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I will be listening to the Model 7s tomorrow at Audio Connections in NJ. My room is 32 x 18x 10 and I listen to a lot of power type classical music. These speakers have been criticized by TAS (Harley) for not being good at loud levels in large rooms. Anyone have any experience with this speaker in that situation? I now use RS1Bs which are very dynamic and are great in a large room but have no where near the transparency of even the Model 5As. Still I do not want not can I afford to spend big bucks on the large Nolas which I heard at Lyric and really liked although $45,000 would still be a large financial stretch for me. Comments. I would be using VTL 300s with the speaker and a Spectral 20 preamp.
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I have not heard the Vandersteen 7’s but I have heard most of the competition in that price range. I think the Salk SoundScapes are a much superior speaker at a lesser cost. The 12” version starts at only $14K. It is new so you would have to go to the DC area, Michigan or here to Houston to hear them. The tweeter is smoother and cleaner than most, if not all, of the competition. It has a tweeter loudness selection switch. It will also play down to 18 Hz with some of the tightest bass you will ever hear. It can play a 20 Hz note at 116 db which I don’t think any of the sub 50k completion can do. It has a holographic soundfield that comes close to the MBL 101e and has a broad sweet area. It really gives a “you are there” impression. It can be played open baffle or closed cabinet with a magnetically attached plate at the back of the midrange chamber. The quality of construction is outstanding and has the feel of extreme quality.
Bob
I did audition the Vandersteen Model 7 at the Audio Connection in NJ. I had previously listened to the Model 5A at this dealer and was quite impressed although they sounded somewthat bright at that time. The 7s were in a smaller room than the 5As had been and not in the same room that Vandersteen had previously set them up at this dealer a few weeks ago. Also they were hooked up to an Audio Research 100 watt/channel tube amp with a VPI Scoutmaster table and arm and a mid level Benz cartridge with a silver type speaker cable. This set up was way too bright. The speakers were then moved to the large rear room and the amp was switched to a hybrid 200 watt/channel amp with a Bryston preamp and a different table arm and cartridge (I do not remember the manufacturers). The speaker cables were switched to a copper based cable. The dealer did not have time to tune in the bass not line up the rest of the drivers with the laser device that is usually used with this speaker. Things were much better but the upper frequencies were still to prominent for my taste. I suspect that with proper matching of components and interconnects these speakers can sound wonderful but the upper frequencies were disqualifying for me in this set up. The dealer was very patient and accommodating and even offered to bring the speakers to my home for me to hear them in my set up (I live three hours away in Maryland). An offer I may take him up on. I suspect the speakers need more than 200 watts a channel of pure tubes ( I use VTL300s at home). Need a better preamp (I use a Spectral 20) and a cartridge that is easier on the ears ( I use a Lyra Titan i in an SME V arm). Also the Cardas Interconnects I use tend to tame the high end. But one thing that concerned me beyond the high frequencies was the fact that I kept lowering the volumn control to improve the sound (and the high end). Still I would not take this mini review as a condemnation of the 7s. There bass response was excellent as was the midrange and they are very transparent with excellent depth and instrument placement. Also one could not ask for a nicer, more accommodating dealer than Audio Connection. To add some perspective to the above I also have found the MBL 101Es very bright and was not overly impressed with Magico's M5 nor the Focal Grande Utopia EMs (at least not for $180,000). I did find the Nola's Grand Reference near perfect but way too expensive for my budget.
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Keep your ears honest: Listen to live, unamplified music every week.
Would these be of interest?
We didn't get to every room at the show, but sure did like these.
I know nothing more at this time.
Have fun.
But they both use 12" subwoofers, so I think they could both easily fill that space. Just use an amp with enough juice (say 150-200 watts).
However, the 5As don't have frickin' laser beams for settting the tilt.
Have you considered the Wilson Sasha? It's the best speaker I've hear recently, and I think it's ONLY 27,000. I think your amps would be up to the task. If I had 25 to blow on speakers, this would be my first audition.
fight the good fight
I read the write up about the 7's and cannot add or detract from what I read. I do not want to impart any of my beliefs or opinions into your thought process. These are my ideas; I also read some interesting things about the Evolution Acoustics MM2, a speaker system that might see the light of day in my music room in about a year. From what I read, I could like the powered bass drivers of both of these speakers, alhtough I am looking for a 15" powered bass driver speaker. The midrange and high frequency coherency is astounding from what I read. That being said, I like the MM2 better as far as looks are concerned.
Let us know what you think about the V7.
Ciao,
Audioquest4life
Yes the EA's run the Tidals close--both superior to the V7's which sounded closed in to me.
Des
Heard them at RMAF over the three days--they certainly got better on Sunday
Would I buy them --no-- at that price point the
Tidal Piano Diaceras ate them for breakfast
and you have some dosh left over for some Tomba cables!
Just my opinion
Des
If I had the money the Tidal would be my choice and of top of that they look like a million $
My friends went there last week to listen and they gave them the thumbs up. I have yet to hear them
Have fun
I'm jealous
Would like to hear your impressions please post for us
So far I have my wife saying she is getting me vandersteen amps and mcintosh speakers when she graduates.
She can spell
Close as I am to it.
Happy listening
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