrade.
Now I really kick myself for not getting that pair of VLR's last year.
Bob

You’ll notice a much greater difference with by going the route of amplification.

IMO, SS DACs belong in the category of placebo products, i.e. cables, fuses, and most power conditioning. If you want a different flavor of sound (not necessarily better) you can get it with a tube DAC.

Another path that will yield greater results is a speaker stand upgrade. Anything that’s mechanically coupled to your speakers will affect resonance behavior and therefore, the sound. This is clearly audible. $600 on Sound Anchor stands is a vastly better purchase than $600 on a DAC.

If you get something like a Bifrost, and you’re objective in your listening, you’ll realize why the $300 V90 DAC is rated "class A" by Stereophool, higher than far more expensive pieces like Shiit’s Yggdrasil. Hint: it’s not because it’s better.
BTW, I’ve owned the V90 DAC. I also own a DAC that retailed for $1800. If I’m honest with myself, they sound almost identical to my $100 Topping DAC.

Yes, Ayre Codex.  Ayre + Vandersteen is a great combo.  (check out my system page!) 

Used Ayre Codex...

I'm listening to first dose of female vocals and it's the best I've heard in all my system.I thank you guys for putting me on to the Vlrs....boy I'd love to do o a face off with the LS 50s!! Lol

I'm smiling ear to ear...I'm hearing more details from my music than ever before. Next decision/direction? I have a Musical Fidelity v90 dac. Pretty incredible piece for 299.00. Reviews you know are Gaga.  Do I do a Bitfrosh. Or keep the top and replace the NAD with a Schiit Vidar? Hummmm. What do you all think...

I'm back. First....the banana terminated Silver Signal speaker wires fit perfectly into the connectors terminal strip. Was this designed in? Took the screws out and put them in...perfect. GEZZZZZ I am very HAPPY! I'll going to sound like a reviewer I guess...but its my opinion. After 2 hours things started settling in. The VLR's have to be the most revealing speakers I've ever heard/owned. I'm going to start another thread about Hi-passing, because to my amazement, I started listening full range w/o the HSU electronic xover...then went back and forth on the same tracks. And I started to notice the music was fuller, had more body. I know, some may say....there is NO place for this "crap" in audiophile listening.I am putting this out here to get opinions. As I said I'll start another thread and see what this community thinks of the whole concept. Bi and tri amping are used in professional sound reinforcement, so why not in home audio?

More....I'm going to contact HSU and discuss this with them...my question, : does a crossover add some kind of phase abnormalities or something to the mix? I'm sure Dr HSU is no dummy....nether is M&K and others. Now I have 1 sneaking suspicion. Could it be the 90hz xover point I have have had it set to all these years? It came with a 70 or 75hz module..its a IC that plugs into the socket. MAYBE, just maybe changing this out will solve the slight less "body" I hear...I say body... but I was listing to Roy Hargrove's Moment to Moment CD... ( I'm a trumpet player ),and his horn just had more overall body and was more real without the crossover button pushout   I can use it or not with a push button.I know... I would be eliminating 3 pairs of cables too...and this electonic box in the signal path...which many might say....NO WAY... I would ever use this. Soooo....I'll change out the IC..and see if this does,,,,then I will have the benefits of hi=passing....I will run the VLR;s full range...and may add the sub very low...and set the crossover on the sub to the lowest setting.... and see what happens. The  bass on the VLR's is thinner for sure than a big tower....but its all "integrated together. To close this out...please let me know if any still think the 1ci's or the 2Ce's are still the better way to go...there will be no need for a sub and crossover is not part of the equation anymore. I was so relaxed this afternoon listening to this cd...I fell alseep....hahaha. Finally real music... I value tonal accuracy above all in my listening....since I know live music so well ( I mentioned this long ago, I direct an 18 pc Jazz Big band )...this is the most important to me. Recreating a live space is so room dependent...its not top on mind. Give me a decent soundstage,  but tonal accuracy...I'll take that.

Otto 

(((When I had 1Cis, they had a strange distortion characteristic in the upper midrange.)))
Helomecch
You seem to go thru change with many speakers and amps.
reading the Vandy manual and others is important and may prove beneficial.
Most speakers need 200 hrs run in and perhaps your speakers were too far out from the front wall or side walls for decent even power response, not dealing with the first reflection points off the side walls.
Perhaps compounded with a hi feedback Chinese amp in the chain.
squeaky, wispy, multi-strand speaker wires.
The Vandy’s set up right, bases filled, tilted back, achieve superb delivered performance.
Definitely, sound great with Belles Aria, ARC, Quicksilver, Rogue Audio, Audioquest cables, etc
The VLRs bass is less extended yet true to life, the midrange is more sophisticated than most because unlike other smaller speakers they don’t have a built-in bass hump.
This in itself is refreshing and surprising at the same time for the music.
Note VLRs get set right up against the front wall and pointing straight forward.
Best,
JohnnyR

@audioconnection 

When I had 1Cis, they had a strange distortion characteristic in the upper midrange. It wasn't present in all music, but often enough that I couldn't live with them. I let them break-in for about 100 hours, but this trait remained. It was the only real qualm I had with those speakers. Being that the VLRs are slightly higher in price, are they a better speaker than the 1Cis (with the obvious exception of bass extension)? Are they smoother through the midrange?

Otto Great move.
 Many Kef 50 owners with the Metal drivers after hearing the Vandy VLRs say I wish I had heard these things first.

(((am going to do a small MOD....take the terminal strip OUT and replace the copper binding posts. I also asked RV if there are any upgrade to these)))

Otto The Terminal strip sounds better than the fire hydrant connections.
 Most folks never did the actual listing test and A/B these things.
 I have and it's not even close terminal strips more cohesive.
 
Take that energy and put it into some used Audioquest Go 4 with DBS
 or find a Pre-owned Belles Aria integrated / Rotel Dac amazing combination.
  Best,
 JohnnyR

Congrats on the VLR’s a fantastic and as you have seem overlooked coax that can give the deservingly lauded Kef a run for the money !!!

on stands I would say concrete is pretty light, porous and resonant in blocks, invest in some Sound Anchor or other metal stands, Blu Tac is worth its weight in gold!!!

do not modify the inputs, even the 7 use the barrier strip gold plated soft brass tied directly to the crossover as only the frugal Dutchman can do

serious do not change those !!!!

enjoy and keep us filled in !!

Hummm.. Ok... I'll have to use
Different cables... Thank you for that 

+3 on not removing terminal strips.
Just listen to them before doing surgery.

Changing the terminal strip NOT recommended by Richard V.

Think twice about removing the terminal strip on the VLRs. On Vandies, the terminal strip is tied right into the crossover, giving a very direct connection.  If binding posts sounded better that's what RV would have used.  That said, they're your babies, so do as you wish!!  Enjoy!

You could do much worse than cinder blocks. Blu Tack also works great. 

I think you made the right move with speakers. Schiit is an awesome company. I once sent them an email at 1:00 a.m. on a Saturday and received a reply within 20 min!

about good stands....ya know what I have been using with monitors for years? Cinder blocks... yeah Im cheap... but as far as heavy stands...what could be better than concrete? I use Blue tac under the speakers...seems to work just fine. There is room to improve the amp... ( NAD 326BEE )...at the same breath....this amp is very good...strong reviews...etc.. I was looking at the Schiit Vidar when this all started, then I took a 180 and at the suggestion of the Schiit tech..( he said look for better speakers)...I switched my buying from an amp to speakers.

Thank you Don for your comments. This past Saturday I spent over an hour listening to the 1.7 and then the vandersteen 1cis... the Maggie's were very very good huge soundstage but to the point when I switched  to the vandersteen 1ci's..I  heard spatial cues and stuff in my CDs which I've heard for years and years that I never heard before at that point I was convinced that the Vandersteen were more resolving and more revealing than even the Maggie's., some of the comments here have been I should go for the 2ce, While others put me on to the vlr.  I'm so grateful that I was led to the VLRs cuz that's where I live real accurate reproduction and I purchase them over the larger 1ci is because I don't need Bass I have a subwoofer and a crossover that I'm going to use. Maybe one day on a whim I'll order the mmg's but when I was at the dealer he suggested forget the they are just an appetizer the 1.7 is really where you want to be that's where you really want to start. I think listening through an all tube integrated might have soften the overall response. The Rogue I'm sure is real quality stuff. I owned IIIa's in the 90s...i know the sound.. Also know.. I don't have the amp right now to feed the 1.7's properly. I really really lucked out finding 4 year old VLRS for 700.00...it was too good to pass up. I appreciate your enthusiasm for Magna pan... Maybe another time...