Vandersteen 3A Signature Speakers listening impressions...

[C.A.P]

vandys need room to breathe away from side walls and back walls.. treat them exactly like a ESL

 

[Designdweeb]

Those Vandies do need a bit of room behind them, so you might have to pick the wall opposite the staircase and put the listening position against that opposite staircase wall, albeit interfering with the traffic flow, but giving you the best option for the music.

 

[slimpikkins]

Great sounding speakers. Best live music speaker I ever heard. When a song is over you almost want to start clapping because the audience sounds like it's all around you. Very cool...
Best of luck with them.
Jim

 

[Mystery]

vandys need room to breathe away from side walls and back walls.. treat them exactly like a ESL

Those Vandies do need a bit of room behind them, so you might have to pick the wall opposite the staircase and put the listening position against that opposite staircase wall, albeit interfering with the traffic flow, but giving you the best option for the music.

Yes, I moved them on the long wall and after more crawling the speaker around, I found where they sound better than other positions.
They sound good anywhere but it's not involving if it's not positioned right.
There is kind of disconnection from music if you are not in the sweet spot.
With this placement, it's like I'm in middle of all the music.
From the middle arch, 15.25" away and 12.5" to 12" away from the back wall with .5" toe in and 77" apart cabinet to cabinet.
Sounds great and images right in between as if sound is coming from the wall.
There is some space on the right but moving the speakers further right puts the listening position where it blocks the walkway and also the sweet spot moves further behind than my listening position.

Looking down from upstairs: Look how small 50" TV looks next to these speakers.

Great sounding speakers. Best live music speaker I ever heard. When a song is over you almost want to start clapping because the audience sounds like it's all around you. Very cool...
Best of luck with them.
Jim

Hmm... I have some live music CD's. Should give them a try.

 

[C.A.P]

Mine are up and running. I'm 45 from side walls and 24 and 25 from back wall toed 1 inch

Yes the wall becomes a sound field.

The first order phase correct x over is all about seating position

Even 3 inches or less in head position can make or break the image. Back wall distance as well as distance apart can effect bass.

Really great speakers

 

[silvernutsaq]

Thanks for that review of substance for the Vandy 3A Sigs. They are on my dream list as I have enjoyed my 2CEs immensely when I had them set-up and have read about the various Model 3 incarnations. One of my fave amps for regular use with mine is the Carver M4.0t in stock form. The highs were detailed and airy, not at all bright, with the bass and mid-bass dynamic and fast similar to your experience. Of course the midrange presentation is where the Vandersweets really shine. My jazz guru buddy (who sold me 300-400 of his lp collection) had older 2Cs and used them with a big SS Bryston amp which I can`t recall the model. His sounded very nice also, but IMO not quite to the extent mine did.

I think you`d be very pleased with one of the better Carver amps like the M4.0t or TFM-42/45 (same amp). Even the M1.0t or 1.5t would be a good choice. I have other amps, but the only combo I found better was a pair of 300wpc tube monoblocks w/sextet of KT-120s. That was outstanding and if not for two very energetic young boys in the house, I`d be running that combo daily. Good luck with getting the setup just right and enjoy those fine speakers!

 

[Gang-Twanger]

I tend to think that, had the Speakercraft amp been 150wpc instead of 75, there would have been no question which one was the best for the Vandles ( ). I'm betting the boom at high volumes was simply a matter of not enough oomph. And I bet the Vandles crave quality amps the way fat kids crave Twix. That's one reason I haven't gone with one of the bigger modern speakers like these. I just don't have the cash for a high-powered amp of real quality a la' Krull (I dig that movie ), Chicken Carver (I used to love Boston Market), or Barry Levinson (I adore "Diner", "Bugsy", "Rain Man", and even "Toys", but his career really fell off after "Sphere" and "Bandits" ).

That's one issue I have with speakers that like a lot of juice... Good power costs money, and that's why I've been sticking with low-power setups (You'll never see a pair of large Magnepans in my living room, not with the power they need to sound their bestest).

By the way, I wonder if there is a way to pitch/tip the 3a's forward a bit (safely, that is) to get the tweeters pointing where needed. Placement is extremely-important with my W90's, including pitch/axis and especially height. How are the A400's in that regard?

Boy, I'd love to see the A400's and W90's go head to head against each other (or maybe side by side would be better ). The W90D's are more-closely-related in terms of design/drivers used, but I'd love to see any W90 versions go up against the A400. It looks like quite a speaker. I know the Boston sound pretty-well, so I have a rough idea of their sonic capabilities, and I bet it would be quite a fun comparison. I love huge vintage speakers like that, just as long as I can accommodate their big asses somehow.

 

[Mystery]

Yes they can be tipped forward by adjusting the washer on the rear spike.
However, from their manual, they have to be tilted little back for my listening position.
Their default/flat position is intended for close distance and for 35" ear level.
I am at 9 feet and over 40" ear level so need to tilt back almost 2".

Placement is key with these and they sound amazingly good when it's right.
I did my best here but I still think my room is not enough to set these perfectly.

While Boston A400 is great speaker, I like 3A's smoother/thicker/bigger sound.
However, I may go back to A400 in that room as they can be placed flat against the wall.
3A's are really nice but I am thinking they are not right speakers in my room.
Specially when the Sonus Faber sounds great without much placement and much smaller in size so the Sonus may come in this room instead. :scratch2:
I'll enjoy 3A's little more before deciding though.

Sonus in small guest room where it sounds very good as is.

 

[tomlinmgt]

I tend to think that, had the Speakercraft amp been 150wpc instead of 75, there would have been no question which one was the best for the Vandles ( ). I'm betting the boom at high volumes was simply a matter of not enough oomph. And I bet the Vandles crave quality amps the way fat kids crave Twix. That's one reason I haven't gone with one of the bigger modern speakers like these. I just don't have the cash for a high-powered amp of real quality a la' Krull (I dig that movie ), Chicken Carver (I used to love Boston Market), or Barry Levinson (I adore "Diner", "Bugsy", "Rain Man", and even "Toys", but his career really fell off after "Sphere" and "Bandits" ).

That's one issue I have with speakers that like a lot of juice... Good power costs money, and that's why I've been sticking with low-power setups (You'll never see a pair of large Magnepans in my living room, not with the power they need to sound their bestest).

By the way, I wonder if there is a way to pitch/tip the 3a's forward a bit (safely, that is) to get the tweeters pointing where needed. Placement is extremely-important with my W90's, including pitch/axis and especially height. How are the A400's in that regard?

Boy, I'd love to see the A400's and W90's go head to head against each other (or maybe side by side would be better ). The W90D's are more-closely-related in terms of design/drivers used, but I'd love to see any W90 versions go up against the A400. It looks like quite a speaker. I know the Boston sound pretty-well, so I have a rough idea of their sonic capabilities, and I bet it would be quite a fun comparison. I love huge vintage speakers like that, just as long as I can accommodate their big asses somehow.

I don't get this. There's a huge selection of amps that create gobs of clean, stable power and sound outstanding. Just off the top of my head...Aragon, Soundcraftsmen, Forte, Adcom, Hafler (later XL and Transnova), etc. All of these brands have models that would make the Vandees, Maggies, or just about any loudspeaker sing and not cost any more than something like that Fisher tube job you covet, Gang. :headscrat

 

[tomlinmgt]

Mystery, I have a feeling you've figured out your issue....the room. More specifically its acoustic response.

Some three years ago a set of Vandersteen 2ci's put my audio journey on a proper, disciplined, and MUCH better infomed course. I was so excited to get them and after hearing how they sounded at the seller's place I was dumbfounded at how crappy they sounded when I got them home....and the seller didn't even have them set up properly. Granted, my Onkyo M-504 and P-306RS weren't exactly up to the level the seller's Naim gear was but it didn't exactly suck, either. I had started a thread here about how excited I was to get them and how disappointed I was when I heard them at my place. It took three pages and dozens of responses blaming this and that but finally the wise old sage Negotiableterms suggested I consider the room acoustics.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=384316

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=394908

I sold those 2ci's over a year ago and had a chance to hear them a few months ago at the buyer's place. A bigg-ish room, great gear (Pass) and unrestricted placement and seating location options but no acoustic treatments. The magic I so fondly remembered just wasn't there.

And it's funny, you look at those two links and the first one is four of five pages of people telling me this is wrong or that is wrong or maybe I just don't like the Vandersteen sound or I should try this piece of electronics, etc., etc. and the second link is me reporting that I found the silver bullet and it's acoustic treatments and that thread doesn't even go one full page. HA!! I guarantee you if I'd said it was this amp or that pre-amp or this change of source or that boutique speaker cable/interconnect that fixed the problem the thread would've gone for three or more pages. Pffft!! You can lead a horse to water, but you sure as **** can't make that f$%*er drink!!! Hey, I get it that most feel acoustic treatments aren't convenient or acceptable for their listening spaces. But the science CAN NOT be denied and those who elect to deny it suffer the consequences. Maybe that sounds a little harsh to some but, you know....sorry.... it is what it is.

Oh, and as for my old Vandees and the room in which they now reside...I'll be assisting in creating a proper acoustic treatment scenario for that room after the first of the year. And I can't wait!

 

[Mystery]

Mystery, I have a feeling you've figured out your issue....the room. More specifically its acoustic response.

Some three years ago a set of Vandersteen 2ci's put my audio journey on a proper, disciplined, and MUCH better infomed course. I was so excited to get them and after hearing how they sounded at the seller's place I was dumbfounded at how crappy they sounded when I got them home....and the seller didn't even have them set up properly. Granted, my Onkyo M-504 and P-306RS weren't exactly up to the level the seller's Naim gear was but it didn't exactly suck, either. I had started a thread here about how excited I was to get them and how disappointed I was when I heard them at my place. It took three pages and dozens of responses blaming this and that but finally the wise old sage Negotiableterms suggested I consider the room acoustics.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=384316

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=394908

I sold those 2ci's over a year ago and had a chance to hear them a few months ago at the buyer's place. A bigg-ish room, great gear (Pass) and unrestricted placement and seating location options but no acoustic treatments. The magic I so fondly remembered just wasn't there.

That may be the key but I really doubt wifey will let me hang anything all over the living room walls.
I may have to move my 2-channel to basement or guest room upstairs and treat the room.
BTW, what' good/cheap DIY sound absorbers?

 

[tomlinmgt]

I understand about the wife thing. Bottom line...you're not going to hear what the speakers are capable of in a room with an unfavorable acoustic response. There are no exceptions. So if you can locate them to a different room where you can put up some treatments then I strongly encourage you to take that path. Go back and read my last thread again....I've added to it since you read it, I think.

Properly constructed DIY absorption panels are not expensive. You can build half a dozen for around $150.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=445703

And definitely follow the link in that thread for the portable DIY panels. Good info there, too.

 

[hjames]

My TV room is not the best shaped room - low ceiling, concrete slab (at least we got good carpet on it last year), big glass windows on the left ... and a pair of non-sig Vandy 3As ... So far I have run them with the B&K ST202plus amp that I previously ran a pair of vandy 2CEs with ... est 200w/ch and very nice sound, but I felt it wanted more power ... and a Bryston 4bNRB (300w/ch) that helps a bit but has a bit of a hum problem with my other gear that I have to sort out.
The Vandys will play good with some older gear but even if you don't play it loud (I never do) a bit more power helps firm up the sound.
I am lucky that our two listening rooms don't have sound issues ...

 

[Mystery]

Still deciding on these.
I will bring A400 down and do a comparison soon as wifey wants A400 there so the living room looks like a living room since she thinks it looks like an audio room now.
A400 have wood sides and tan/cream colored grills that go well with the wood floor.
Or Sonus will come down there if those black speakers look good there.

 

[C.A.P]

deciding on what or where they go or to sell them to me ! I am extatic about my 2ci

 

[Guest105]

I have Vandersteen 2Ce Signature II's, and for a while had a set of Boston A-400's in one of my secondary systems. Before I sold them, I dragged them up for a casual comparison with the Vandersteens.

While I very much like(d) the Bostons, they were not quite in the same league as the Vandersteens. That's not to say that they were shamed by them...the Vandies were just much more refined, more balanced sounding, and generally better across the full frequency spectrum. The only thing I might have liked better about the Boston's was their punch around the 100-200Hz (I'm guessing) range. They sounded inappropriately forward vs the Vandies above that (and not nearly as solid anywhere in the bass frequencies), but I kind of like their somewhat sharper midbass thwack.

Just my personal observations....yours may well be quite different, especially given the significant difference between the 2C and 3A! I look forward to hearing about your comparison.

 

[miketuason]

I too have the 2CE Sig. II. I found the Vndersteen are power amp friendly. No. Matter what you amp you use, they always sound good. Right now I have the McIntosh MC601s (600wttsvmono) driving my 2CE Sig II and they sound excellent. However, I'm thinking about upgrading to the 3A Signature. Any thoughts?

 

[Mystery]

I have Vandersteen 2Ce Signature II's, and for a while had a set of Boston A-400's in one of my secondary systems. Before I sold them, I dragged them up for a casual comparison with the Vandersteens.

While I very much like(d) the Bostons, they were not quite in the same league as the Vandersteens. That's not to say that they were shamed by them...the Vandies were just much more refined, more balanced sounding, and generally better...

If 2ce beat A400's, there is no way they can come above 3A signatures as 3A signatures are much better than 2ce signatures.
BUT, it's the size and placement that definitely are in favor of the Bostons in my room.

 

[Mystery]

deciding on what or where they go or to sell them to me ! I am extatic about my 2ci

That is a possibility but need to try all options available in the house.

 

[Guest105]

If 2ce beat A400's, there is no way they can come above 3A signatures as 3A signatures are much better than 2ce signatures.

This would be my expectation. Of course, you might come to a completely different conclusion.