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What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?

67.80.50.123

Posted on September 26, 2006 at 19:14:36

drewfidelity
Audiophile

Posts: 56
Joined: May 13, 2002

I downsized my system a few months ago and went back to a new pair of Vandersteen 2CE Signatures, a speaker that I felt would be a holdover for a while until I more time to listen and funds necessary to upgrade again. In the past I have owned both 2CE and 3A Signatures and for numerous reasons including my addiction to purchasing new components sold them.

What is surprising me is how much I am enjoying listening to them. I do not remember liking them this much when I had them previously. Very open, natural sounding speakers with great midrange and depth of soundstage. Transparent yet laid back is how I would best describe. I have the tweeter levels set at 1db above and the midrange set at even. I am using a Def Tech Supercube Reference Subwoofer set to cross over at 40db that seems to integrate well the Vandersteens running full range. I have the tweeter levels set at 1db above and the midrange set at even.

I am using a Musical Fidelity A5 Integrated Amplifier to drive the speakers. It seems like a good match. I am curious as to what other Vandersteen 2CE Signature current or past owners are using have used to drive their speakers and their opinions or suggestions. I am considering going to tubes as I have been told that this is the best way to drive these speakers.

I look forward to hearing about your systems and your comments/suggestions.

Hide full thread outline!

A Rogue Stereo 90, along with Rogue's Perseus preamp

CdP Rouge

15:54:05 09/28/06

May I trouble you to compare the 2ce Sig and 3A Sig? nt

Rufipennis

20:25:05 09/27/06

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?

csericks

17:24:53 09/27/06

...

Show full thread outline!

A Rogue Stereo 90, along with Rogue's Perseus preamp

CdP Rouge

15:54:05 09/28/06

May I trouble you to compare the 2ce Sig and 3A Sig? nt

Rufipennis

20:25:05 09/27/06

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?

csericks

17:24:53 09/27/06

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?

DBeegle

16:33:01 09/27/06

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?

pturn

12:18:56 09/27/06

kavakidd

10:57:05 09/27/06

Oracle III to Audio Research SP10 and D115

Bambi B

10:16:01 09/27/06

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?

shersta

09:00:16 09/27/06

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?

robinje

06:39:08 09/27/06

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?

bboroski

05:36:25 09/27/06

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?

rkeman

04:02:10 09/27/06

Most owners do not know this

unclestu52

00:46:57 09/27/06

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?

Craiger56@aol.com

21:29:33 09/26/06

what did you use to drive them in the past?

docw

21:20:44 09/26/06

KellyG

21:10:22 09/26/06

AES SixPacks are wonderful...

AbeCollins

22:43:02 09/28/06

srdavis2000

10:31:17 09/28/06

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?

niws

19:19:00 09/26/06

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?, posted on September 26, 2006 at 19:19:00
niws Audiophile Posts: 827 Location: Northeast Joined: September 4, 2003	While I have only owned the 2ce's and 2c's, I have heard the signatures at a friendly dealer. The best sound I got was with Quicksilver electronics.

AES, posted on September 26, 2006 at 21:10:22

KellyG
Audiophile

Posts: 582
Location: The middle
Joined: February 27, 2004

I'm using the Sixpack monoblocks from AES. They are powerful enough for Rock music, yet can be detailed and refined for Classical when needed. They are a good match with the Vandys--plus, they look cool too. (And you can't beat the Cary quality).

-kg

"Lines join in faint discord and the Stormwatch brews-"

what did you use to drive them in the past?, posted on September 26, 2006 at 21:20:44
docw Audiophile Posts: 8115 Location: So. California Joined: July 23, 2004	because now you enjoy them with a very strong SS integrated. My friend used Jolida 302b, updated, tube rolled, then found a 502b and tube rolled.

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?, posted on September 26, 2006 at 21:29:33

Craiger56@aol.com
Audiophile

Posts: 5698
Location: San Jose CA
Joined: April 3, 2002
Contributor
Since: December 29, 2003

Quicksilver V4's and really looking forward to the winter listening season when their heat is welcome, sometimes I find myself daydreaming about Herron Audio M-150's (now M-1?) but they were even MO money! Seriously though, we don't plan on ever replacing our Quicksilvers.

If your set on tubes see also Manley Labs, Rogue Audio and Vacuum Tube Logic.

Would love to read your comments on the differences between the 2Ce Sigs and 3A Sigs.

Cheers, Craig

Most owners do not know this, posted on September 27, 2006 at 00:46:57

unclestu52
Dealer

Posts: 6982
Location: Hawaii
Joined: March 5, 2005

but the 2CE signatures in the past year or there abouts now feature matched drivers and crossovers customized for those pairs. As you noted transparency is significantly improved and so does imaging with nary a trace of hardness, never a Vandersteen trademark. Driver matching is currently being done with all speakers in the Vandersteen line if I'm not mistaken, and I do not believe this feature can be retrofitted, as the drivers used have changed over time. To me they sound significantly better than most other speakers costing much more.

I like them best with the Quicksilver Mono Triode amps, (only 5) watts , but discontinued as we speak). I believe only 5o pairs of these amps were ever built, but they have the transparency and bass control that makes the 2CE siggies sound like they have powered woofers attached!
They sound good with solid state products like the CJ amps and McCormacks, as well as many digital amps like the Flying Mole units. It's my obnservation that since the speakers do not have an overly etched top end, they mate well with a large variety of power amps.

Stu

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?, posted on September 27, 2006 at 04:02:10
rkeman Audiophile Posts: 597 Location: Florida Joined: July 26, 2003	The 2CE Sigs mate well with a variety of amplifier. Mine perform best with a Theta Dreadnaught or Innersound ESL-300. The Ayre V-3 was also quite good, although not quite as dynamic as the others. For kicks, I tried a little Jolida integrated (JD 1301)and even that was fairly good when not pushed hard. They seem to appreciate clean power and low levels of negative feedback.

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?, posted on September 27, 2006 at 05:36:25

bboroski

I don't have a set of 2Ce Sigs, but I do have a mint set
of 3As that I use with an older Musical Fidelity A3.2
Integrated. I really like the synergy I get from this
setup. The only thing I am considering is adding an
additional A3CR power to bi-amp the Vandys...

Bill

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?, posted on September 27, 2006 at 06:39:08
robinje Audiophile Posts: 13 Location: Minnesota Joined: March 8, 2006	I have a pair of 2Ce Sigs and am driving them with a Van Alstine Ultra SL pre and a Van Alstine FET Valve Ultra 550 amp (>250 wpc). These tube/SS hybrid components are really punchy and drive the Vandys with ease. I am very satisfied with the musicality of this combo. I am amazed every time I turn the system on.

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?, posted on September 27, 2006 at 09:00:16

shersta
Audiophile

Posts: 135
Location: northeast
Joined: November 12, 2002

As another poster mentioned, a ss amp and tube pre is a popular combo with these speakers. When I had 2ces, I started with a cambridge 50w integrated and moved to a mccormack dna .5 with a cj pv10. Changed the cj for an audible illusions and really liked that combo. As you say, vandy's are warm and somewhat laid back, and the the lush sounding cj pre just made things too syurpy (though on the right recordings, it was magical). The audible illusions better complements the vandys. Always wanted to try one of cj's ss amps, but never did.

Oracle III to Audio Research SP10 and D115, posted on September 27, 2006 at 10:16:01

Bambi B
Audiophile

Posts: 3304
Location: Los Angeles
Joined: March 24, 2005

drewfidelity,

I am using Vandersteen 2C- not the Signatures- and have had great results- for a long time!- with an Oracle Delphi III/SME V > Audio Research SP10 all tube preamp and ARC D115 105W all tube power amp. ICs are AQ King Cobra and speaker cable is Kimber 8TC.

My next listening room will be much larger and I intend to use Vandersteen 3As, possibly with a pair of ARC D400s.

Vandersteens with Audio Research is a known good match which seems to holds true for both the '80's and current stuff. Recently, I heard the Vandersteen Quattros with ARC CD7 > REF3 > 610T- and it was amazing.

Cheers,

Bambi B

My two cents -, posted on September 27, 2006 at 10:57:05

kavakidd
Audiophile

Posts: 20316
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: April 15, 2004

I have been very pleased with the results I get with my 2CeSigs using an Audible Illusions Modulus 3a Tubed preamp in conjunction with an plain vanilla Classe CA-100 Solid State power amp.

Sure, I'd LOVE to try the AES sixpacs or Quicksilvers but it's not in the budget.

"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?, posted on September 27, 2006 at 12:18:56

pturn
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Joined: June 27, 2000

I still think back to the time I had these with Bryston 4bsst, darn near perfect at moderately high levels playing Dire Straits, bass impact and clean guitar and air, conveyed with power and accuracy which unfortunately I have not been able to achieve since, why did I sell both of these because I'm a bloody idiot and dont know when to stop or maybe it was the low volume level performance. Anyway the bryston (<2K used) worked very well with these great speakers.

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?, posted on September 27, 2006 at 16:33:01
DBeegle Audiophile Posts: 23 Location: Atlanta Joined: April 5, 2004	Art Audio VP 1 Mk.II pre NAD 272 amp

Re: What are you using with your Vandersteen 2CE Sigs?, posted on September 27, 2006 at 17:24:53
csericks Audiophile Posts: 81 Location: Michigan Joined: April 10, 2005	A 50wpc Audio Research VT60.

May I trouble you to compare the 2ce Sig and 3A Sig? nt, posted on September 27, 2006 at 20:25:05
Rufipennis Audiophile Posts: 1217 Location: Utah Joined: November 1, 2003

Agree with AES, posted on September 28, 2006 at 10:31:17
srdavis2000 Audiophile Posts: 11003 Location: Deep South Joined: January 11, 2003 Contributor Since: December 16, 2004	I have a neighbor who had SixPacs driving 2Cs for a while. He has different speakers now, but the SixPacs/2C was a wonderful match - maybe not on paper, but in reality.

A Rogue Stereo 90, along with Rogue's Perseus preamp, posted on September 28, 2006 at 15:54:05
CdP Rouge Audiophile Posts: 14 Location: Front Range Joined: May 12, 2006	Love the combo

AES SixPacks are wonderful..., posted on September 28, 2006 at 22:43:02
AbeCollins Audiophile Posts: 49302 Location: Maidenhead Grid Square DM79 Joined: June 22, 2001 Contributor Since: February 2, 2002	I had a pair driving my Tannoy Definition D500 speakers with excellent results. So far, the SixPacks are my favorites in vacuum tube amplification. And they're reasonably priced! .

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