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Vandersteen 1Ci - Any opinions?

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Posted on February 23, 2017 at 12:49:50
Bry
Manufacturer

Posts: 5610
Location: S. Florida
Joined: July 21, 2005
I'm going to be in the market for some new speakers and I wondered if anyone here had heard the Vandersteen 1Ci (current model). I see they got a good review in Tone Audio but I don't see much else.

 

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RE: Vandersteen 1Ci - Any opinions?, posted on February 23, 2017 at 12:53:13
Beetlemania
Audiophile

Posts: 1217
Location: Utah
Joined: November 1, 2003
I've not heard the 1Ci but I'm pretty sure I'd rather have used 2Ce Sig IIs for the same price.

 

Depending on how you are going to use them., posted on February 23, 2017 at 15:23:57
Cougar
Audiophile

Posts: 4562
Location: SoCal
Joined: June 25, 2001
I have heard them and like any Vandersteen speaker, they sound really good but they have a smaller footprint too. These are used a lot in Home theater type systems.

Like the other post says, the Vandersteen 2Ce's are better and can be picked cheap on the used market.

 

RE: Vandersteen 1Ci - Any opinions?, posted on February 23, 2017 at 21:10:34
petertg
Audiophile

Posts: 382
Location: Maryland
Joined: April 6, 2007
I auditioned them and thought they sounded great. In a smaller room I would prefer them to the larger 2's or 3's. I own the 3a sigs and love them.

 

RE: Vandersteen 1Ci - Any opinions?, posted on February 27, 2017 at 19:46:16
Daverz
Audiophile

Posts: 2103
Location: So. California
Joined: September 24, 2002
Agree with the others, the 2s are the sweet spot in the lineup. The 3s do have more bass.

 

Vandy's, posted on March 2, 2017 at 07:22:18
ctsooner
Audiophile

Posts: 39
Location: Connecticut
Joined: November 28, 2014
I have the Quatro's on order after selling the Treo's. I"ll be at the dealer tomorrow to audition a bit. I have heard the 1's on many occasions and with everything from the small NAD and Rotel AVR's to separates. To me, it's the best buy around it's price. The compromises Richard makes (all speakers have some compromise, including the 500k plus ones) are the best mix I've heard under 1500. You get much better quality of bass as well as quantity for a speaker in this range. The highs aren't as detailed as you get in the 2's, but they are outstanding and won't leave you wanting more while listening like to many of the other speakers you may get will. The mids are what he does best and I bet you will really enjoy them. Very natural and open. They don't let the upper bass muddle the mids like so many other designers do. 90% of the music is in the midrange and he knows where and how to cross over the drivers in the 1's so that you don't have them ruining the sound.

Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions. Which dealer will you be going to? I know most of them and may be able to help you out. Pete

 

Vandy's, posted on March 3, 2017 at 07:48:58
ctsooner
Audiophile

Posts: 39
Location: Connecticut
Joined: November 28, 2014
No nessesarily folks. It all depends on what he's feeding them with and also how old are the 2's. Everyone just assumes that the more expensive used speaker is better, but not always. Most of the used 2's I see for sale are over 5 years old and although they may move more air, they may not sound better. The other thing to take into consideration is new vs used. Used isn't always a great deal as you don't know how they were or weren't taken care of. I've heard way too many horror stories when it's used gear and tubed or speakers. Unless you know the person you are buying from, it's a total buyer beware. The best thing about the 2's is that they have a sock on them, so folks aren't poking around with their fingers. I've seen way too many high end speakers with small damage because folks just had to touch the drivers.

You may laugh, but you all know it's true. Heck, I sell gear all the time and I'm selling a tubed Rhea phono right now. I sent it back to Aesthetix and had a new power supply put in and upgraded every component as needed and it comes with new tubes. They can call the factory on it and I'm pricing it accordingly. That said, I've sold other tube gear and didn't go through all of this and one amp had a hum that I had to fix for the buyer (used is sold as is, so I was just being nice as I cared about what I sold, but I certainly didn't have to).

Also, the sound of the 1's is much better than many realize. Most just play with with an NAD integrated, or some of the lower end (high end) amps and source, but I've heard them with the Belles Integrated and they ROCK and are outstanding at Orchestral. My honest option of putting system's together for folks is getting an outstanding speaker that won't break the bank and then maximizing the rest of the system so as not to over buy for the speakers, but to really get the most out of them. I promise you that I can get the 1's to sound incredible compared to 5 yo 2's with the proper equipment match in the correct room. JMHO.

 

RE: Vandy's, posted on March 3, 2017 at 11:10:36
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2442
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
ctsooner+1

 

RE: Vandy's, posted on March 6, 2017 at 05:43:15
ctsooner
Audiophile

Posts: 39
Location: Connecticut
Joined: November 28, 2014
Has anyone ever been burned by purchasing used speakers? Just curious as I've personally been burned and have a lot of friends who have been. Often it's just a tear in the grill or the cabinets been in bad shape, but had a friend who got a speaker that obviously was ruined i transit, but it was only insured for $100. Even if it was not in good shape from the buyer, he had no recourse unless he used PayPal etc... I don't know how it will turn out, but the seller is telling PayPal that he shipped a perfectly good item and was told by the buyer not to purchase insurance since the buyer was paying for PayPal fees and shipping.

Moral of story I guess is to pay for the proper insurance. I have sold a bunch of gear over the last few years and I have mostly sent things back to the manufacturer to get them refreshed and I've paid for any component upgrades so that I can sell the product for top dollar and know that they won't come back. Trying to sell my BMW 5 series wagon now and I put on new brakes, tires, battery, ball joints and suspension along with plugs, coils pumps/thermostats just so I get can what it's worth. The irony is that nearly everyone goes for the less expensive model and they usually get what they pay for.

I had a sale with an out of state guy and he called my shop and got all the documentation and had Lemon Squad inspect the car and drive it. He then called to tell me that he found a cheaper one and wanted me to drop my price. He didn't care about the newer parts on mine and walked away from the deal. Of course, I could have sued him, won and then put a lean on his house since he never would have paid, but I'm not like that. I found out that his less expensive BMW broke down and he needed over 2k worth of work and was told that the ball joints only have another few thousand on them as they are loose.

The wife owns an insurance agency, so I guess I like warrantees and things like that, lol. Just thought it was interesting and I know that most folks don't want to hear it, but still worth sharing. Oh, I'm thankful for those who want used as I am also selling off all my vinyl, phono and TT set up, lol. Just try and do your homework if you are purchasing used. We all hate the 'getting burned' stores yet we hear them daily.

 

RE: Vandy's, posted on March 6, 2017 at 06:08:16
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2442
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
All good points. Your're preachin' to the choir!

 

Thanks everyone. I hope to evaluate a pair soon. -nt, posted on March 7, 2017 at 15:54:38
Bry
Manufacturer

Posts: 5610
Location: S. Florida
Joined: July 21, 2005
nt

 

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