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Vandersteen vs ADS

ClydePrimm

ClydePrimm

New Member
Hey AK'ers.

What are the opinions of the merits of Vandersteen 1's vs 2ce's ?

Also, Vandersteen vs ADS speakers.

I could pick up a pair of Vandersteen 1's for around $200,
a pair of Vandersteen 2ce's for around $300

or, ADS 710's for $300
ADS L8e's for $125, ADS L700's for $200 or ADS L810's for $350

Who likes what?
 
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I own 2Ce Signature IIs. In my opinion, $300 for a pair of 2Ce is a very good deal.

None of us can tell you if you will like them better than the various ADS models you listed.

I had a pair of ADS L810s some years back. Nice speakers, but to my ears the Vandersteen 2Ce's are in a different class.

I might prefer the 810s over Vandy 1s, however.
 
Can’t go wrong either way, everything else comes into play, size of your room, other components being used....which ones are in better shape...etc...
 
If I could get my hands on 2CE's for $300, I'd run, not walk! I refurbed a pair of 2CI's for my brother-in-law and they sound great! Got about $500 invested in them along with lots of hard work getting to the crossovers:crazy:
 
2Ce of those. Much more speaker than the 1. Very close to a current speaker.
ADS are well made nice speakers from the past many here like cause you get a lot for the money which should be less then the 2Ce but that doesn't appear to be the case here. So the 2Ce wins this one.
 
slick.one said:
If I could get my hands on 2CE's for $300, I'd run, not walk! I refurbed a pair of 2CI's for my brother-in-law and they sound great! Got about $500 invested in them along with lots of hard work getting to the crossovers:crazy:
Click to expand...

Thanks to everyone for the responses.

I was wrong, the Vandersteens are 2c (not ce). So the question now is, what is the better deal:

Vandersteen 1's for $180 vs 2c's for $300.

Both appear to be in excellent shape.
 
I have owned vandersteen speakers for over 40 years, starting with the Model 1 in 1987 and then the 2Ci in 1989/90. Personally, I would not pay $300 for the 2C. The 2 series has become progressively more detailed and more dynamic with each successive version. The 2C is too "wooly" for my tastes, and uses foam surrounds (I think). The 2Ci and onward use rubber surrounds.

Which version of the Model 1? If the 1C, and in great shape, then $180 might be a decent deal. But quite a different sound than the ADS speakers you mentioned...so hard to know which you would like better. My view on used speakers is to just make sure the price is right. If so, buy them, listen to them for a while, and see what you think. If you don't love them, re-sell them for what you paid.

The 2Ce Sig II resolved just about all of my complaints about the 2Ci, and is one of three pairs of speakers that rotate in and out of our main system.
 
spark1 said:
I have owned vandersteen speakers for over 40 years, starting with the Model 1 in 1987 and then the 2Ci in 1989/90. Personally, I would not pay $300 for the 2C. The 2 series has become progressively more detailed and more dynamic with each successive version. The 2C is too "wooly" for my tastes, and uses foam surrounds (I think). The 2Ci and onward use rubber surrounds.

Which version of the Model 1? If the 1C, and in great shape, then $180 might be a decent deal. But quite a different sound than the ADS speakers you mentioned...so hard to know which you would like better. My view on used speakers is to just make sure the price is right. If so, buy them, listen to them for a while, and see what you think. If you don't love them, re-sell them for what you paid.

The 2Ce Sig II resolved just about all of my complaints about the 2Ci, and is one of three pairs of speakers that rotate in and out of our main system.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm going to check out the 1c's.
 
The decision is really about your room, music tastes and electronics. Vandy's need room to breathe. Very great soundstage and imaging capability. They like a bit of power. Maybe not the most dynamic of speakers.

Those ADS are well regarded and clean sounding but smaller than the Vandy's. The 2's have mid and treble controls to touch up. Also, they are bi-wired but can be jumped obviously.
 
The possible surround refoaming issues, related to older Vandersteen 1's has me hesitating.
I think I need to find a pair with confirmed rubber surrounds.

Meanwhile, a pair of recapped KLH 5's popped up on CL in Los Angeles last night.
So, I grabbed those this morning!
 
So what is not known that well is that the model 2C had a late inclusion of butyl surrounds on the woofers. I had this dilemma a couple years ago looking at a pair and I was able to look up a thread here with 2C's having slightly earlier serial number than the pair I was just looking at. I pulled the trigger because they had stands which I wanted for my regular 2CE. I used the 2C in my home theater setup for a while before selling them. I've enjoyed both of the pairs over ADS L1090/2 so if the ones you were looking at can be confirmed with butyl surrounds, I'd pick those over any others you listed originally.
 
I just found the original purchase receipt for the 2C and they were bought in 6/88 so to my knowledge about a year before the 2CI was available.
 
Elsewhere, I picked up the recapped KLH 5's - and sadly, I'm underwhelmed.
The ADS 710's I heard last wk blow them away. And actually, a pair of Boston Acoustics a150 series II I just got sound better.
I'm going to reseal the surrounds on the KLH 5's before final judgement, but right now - I'm not seeing any "magic."
 
I have a pair of them...beautful cabinets. They are pleasant to listen to, but not nearly detailed nor dynamic enough for my tastes. I will say that KLH used low-grade capacitors in their crossovers, and my pair of KLH Fives benefited quite noticeably from recapping. There are two versions of the crossover (the difference is physical...one is a circuit board, while the other is direct wired), and it is a bit more complex than most of the other "classic" KLHs. It might be worth looking at the crossovers to assure that they have been updated.

Sealing the surrounds (with correct sealant) is a good idea, as is assuring that the wiring pass-thru into the midrange enclosure is well sealed. Mine originally had corks for this function...the had dried out. I sealed the hole with plumbers putty.

If you like the sound of the Boston A150s and ADS 710s, the Fives may never make you happy, even when in at their best.
 
spark1 said:
I have a pair of them...beautful cabinets. They are pleasant to listen to, but not nearly detailed nor dynamic enough for my tastes. I will say that KLH used low-grade capacitors in their crossovers, and my pair of KLH Fives benefited quite noticeably from recapping. There are two versions of the crossover (the difference is physical...one is a circuit board, while the other is direct wired), and it is a bit more complex than most of the other "classic" KLHs. It might be worth looking at the crossovers to assure that they have been updated.

Sealing the surrounds (with correct sealant) is a good idea, as is assuring that the wiring pass-thru into the midrange enclosure is well sealed. Mine originally had corks for this function...the had dried out. I sealed the hole with plumbers putty.

If you like the sound of the Boston A150s and ADS 710s, the Fives may never make you happy, even when in at their best.
Click to expand...


The 5's were recapped (Daytons, etc.) by a very sharp guy. He re-pudded everything properly too.
But they were not surround resealed Yet, even if they were - I can't see a potential life changing improvement from surround goop.
Really considering all the online thread editorials, I'm surprised to find the BA a150s eclipse the KLH 5's - to my ear & setup.
But for me, it's not even close.
No "goose bumps" w/the 5's .
The BA 150s lit up everything from Coltrane, to Beatles/ Abbey Road, to various Mozart Concertos.
 
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ClydePrimm said:
The 5's were recapped (Daytons, etc.) by a very sharp guy. He re-pudded everything properly too.
But they were not surround resealed Yet, even if they were - I can't see a potential life changing improvement from surround goop.
Really considering all the online thread editorials, I'm surprised to find the BA a150s eclipse the KLH 5's - to my ear & setup.
But for me, it's not even close.
No "goose bumps" w/the 5's .
The BA 150s lit up everything from Coltrane, to Beatles/ Abbey Road, to various Mozart Concertos.
Click to expand...

Speaker preferences are very personal. The BA150s are fun, with a very forward sound. I found that they could get a bit tiresome over time, and always preferred the 70 or the 200 vs the 100,120 or 150.

I'm not sure the Vandersteens are going to impress you...they have a more balanced, flatter sound than you may like. But of course there's only one way to find out!
 
Depending on how dry and 'unsealed' the KLH Model 5 surrounds are, you may experience a noticeable difference after sealing them. Be sure to use the correct sealant and allow a day or so for it to dry.

Thanks,
Joe
 
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