Mystery
constantly upgrading...
Recently got Vandersteen 3A Signature speakers.
I'm glad that I didn't have to pay the $4.5k new price for these.
Not proper setup due to incomplete floor work but so far these Vandersteen 3A Signature speakers are very impressive already.
For now, I'm using Rotel RB-990BX amp with Harman Kardon Signature AP2500 pre and Nakamichi CD changer.
The Rotel is rated at 200 wpc @ 8 ohms and 330 wpc @ 4 ohms.
3A's are 6 ohms so I'm guessing Rotel can push at least 250 wpc at that load???
Interconnects are Delta Audio Tributaris from CD to pre and Tara Labs Prism 22 from pre to amp.
Speaker cables are Proflex by Pro Connect (no idea how good/bad these are).
These speakers have controls for mids and highs on the back. They are both at 0db at the moment.
Speakers are against the wall but due to the sound anchors, speaker cabinets are around a foot away from wall so not too bad.
My living/dining room is around 25 ft x 12.5 ft.
There is a small arch that divides the two areas so living room alone where the speakers are measures 12.5 x 12.5 with one side open to dining and another side with around 2.5 feet open to the windows.
May be not ideal for the 3A's.
I can put them on the window side but then I have to put couch in the middle of the room making the whole room cluttered.
Will see what works best later.
Listened at little higher than normal volume.
It was peaking at 91-92dB with median at around 79-81dB at my listening position using Android noise meter app.
Two things are very unique:
1. The highs extend/project way past me.
I have listened to many different tweeters from soft dome, horn, burhoe etc... but none of them project highs with that extension way past me.
I am listening to the same CD's that I've had for years.
Most other speakers end highs too soon or they don't have enough force/snap/impact.
I'm not sure if I'm describing properly.
I have Klipsch horns that are louder but even they don't have that upper frequency extension/impact.
I only realized that after 3A's had that additional impact in the highs in some parts of songs and I thought, "Hmm that was there all the time?".
And that sounds very good.
2. Another is the bass.
The bass is very very fast and goes back to blackness (new word I learned
).
It's like springy action. I'm not sure if that's from the 8" woofer or the 10" woofer.
I can hear bass from drums as well as tacky sound from hitting the drums.
The boom of one note doesn't go over another note.
It's produces bass and goes back quickly to produce another one.
I have sealed speakers with fast bass but these are even faster.
Also, when I was listening to some female vocals at the top of their lungs (like Unbreak my heart), I always noticed some peaky notes that are slightly harsh when they sing at their full volume.
However, with 3A's, my mind was expecting that peak on the vocals and it's not there.
It's just smooth and rolls off cleanly.
I think this is the first time I forgot about speakers when listening music.
Music was not limited to the two speakers. It was all around and nothing crowded.
Every instrument was clean, clear, separate, open and effortless, yet all came together.
They are very easy on the ears.
No stress, no spikes, just smooth and detailed music.
Very very musical speakers.
So to sum up, two thumbs and two toes way up. :thmbsp:
Right now, they are around 8 feet apart and my couch is around 9 feet from each speaker.
Once flooring is done for good, need to move around things to see where they look/fit/sound even better.
Then I can bring another pair to compare if needed.
The only thing that bothers me is the height of tweeters.
It's much higher than ear level when sitting on the couch.
I guess Vandersteen compensated for that when designing tall floor standers.
Highlight: I was listening to few songs before heading to work this morning and after few songs, baby woke up and wife came downstairs with the baby.
She stood there for few minutes listening and said, "These speakers are really very good".
She likes Bostons A400's (my favorite until now) as well and doesn't want to sell them so we are planning on putting them in another room.
That means, Bostons may never go head to head against the 3A's.
****************
Any suggestion on what amp/pre is better than what I'm using for the 3A's?
Or your experience with these speakers?
Thanks
I'm glad that I didn't have to pay the $4.5k new price for these.
Not proper setup due to incomplete floor work but so far these Vandersteen 3A Signature speakers are very impressive already.
For now, I'm using Rotel RB-990BX amp with Harman Kardon Signature AP2500 pre and Nakamichi CD changer.
The Rotel is rated at 200 wpc @ 8 ohms and 330 wpc @ 4 ohms.
3A's are 6 ohms so I'm guessing Rotel can push at least 250 wpc at that load???
Interconnects are Delta Audio Tributaris from CD to pre and Tara Labs Prism 22 from pre to amp.
Speaker cables are Proflex by Pro Connect (no idea how good/bad these are).
These speakers have controls for mids and highs on the back. They are both at 0db at the moment.
Speakers are against the wall but due to the sound anchors, speaker cabinets are around a foot away from wall so not too bad.
My living/dining room is around 25 ft x 12.5 ft.
There is a small arch that divides the two areas so living room alone where the speakers are measures 12.5 x 12.5 with one side open to dining and another side with around 2.5 feet open to the windows.
May be not ideal for the 3A's.
I can put them on the window side but then I have to put couch in the middle of the room making the whole room cluttered.
Will see what works best later.
Listened at little higher than normal volume.
It was peaking at 91-92dB with median at around 79-81dB at my listening position using Android noise meter app.
Two things are very unique:
1. The highs extend/project way past me.
I have listened to many different tweeters from soft dome, horn, burhoe etc... but none of them project highs with that extension way past me.
I am listening to the same CD's that I've had for years.
Most other speakers end highs too soon or they don't have enough force/snap/impact.
I'm not sure if I'm describing properly.
I have Klipsch horns that are louder but even they don't have that upper frequency extension/impact.
I only realized that after 3A's had that additional impact in the highs in some parts of songs and I thought, "Hmm that was there all the time?".
And that sounds very good.
2. Another is the bass.
The bass is very very fast and goes back to blackness (new word I learned
).It's like springy action. I'm not sure if that's from the 8" woofer or the 10" woofer.
I can hear bass from drums as well as tacky sound from hitting the drums.
The boom of one note doesn't go over another note.
It's produces bass and goes back quickly to produce another one.
I have sealed speakers with fast bass but these are even faster.
Also, when I was listening to some female vocals at the top of their lungs (like Unbreak my heart), I always noticed some peaky notes that are slightly harsh when they sing at their full volume.
However, with 3A's, my mind was expecting that peak on the vocals and it's not there.
It's just smooth and rolls off cleanly.
I think this is the first time I forgot about speakers when listening music.
Music was not limited to the two speakers. It was all around and nothing crowded.
Every instrument was clean, clear, separate, open and effortless, yet all came together.
They are very easy on the ears.
No stress, no spikes, just smooth and detailed music.
Very very musical speakers.
So to sum up, two thumbs and two toes way up. :thmbsp:
Right now, they are around 8 feet apart and my couch is around 9 feet from each speaker.
Once flooring is done for good, need to move around things to see where they look/fit/sound even better.
Then I can bring another pair to compare if needed.
The only thing that bothers me is the height of tweeters.
It's much higher than ear level when sitting on the couch.
I guess Vandersteen compensated for that when designing tall floor standers.
Highlight: I was listening to few songs before heading to work this morning and after few songs, baby woke up and wife came downstairs with the baby.
She stood there for few minutes listening and said, "These speakers are really very good".
She likes Bostons A400's (my favorite until now) as well and doesn't want to sell them so we are planning on putting them in another room.
That means, Bostons may never go head to head against the 3A's.
****************
Any suggestion on what amp/pre is better than what I'm using for the 3A's?
Or your experience with these speakers?
Thanks
so that won't come home unless I find one on the curb. 
