I must be sensitive to time and phase coherence. Every demo I’ve ever heard with Vandersteen speakers sounded so right. From the cheapest model up to the Kento.
Scored a pair of signature 2 for a steal. One bad midbass. Repaired it and refinished the cabs and wow. Wish i had a larger room to move them further away from the walls.
Absolutely! Sorry if we suggested otherwise. Every speaker design is a series of compromises and one of Vandersteen's central design choices is to do everything in the analog domain, which means no DSP. We have yet to find a DSP-controlled system that connects with us emotionally the way that Vandersteen speakers can. There are advantages and disadvantages to any approach, and at the end of the day, all that matters is that you enjoy listening, no matter the equipment or design choices!
Yep. Sanders hybrid ESL is phase coherent (48dB/octave digital slopes) and the two transducers are time-aligned utilising digital time delay on the panel.
Very informative chat. Thanks! During room setup with the equalizer, is that done using calibration equipment that tweaks for the room variations and then with that baseline, an individual's listening preference can be inputted (either with the owner's preamp or using the speaker's equalizer)? I ask because of my diminished hearing at certain frequencies. Thanks.
Hi Ed! Thanks for watching! The setup is done using a series of test tones that correspond to the individual potentiometers on the back of the speaker's bass amplifier. We run tones through each speaker individually, and then again together, while measuring sound pressure levels at the listening position using an analog RadioShack SPL meter (nothing fancy), and then adjust the pots on the speakers to correct for any bass anomalies caused by the room. This adjustment is done to compensate for issues with bass response at the listening position and not to adjust for more/less bass according to personal preference. We are only adjusting frequencies from 120-200 Hz (depending on the model) and below during this process, so this is not intended as a replacement for a full-band EQ.
Dating back to the model 2...the hallmark of Vandy was to be open, transparent and boxless. The 2CE had some incredibly flat and coherent measurements too. Listening to Vandy, I feel like I am listening to music, not gear.
Setting up speakers properly takes into account your listening position's distance from the speakers as well as your height. With Vandersteens specifically, all of their speakers are tripods with a single spike in the back of the speaker for setting the amount of rake to properly align the drivers for your listening position. You could easily set them up to sound best while standing instead of sitting, but it's much more difficult to make changing the position of the speakers as simple as the press of a button.
Vandersteen being the only designer applying time and phase coherent techniques? What a ignorant comment. There are quite some companies that use 6dB/octave filters and time alignment.
Apologies if we mis-spoke. Nobody is perfect, and we’re certainly happy to admit when we are wrong. Which other manufacturers are using 1st order crossovers?
@@HiFiBuys There are some that state they use 6dB filters and the first that come to mind is Dynaudio, Marten, Duntech, Dunlavy, Thiel. Time alignment can be done both acousticaly and if not too high frequency also electrical.
It can be debunked in one second flat. Ready for it? Ok here we go. 1. Instruments in a live performance are not all lined up. They are scattered. 2. End of discussion class.
Not sure what this has to do with time and phase alignment of speakers. Are you suggesting that each driver in a speaker corresponds to a specific instrument in a performance? And so must be "scattered" to accurately reproduce a performance? The sound of a snare hit, or a singer's voice, contains a broad range of frequencies (and engage multiple drivers simultaneously when played back) yet those individual sounds come from a single point in space when performed. If the drivers aren't time and phase aligned, then the illusion of that recorded sound when played back will be less convincing than it would be if they are. Convincing placement of multiple distinct instruments throughout a soundstage is the central benefit of time and phase aligned speakers.
So a recording being done at a point in space can't be misrepresented by a speaker not being aligned to the recording? Sounds like your thoughts aren't aligned.
Great video. Vandersteen doesn’t get the media coverage they deserve. Great products made in the US by passionate people.
I must be sensitive to time and phase coherence. Every demo I’ve ever heard with Vandersteen speakers sounded so right. From the cheapest model up to the Kento.
Nice job guys! David helped me get into the Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT’s last year and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you David. ❤
Our pleasure!
Scored a pair of signature 2 for a steal. One bad midbass. Repaired it and refinished the cabs and wow. Wish i had a larger room to move them further away from the walls.
Happy listening!
Great review, very informative I really appreciate the insight you shared with us!
Thanks for watching!
You absolutely can make 2nd, 3rd,4th order and higher crossovers that are both time and phase aligned. You have to do it with DSP.
Absolutely! Sorry if we suggested otherwise. Every speaker design is a series of compromises and one of Vandersteen's central design choices is to do everything in the analog domain, which means no DSP. We have yet to find a DSP-controlled system that connects with us emotionally the way that Vandersteen speakers can. There are advantages and disadvantages to any approach, and at the end of the day, all that matters is that you enjoy listening, no matter the equipment or design choices!
Yep.
Sanders hybrid ESL is phase coherent (48dB/octave digital slopes) and the two transducers are time-aligned utilising digital time delay on the panel.
Love my "cheap" 1 and 2's. If I could afford those three I'd have them.
Nothing cheap about em!! Vandersteen makes great sounding speakers at all levels.
Very informative chat. Thanks! During room setup with the equalizer, is that done using calibration equipment that tweaks for the room variations and then with that baseline, an individual's listening preference can be inputted (either with the owner's preamp or using the speaker's equalizer)? I ask because of my diminished hearing at certain frequencies. Thanks.
Hi Ed! Thanks for watching! The setup is done using a series of test tones that correspond to the individual potentiometers on the back of the speaker's bass amplifier. We run tones through each speaker individually, and then again together, while measuring sound pressure levels at the listening position using an analog RadioShack SPL meter (nothing fancy), and then adjust the pots on the speakers to correct for any bass anomalies caused by the room. This adjustment is done to compensate for issues with bass response at the listening position and not to adjust for more/less bass according to personal preference. We are only adjusting frequencies from 120-200 Hz (depending on the model) and below during this process, so this is not intended as a replacement for a full-band EQ.
David White - a rare combination of knowledge, confidence and honesty in the audio world. 🫡
Dating back to the model 2...the hallmark of Vandy was to be open, transparent and boxless. The 2CE had some incredibly flat and coherent measurements too. Listening to Vandy, I feel like I am listening to music, not gear.
Well said! They do truly “get out of the way” so to say.
I always wanted a button for "standing" and "sitting".... most speakers are made for sitting. I like standing.
Setting up speakers properly takes into account your listening position's distance from the speakers as well as your height. With Vandersteens specifically, all of their speakers are tripods with a single spike in the back of the speaker for setting the amount of rake to properly align the drivers for your listening position. You could easily set them up to sound best while standing instead of sitting, but it's much more difficult to make changing the position of the speakers as simple as the press of a button.
Vandersteen being the only designer applying time and phase coherent techniques?
What a ignorant comment.
There are quite some companies that use 6dB/octave filters and time alignment.
Apologies if we mis-spoke. Nobody is perfect, and we’re certainly happy to admit when we are wrong. Which other manufacturers are using 1st order crossovers?
@@HiFiBuys There are some that state they use 6dB filters and the first that come to mind is Dynaudio, Marten, Duntech, Dunlavy, Thiel.
Time alignment can be done both acousticaly and if not too high frequency also electrical.
It can be debunked in one second flat. Ready for it? Ok here we go.
1. Instruments in a live performance are not all lined up. They are scattered.
2. End of discussion class.
Not sure what this has to do with time and phase alignment of speakers. Are you suggesting that each driver in a speaker corresponds to a specific instrument in a performance? And so must be "scattered" to accurately reproduce a performance?
The sound of a snare hit, or a singer's voice, contains a broad range of frequencies (and engage multiple drivers simultaneously when played back) yet those individual sounds come from a single point in space when performed. If the drivers aren't time and phase aligned, then the illusion of that recorded sound when played back will be less convincing than it would be if they are. Convincing placement of multiple distinct instruments throughout a soundstage is the central benefit of time and phase aligned speakers.
So a recording being done at a point in space can't be misrepresented by a speaker not being aligned to the recording? Sounds like your thoughts aren't aligned.