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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: LOL! posted by mkuller on March 14, 2023 at 18:41:25:
During Spring Break 1990, while a freshman at UCSC, I went home to S.F. By acquiring an Adcom GFA-535 power amp, I entered "high-end audio."
When I returned to my dorm, for the Spring 1990 quarter, I ran into my neighbor Andrea, the petite curly blonde. When she asked what I had done over Spring Break, I enthusiastically told her that I had entered high-end audio. She understood the premise that better audio gear should connect us more deeply with the music.
The next school year, Andrea was my next door neighbor. She was in a triple room, with Haley and Lumberjack Girl, both of whom had steady boyfriends. Thus, Andrea, who did not have a boyfriend, was constantly sexiled. So, she spent many nights in my room.
The end of 1990 was cold and dry. Two of Andrea's favorite albums that quarter were A-Ha's East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon and Prefab Sprout's Jordan: The Comeback.
The Vandersteen 2 series garnered lots of enthusiasm with audiophiles. Then a review of the 2Ci appeared in the November/December 1990 issue of TAS. I really really really liked and appreciated the writing. I pointed out to Andrea, "Hey! This guy uses the same Adcom amp I have!" And then I pivoted, "But damn, the Sound Anchors stands ($250) cost almost as much as the Adcom amp ($300)!"
While telling her that my (within reason) dream speaker was the Thiel CS1.2 [we loved the way the CS1.2 "lit up" the soundstage, when playing Whitesnake's "Judgment Day"], I let Andrea read the TAS review of the Vandy 2Ci. She said that the writing was "restrained." A case in point was that, regarding the rule of thirds, "room design considerations will not make this practical in most homes." She and I would have used much harsher language. So kudos to the reviewer, who used a bit of tact, and showed maturity.
The reviewer actually came right out, and said, "The sound of the Vandersteens is difficult to describe." Wow! In those days, we just never saw such modesty and candor. With other reviewers, you got the feeling that they thought of themselves as always-in-control experts.
Andrea saw that the review pointed out what the 2Ci didn't do, but then segued into the product's thoughtful set of compromises, its sense of balance. She and I appreciated the CS1.2 verses 2Ci comparison; and that the reviewer pretty much left the reader to decide for herself.
But there was a bit of an editing problem. Both Andrea and I thought that, after the Manufacturer's Response, the review was over. Not so. If you did not turn the page, you would have missed Michael A. Fox's additional observations and comments.
At the time, TAS was probably focusing on and cultivating Stereotypical Audiophiles. It may not have had the foresight and resources, to grow the audience. Although the industry hooked me, it missed, overlooked, ignored, or actively opposed the rest of my music-loving generation.
Andrea looked at me, and smiled, "Obviously, I don't know what the future holds. But maybe after we graduate, this [audio products] will get better, and/or the price will come down. Someday, you'll get these things."
I don't know if I was "very lucky," but in early June 1991, Andrea went with me to Santa Cruz's Recycled Stereo Plus. We had to resist getting distracted by all the Rotel components. I paid $200 - in cash - for the little Pinnacle PN-5+ minimonitors. Andrea escorted me back to campus, and even helped me carry the box, for little stretches.
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- Vandersteen 2Ci Review - Luminator 22:50:48 03/14/23 (0)
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