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Recommend me some Cerwin-Vegas

Cajunchuck

Cajunchuck

Active Member
Yes that's right I've decided that Cerwin-Vegas will suit me well. What series generally sounds best among them? I've been looking at D3's hard but are the others better-sounding? In any case I would like ten-inch drivers in whatever I decide. I know that many dislike their sound but I feel they would be perfect for me. I like rock and like it loud at times. Also do a lot of non-critical listening working around the house, etc. Budget about $400 or so. Thanks!
 
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I have some DX5 that perform very nicely, great for rock, I think they are 12" woofers, I don't use them as much since I got some ESS AMT's so I'll probably end up selling or trading them. If you happen to be in the N IL area you could listen to them.
 
Cajunchuck said:
Yes that's right I've decided that Cerwin-Vegas will suit me well. What series generally sounds best among them? I've been looking at D3's hard but are the others better-sounding? In any case I would like ten-inch drivers in whatever I decide. I know that many dislike their sound but I feel they would be perfect for me. I like rock and like it loud at times. Also do a lot of non-critical listening working around the house, etc. Budget about $400 or so. Thanks!
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I'll go so far as to agree that the vast majority of Cerwin Vega speakers (there seem to be a very few exceptions) may be just fine for "non-critical listening", but not much else. :D
 
I get that. From reading here for the past few weeks though I understand that some of them CAN sound OK. For my needs at the present time that may be good enough. Now I'll ask again-which CV's have the better overall sound?
 
Cajunchuck said:
I get that. From reading here for the past few weeks though I understand that some of them CAN sound OK. For my needs at the present time that may be good enough. Now I'll ask again-which CV's have the better overall sound?
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Several folks here have that generally do not care for CV's do indicate that the D9 model rises above the rest and others have opined that the CLS series also are good.
 
darkblue94 said:
Several folks here have that generally do not care for CV's do indicate that the D9 model rises above the rest and others have opined that the CLS series also are good.
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If you hit the multi quote button for each post you want them hit insert quotes in lower left of screen, ok the review of quotes, them type into them and wala post

2manyspkers said:
If you just hit reply it will quote a single message, like this.
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Sound is the resulting interaction of equipment and the ability of the owner to understand that adjustment is everything. Why do you think that most CV speakers have adjustable crossovers? But if your the kind of person that relies on a signature sound created by the manufacturer this speaker maybe too much for a person to wrap their heads around. If you've got the tone controls bi-passed on your amp, then you don't have the ability to enable these speakers. Only equipment that can be accurately adjusted can be used with CV speakers to create a specific sound. Other than that, if you hook them up to a traditional receiver with only a bass and treble knob your going to end up with an over amount of bass. That's why so many people have referred to CV's as party speakers. You have to use a ten-band EQ to adjust the signal prior to adjusting the crossovers to get the sound you exactly prefer. I've had people listen to my system and ask me if I rebuilt the crossovers...... The sound is the result of the combination of equipment and how it is adjusted and not dependent on one piece of equipment. Then there are CV's that sound much better than the usual D3's or D7's, the Cerwin Vegas from the ninties had more of a phenomenal sound once you got everything adjusted.
 
No
Cajunchuck said:
Yes that's right I've decided that Cerwin-Vegas will suit me well. What series generally sounds best among them? I've been looking at D3's hard but are the others better-sounding? In any case I would like ten-inch drivers in whatever I decide. I know that many dislike their sound but I feel they would be perfect for me. I like rock and like it loud at times. Also do a lot of non-critical listening working around the house, etc. Budget about $400 or so. Thanks!
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No disrespect, but how do you decide on a speaker brand without listening to a particular model that you want? If you are looking for heavy bass, CV will probably fit the bill as will speakers such as the Realistic Mach 1 and 2 or the Infinity SM series. There are so many models that you can not generalize what any speaker brand sounds like, you just need to listen to the ones you are considering.
 
darkblue94 said:
I'll go so far as to agree that the vast majority of Cerwin Vega speakers (there seem to be a very few exceptions) may be just fine for "non-critical listening", but not much else. :D
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darkblue94 said:
Several folks here have that generally do not care for CV's do indicate that the D9 model rises above the rest and others have opined that the CLS series also are good.
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HTHMAN said:
No

No disrespect, but how do you decide on a speaker brand without listening to a particular model that you want? If you are looking for heavy bass, CV will probably fit the bill as will speakers such as the Realistic Mach 1 and 2 or the Infinity SM series. There are so many models that you can not generalize what any speaker brand sounds like, you just need to listen to the ones you are considering.
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Also no disrespect intended ....
By the same token the OP asks for suggestions on what models of a speaker brand he should look at, and evidently likes, and with the first few responses is told that all the models they make but one or two are fairly crappy sounding. Might be a bit overly critical, and also assumes the second poster has actually listened to all the models of speakers that CV has made over the years....seems doubtful.
 
I've enjoyed many CV speakers over the years. They simultaneously deserve and do not deserve their rep, i feel.

Find some D9's, or even some DX-9's. Then there are those ones that famous AK'er Thor had. I'd rock those in a minute.

Also, while they're efficient, they REALLY get better with heavy doses of wattage.
 
Cajunchuck said:
I get that. From reading here for the past few weeks though I understand that some of them CAN sound OK. For my needs at the present time that may be good enough. Now I'll ask again-which CV's have the better overall sound?
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Don't take it the wrong way Cajunchuck but nobody can say what will sound the best to you except you. We all hear differently. But I am confident that with $400 American you can do very well. The D9's can be had for that much and are 350w / 8ohm. The nice thing about the D series is they are all 8ohm speakers so no problem running four on most amps.

However other series have some 6ohm and 4ohm units - VS120 = 12" woof/250w/4ohm so you might have trouble running four of those on some amps. VS-100's =10" woof and they're 125w/8ohm so no problem with four. Then there are the E-315's which in my opinion put the D9's to shame. They both have 15" woofs and are 8ohm but the E goes up to 400w and you can run four no probs. I like the E look better with just the 3 drivers and bigger cabs than the D's - nice and clean. I bought a pair of black from 1999 in mint shape on Kijiji in November for $400 CDN! I bought another set of E-315's in the summer - brown ones from 1990 for $100 with rough cabs and needing surrounds but all drivers working.

The price I paid for a pair of VS-100=$120 all drivers working and grilles mint. I bought the VS-120's for $45 with blown midranges and one grille missing but I managed to buy a set of midranges and tweeters together for another $100 some time later from another ad. I own the four pair I have mentioned here so I am speaking from my personal experience and hearing. I have not heard D9's but out of the four pair I do have I prefer the E-315's hands down. You should be able to score 2 pair for $400 if you aren't picky on appearance. Or a mint set of D9's or E-315's. These two models are bass heavy with the 15". There would be no flies on 2 pair of VS-100's they could blow your head clean off and could easily be had for $400.

Then there's the AT series where the AT-15's are 400w but 4ohm so I can't run four and the others are 6ohm so same problem. AT-10's are 10" woof/125w but again 6ohms. Of course I only know what suits me from my experience with the aforementioned models and YMMV. Your hearing is unique to you alone so the only path is to dare to compare. Myself I just don't see how you can beat E-315's for their combination of looks, power, ohms and sensitivity in dB. Here's my E-315's inbetween Klipsch Cornwalls and the stack o' gear:
IMG_3246.JPG
My suggestion is to go the bigger the better but I'm a single guy who doesn't have to worry about SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed).

Please note these prices are in Canadian funds and all in 2016.
Also note I bought the VS-100's first then the VS-120's and thought WOW. Then I tapped in on the two pair of E-315's and WOW turned into OMG.
The VS-100's and 120's are now stuffed in closet for back up or sale.
Happy hunting__:thumbsup:
 
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My recommendation for a 10" woofer CV would be the E-310/E-710.

I have the E-712 and love them,and may the CV naysayers be d@mned.
Bought those new,and they're not going anywhere.

And please dont fall into the mentallity that just because CV have high sensitivity specs that they dont need plenty of power feeding them.
Ask any CV diehard and they'll tell you the more power you feed 'em the better they're going to sound.

Most of the bad rep CV gets is from folks that heard them being (under) powered by some random reciever being pushed into clipping so their owners could "rock the party"...

FWIW

Bret P.
 
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Oh yeah BTW,,,take speaker reviews w/a big 'ol grain of salt,,,especially if they're comparing the CV's with speakers costing 2-3x more & >...

JM2¢

Bret P.
 
+1 what xero-D-hero said - I experienced clipping with my Pioneer SX-680 @ 30wpc and also with the Pioneer SA-6800 @ 45wpc hooked to the 315's. I matched a Sony STR-V4 @ 55wpc with the VS-100's and it was loud and clear to about 2o'clock on the volume pot then distortion then clipped at 3. (@ 80% volume). Now I feed the 315's with a Sansui BA-2000 @ 110wpc in the current line up or a Phase Linear 400 @ 201wpc.
They likey. No clipping at all so far but haven't put the volume past half way - absolutely no point when 9 o'clock is more than intense.
 
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Cajunchuck said:
I understand that some of them CAN sound OK.
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If that's what you're looking for, avoid the AT series. My AT-15's are sublime. It's a bad source indeed that I can't close my eyes and disappear into the music. I cover a lot of music from the late 50's through now and they've never disappointed me. At least not until the ugly foam incident a few years back but we got through it.
 
I run D9s rated 400w w/ Heppler dhorm soft dome tweeters instead of the bullet horns, huge difference, fatigue instantly disappears. I also have a pair of E-712s rated 300w. They are powered by WOPL1000 amps
 
HTHMAN said:
No

No disrespect, but how do you decide on a speaker brand without listening to a particular model that you want? If you are looking for heavy bass, CV will probably fit the bill as will speakers such as the Realistic Mach 1 and 2 or the Infinity SM series. There are so many models that you can not generalize what any speaker brand sounds like, you just need to listen to the ones you are considering.
Click to expand...

Because I live in South Louisiana and don't have many options as far as listening to different speakers. Most people down here don't even know what Bose 301's sound like. Fewer even care. Sad but true.
 
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