Need your opinion on Vandersteen Speakers

[Scooby Blu]

Talked to my local dealer this week. I am just starting to price out a nice two channel system for future house. He mentioned the Vandersteen model 2Ce Signature II's. Has anyone heard these babies or have owned a Vandersteen speaker before. Thanks in andvance for any opinion's you might have. This includes you too Beta Man

[Beta Man]

They sound kinda "restrained" to me..... but certainly warm. I haven't spent much time listening to them, but I'd say 2-channel would be their forte'

Maybe they just need more room (not near walls etc...) not sure.... they sounded good, but I wasn't floored ... maybe my expectations were too high

[Scooby Blu]

I suspected you might be the first to post Beta Man. I wonder how I came to that conclusion ? Ha ha !

[Beta Man]

Woody is a big Vandersteen fan.... maybe send him a PM..... any pair in particular you're looking at? For 2 channel, I still like NICE deep bass.... but not overpowering.....

I know I've creamed over these in about 100 other threads, but here is my "holy grail" they cost less than the set of B&W 703's I got, but for 2 channel, I find them absolutely great..... really I can't justify buying anything else within $2-$3,000 of these, because I just love their sound....

This pair SOLD for less than the price of one 703..... if only I could convince the wife that we need a separate 2 channel rig

They're a thing of beauty... this picture does them no justice..... but the way they sound, they can look terrible, and I'd still buy them.

[Scooby Blu]

Those are nice. I will have to see if anyone around here carries them so I can take them for a spin.

[Beta Man]

There are another pair on Audiogon (white cloth grills) and they're only $1,250 plus shipping. I really want to get them, but I don't want to sleep on the couch for a month I have other priorities, but if I could be "foolish", I couldn't think of a better item to splurge on!

The front two rooms of the house are separated by two wood columns, and the room can be closed off from the dining room by pocket doors.... The ceilings are 10' high, and are seemless cove ceilings, so room accessories etc... would make it a great room for accoustics. We're not planning on having a t.v. etc. in those rooms either, so it'd be a great music room, but my wife wants it to be a formal sitting room, so a big set of towers would be an issue if they didn't go with the woodwork, so a sexy set of Thiels might fit the bill (but the white grills would need swapped out)

man.... I keep swaying towards the dark-side!

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Woody is a big Vandersteen fan.... maybe send him a PM.....

I think he's more of a Von Schweikert fan, no?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

I think he's more of a Von Schweikert fan, no?

DOH! yeah... I am mistaken.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Scooby Blu

Talked to my local dealer this week. I am just starting to price out a nice two channel system for future house. He mentioned the Vandersteen model 2Ce Signature II's. Has anyone heard these babies or have owned a Vandersteen speaker before. Thanks in andvance for any opinion's you might have. This includes you too Beta Man

Nice speakers, designed to be time coherant like the Thiels. Ooops Beta Man, I didn't even see your post and scrolled down and saw your pic Thinking alike man!

OP they are nice speakers - better than what you see the majorty of people offering here. HT magazine has them highly rated and I actually considered at one time replacing my Snells for these (but I changed my mind - Snells were more dynamic). Anyway - they are a good quality speaker - High-end type

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by Scooby Blu

Talked to my local dealer this week. I am just starting to price out a nice two channel system for future house. He mentioned the Vandersteen model 2Ce Signature II's. Has anyone heard these babies or have owned a Vandersteen speaker before. Thanks in andvance for any opinion's you might have. This includes you too Beta Man

In a proper two channel setup with room treatments the Vandersteen model 2Ce Signature II's are hard to beat and as good as I've heard under $3000. They are a little difficult to setup initially and Vandersteen definitely doesn't make good looking speakers, but the sound is sheer heaven. Imaging is great with a nicely detailed but analog sound. They are definitely worth checking out if you can find the time.