Sorry. Missed this post. If you're still about, I will tell you that my musical tastes are more on the lines of acoustic, folk, singer songwriter types. Current speakers are Aerial 7 B's.
I do want to say that even though my "rock" needs were never satisfied by Vandersteen 2ces, I auditioned some (3s) in a large room fed by Mark Levinson electronics and a Linn LP12 tt, and they fulfilled all of my other needs. I still have fond memories of that experience!
Vandy's and NAD... some of THE best values in high end, IMO.
Audiowoman: I'm interested in your musical tastes. I listened to Vandersteen 2CEs early in my auditioning, and found that they may be more suited to classical, jazz, etc... not rock.?
I am unable to find the recent thread discourse where I took your reference CD recommendation of Cassandra Wilson "Blue Light 'Til Dawn". Thanks, NICE! I suggest Danilo Perez "Across The Crystal Sea" (she sings on two cuts) Dianne Reeves "I Remember" & Rachel Ferrell "First Instrument" :)
Thank you Larry, I think I will miss Kate for a long time!
The rug - oh my, I no longer have it actually. It has gone on to join a new family. I had it for $25 years, one of the first things I bought with my first social work paycheque - $99 from Sears!
Thanks Tzh2ly! Appreciate your comments. We enjoy music around here very much. It started with my dad who always had a little music system for me. I think women do hear differently, we tend to like somewhat leaner bass and I think we hear the high sounds more keenly but so many of us will not take the time to actually listen to the music the way guys do. I feel quite fortunate that I enjoy it and many of my female friends do as well. Of course, many of them think I am nuts to spend big money on this stuff... for me: speakers are a girl's best friend...!
Hi audiowoman, it is nice to know that some woman like music like I do. My wife can't stand sitting with me while I listen. She can't sit in one place and enjoy. I think she hears differently than I do.
Nice Vandy's! I just picked up a pair on Agon and after much struggling with positioning them properly in the room, have found their sweet spot. I also have an int amp and so far, they sound fine. My dad has a Bryston amp and pre amp I am going to try just for fun and will let you know how much of an improvement I hear.
there is not much left in high end in norfolk just digital sound and they have very little in the store. Audio connection has also dropped down in what they keep in the store at the beach --most people want HT and are not into 2ch listening and with the economy they just are not going to keep 20k speakers and amps in stock. take care --rich
Thanks for your comments! It is a great hobby for sure -and I should move those Classe products out with the smaller Vandersteen's - frankly it's just such a pain to get them out of the tv stand and find all the wiring etc. the little system is easier - next video stand will be on casters! I'm currently trying to help a coworker come up with a small system ( integrated amp and floor standing speakers). It can be tough to come up with much in the affordable range to listen to in Richmond area. What are the good shops in Norfolk? Cathy
Hi --nice systems --don't forget we all fight room issues even with dedicated rooms --I would try swapping speakers first and see how you like the bigger speakers on the nad or move the nad into your HT area to see if makes a difference or do both---also your tv will be playing with you sound stage etc and trying an outboard pwr cord may change how yor amp responds --I would move stuff around before buying new cables--in the end you would get a better feel for room interactions --tv screen etc and be better able to know what to expect --also nice to see another person hooked on this hobby in the area --I am in Norfolk take care -Rich
If you are able to move, hopefully you can have a dedicated room for audio/HT. It makes a huge difference in the experience. Until then you are blessed to have two systems. Enjoy!
Yes, well sometimes furniture and walls are a pain! the good part of what we have put together is that, in the next house, if there is just one large listening/living room, at least all these vandersteens will be snyergistic!. But then I'll need a center speaker and a sound surround processor.....ah it never ends. For now, we are very lucky to have two very nice systems to chose from.
Yes, I was thinking, "What a shame the 2CE's are not in the primary listening system..." One always would like the best stuff in the rig that gets listened to the most. One thought that struck me is whether you are able to rearrange the furniture to accommodate the larger speakers in your primary listening room. You can always toss out a sofa or chair; who needs to entertain guests? Audio systems are for one, max two people anyway. ;)
You do not have full blown audiophilia nervosa until you are relentlessly scanning the classifieds, pining for two or three components you really have no clue how they would sound, and dreaming of their being the "missing component" in your rig... But you're well on your way! Systems are like children, once born they tend to need care and feeding. Isn't that a wonderful sentiment for you on Mother's Day! :)
I think my quandry in beginning all this, that is, starting an improved secondary system, was because of the location of things. I really like the sound of the Vandys and the Classe - used to have Totem Model 1's....liked them too but wanted more bass and the 2ce's delivered that. Those speakers being too large for the other room is what led to finding a larger speaker system and components to replace the existing Onkyo receiver and cd player andParadigm Titans and Theta Pro Progency. Finding the Vandy 1c's used here, helped to flesh out that system very nicely and I find that it is a very great little system that, thanks to the squeezebox, is quite entertaining and fun. It just strikes me that the 2ce's and Classe are perhaps a bit wasted on the plasma -= albeit, they sound great in there. I do find the comments made interesting in terms of doing some work to the room and may take that one in the future. sooooooo basically my once dormant audiophilia nervosa is back! Thanks for all suggestions and thoughts folks!
Al, it appears in the pic that she does have the Sound Anchor stands with her speakers, so she should be able to tilt them. Tough to tell from the pic but they might already be tilted slightly. Looking at the angle of the component cabinet's top relative to the speakers' top edge I would say they have a decent backward slant to them; my guess is the speakers have already set up with their backward tilt to optimize them as Vandersteen suggests.
Having used these speakers extensively in both on and off axis listening, I would characterize them as having only a very marginal improvement in "energy" by positioning them properly. A slight increase in clarity, yes, but not significant increase in "energy". A more powerful amp would yield far more "energy" with greater dynamics, larger soundstage, potentially better detail, etc. It would also vastly improve transient response, something the low end of the 2CE really needs.
A pertinent question for Audiowoman would be: Do you feel the bass or the mid/treble needs more energy? Or the speaker overall? The reason I ask is to ascertain whether you feel the bass is too strong, too muffled, or the midrange/treble not potent enough> The 2CE is a very laid back speaker. If you don't sense enough sizzle or vitality to it, then it may not be your ideal speaker. This can be remedied to a point with different components and cables, but not entirely.
If overall you love the bass, the tonality, etc. and can't think of changing speakers, but think it doesn't have enough slam or heft, then move to a more powerful amp.
Also try the NAD cdp just for the fun of it; you may be surprised. Just that change alone might satisfy your craving for "energy". However, if all manner of component changes fail to impress you, then it's likely the speakers which are not to your satisfaction. The Vandy's are excellent, but have their own voice, which you will judge in time whether it's your ideal or not. :)
A suggestion I would make is to try, experimentally, moving the speakers several feet out from the wall which is behind them. See if that makes a difference in the "energy" you perceive. If it does, you could then perhaps place absorptive panels on the wall and achieve similar results with the speakers in their present location. In my experience, close-to-the-wall placement can be problematical with many or most speakers which are not specifically designed for it.
Also, the Stereophile review you linked to mentions optional tilt-back bases. Not sure looking at your photo if you are using those; if not I would think that they would improve time alignment/phase coherence between the drivers, which in turn would improve transient response, which in turn could very well correlate with perceived "energy" in the music.
Here is the relevant paragraph from the review:
Setting up a pair of 2Ces is more complex than setting up an ordinary pair of floor-standing loudspeakers, but not difficult enough to confuse anyone conversant with the replacement of a light bulb. I strongly recommend that the owner's manual be followed closely on this. It is very thorough, especially in the important matter of tilt-back of the loudspeaker to attain the proper vertical listening axis. You will really need the optional base in order to do this correctly and retain good stability for the cabinet.
The 2Ce owner's manual also provides detailed recommendations for loudspeaker placement. For my listening, the placement I have found optimum for most direct radiating loudspeakerswell out into the listening room and away from the side wallsworked out fine.
You will find that, "I'm not sure what to think about that," is a common perception in audio. Virtually any change conceived for a rig is met with questions, concerns - not major life concerns, but audiophile concerns, that the change hopefully will improve things, hopefully a LOT!
I have always felt it's worth experimenting with the components on hand, as I have either learned something about systems, or achieved a more desirable result. If you are really liking the tonality of the NAD gear with the 1C then definitely you should experiment further. You can move the speakers and see what the 2CE's sound like with the NAD rig. Then you can determine if you want to take it in that direction.
Thanks for your comments Douglas! The speakers are actually biwired with Straight Wire and the interconnects are balanced. My dealer made comments about revitalizing the system more due to its being a bit older. When I got the new NAD 545 Bee cd player and 362 integrated amp for our secondary system I remarked on how it had a lot of musicality and energy and really sounded almost as good as the Classe pieces and I was surprised by this as they are at a much lower price point. He felt new cabling might bring the Classe up to date if you will. I'm not sure what to think about that. I do enjoy the system, the unfortunate part is we use it mostly for watching tv and movies as we prefer the living room for reading and listening to music. Hence the search for a modest system that would do what we wanted...I wonder sometimes if I should switch out the Classe in this system for the Nad in the secondary rig, but it is hard to unhook everything the way it is set up and I feel like the 2ce's will benefit more from the Classe than the 1C's would.
