greg@olivej.UUCP (Greg Paley) (10/02/84)
Vandersteen speakers are made in Hanford, California. I gather (from their literature) that they are all hand-made, which means they're limited in quantity, and (from various audio dealers) that they have a very limited distribution and do almost no advertising. This would explain why you haven't heard of them before. Furthermore, I've been told that the head of the company threatens to halt distribution to anyone who sells the speakers via mail order (he requires a photocopy of each sales transaction). The limited distribution, rather than the sound or price, is what would tend to classify these speakers as "esoteric". A recent Stereo Review issue, sneering at the "high end" and the outrageous prices being asked for such equipment, also carried a review of the latest Bose 901 which costs considerably more (and for which, in my own opinion, you get considerably less). There are, to my knowledge, three models of Vandersteens available, the 1B, 2C and 4. You should check the October issue of Audio (equipment directory) for the exact prices, but my recollection is that they 1B's run for approx. $700/pair, the 2C's for $1100/pair and the 4 for more than $2500/pair. I'm not at all certain about these prices. I own a pair of 2C's, which I bought last January. I've been extremely happy with them. Their very neutralness can make them sound less exciting in direct comparison with other speakers, but their tonal balance and accuracy can embarrass a number of more expensive models in extended listening tests. It takes more than 5 minutes apiece with a dealer's hot "demo" record to judge speakers. I highly recommend that anyone shopping for speakers in the Vandersteen price class who has access to one of their dealers have a careful listen to them. WARNING: These speakers are NOT forgiving of inferior associated equipment. Poorly design preamps which flatten the top octaves, cartridges which sacrifice depth and detail in order to finish first in Audio Obstacle Course tests, and heavily processed recordings will be revealed as such. - Greg Paley
sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) (10/04/84)
I generally get questions from friends when they go to purchase audio
equipment, but I must admit I was stumped by this one. He heard
these speakers in a semi-high-end salon in LA, and wanted to know
what the general opinion of them and the company was. He liked the
way they sounded.
I hadn't heard of them, nor of Vandersteen, so I couldn't help him.
I suspect they are some small California speaker firm hanging out in
the nether reaches of the Audio classifieds.
Anyone know anything about them? How do they sound to you?
--
/Steve Dyer
{decvax,linus,ima}!bbncca!sdyer
sdyer@bbncca.ARPA