Vandersteen 2C vs JBL 4425

[ZeroG]

Wanting to thin out the herd a bit but you know how challenging it can be to let go of favorites.

Here's the thing - I have one set of early Vandersteen 2C that I have refoamed, but only one orphan JBL 4425 (in good shape) to compare it to. I've located a match for the mirror image of my JBL 4425 but the cabinet and grill needs restoration,and it's going to cost the going rate plus shipping. (If it was a bargain, I wouldn't be asking about them.)

I've never heard a pair of the 4425s, so have no idea what I'm chasing relative to the Vandy 2C.

(I cycle though the Vandys, ADS L710, Kef 104/2, and Infinity Kappa5 Series II, but mostly the ADS and the Vandys. Mostly for Classic Rock and Jazz with a little newage sound mixed in.)

(Btw, the amp they are mated to is an AVA modified Hafler XL-280 which outputs 125 very nice watts per channel. The preamp for right now is a B&K Reference 50 (my Sony TA-ES9000E recentlly bit the dust).

So how about it, AK Brethren? Has anyone heard both speakers that can offer an opinion?

Here's more dilemma: I have a pair of the JBL4311 that I'm currently involved with in a long term rebuilding/re-coning project - IOW, when I get to them some winter. There are upgraded crossover designs available for these that promise to make them awesome and amazing. How would the modded 4311 compare to the stock 4425s?

I should probably keep this simple and just ask about the Vandersteen 2C versus to JBL 4425, though the electronics are also good to know.


Thanks!

 

[Johnny_Law]

Which gen 2C's are they? I figure that'll help someone who has heard them with the comparison.

(I've never heard 4425s - I have 4412s - but I also have 2Ce's and 2Ci's.)

 

[ZeroG]

They are first generation 2C - That's the one with the foam surrounds, as mentioned. Later ones were all rubber or neoprene or whatever was not foam.

 

[Zonker92]

I don't know about the Vandersteens or modded 4311s, but I have had both stock 4311s and stock 4425s, and I much (much) prefer the 4425s to the stock 4311s. The 4425s really are nice speakers, much more refined and linear than the 4311s, with excellent bass response.

 

[hjames]

I've had 2CIs and 2CEs and a couple 3 way JBLs - but not the 4425.
I think that 4425 would trump those early vandys ... but might not trump 2CEs ...

 

[ZeroG]

I don't know about the Vandersteens or modded 4311s, but I have had both stock 4311s and stock 4425s, and I much (much) prefer the 4425s to the stock 4311s. The 4425s really are nice speakers, much more refined and linear than the 4311s, with excellent bass response.

Yeah, this was the question within the question. I'm sure the 4425 blow the 4311 away, but wondered what effect the hotrodded Xovers would have on that comparison.

 

[Johnny_Law]

They are first generation 2C - That's the one with the foam surrounds, as mentioned. Later ones were all rubber or neoprene or whatever was not foam.

Ah ok. Wasn't sure because I haven't yet lifted the skirts of my 2Ci's. My 2Ce's required both woofer and mid re-foam but the active radiators have rubber surrounds.

If you're talking about active crossovers, I'd also love to know, just received my 9V battery holders in the mail yesterday, planning to try it out.

 

[mech986]

Yeah, this was the question within the question. I'm sure the 4425 blow the 4311 away, but wondered what effect the hotrodded Xovers would have on that comparison.

If the hot-rodded 4311 crossovers are like the Danish or Murphy mods for the L100 home equivalent, they smooth out the response quite a bit so if you like the paper mid and tweeter sound, they will be much better than the originals' voicing. The 4425 was a much newer design with a better crossover, well designed 12" woofer and much smoother with better dispersion due to the horn. It doesn't have an ultimate top end (tops out around 16K) though.

If I may ask, where are you importing the speakers from and where in SoCal are you? There are some 4425's in whole and partial form if you need them in SoCal depending on how little or how much work you want to do to have a mate. PM me for details if interested.

 

[ZeroG]

PM sent.