My Venture into Hifi with Vandersteen Model 1

Gentleman that so very much for your input, to answer Rickman post yes this is my first post in this forum, a good friend told me about it. I do know that at times members can be a bit harsh towards new members, but I am just trying to get some input from the more knowledgeable veterans here. Adam 18, I would have to say that the speakers are the model 1, I did drop an email to Vandersteen, and included the serial number of both speakers in hopes they will be able to give me a bit more information.

I will keep you posted in my findings, once again thanks for giving me the time of day.

Dave.

If you have speaker and amp then why are you asking people on forum what they sound like? why not play them and see for yourself?

Zanon, OP may not have an comparative context for the price - simply listening to the combo, and if a beginner, he won't be able to assess how good they are versus other options in the price range. I think they are much better than "decent" for the price - some might argue they are the best sub $1000 speaker with any semblance of full-range bass. Might be one of the first choices I would pick for a non-audiophile that wants a good, full range-speaker (with an NAD or Rotel 100 watter) and then wants to stop thinking about audio and the next upgrade.

The MC30 is a wonderful amp (good enough to look for a speaker that is likely to mate well with it), that may have just enough power, but my sense is that Vandersteen in general really needs SS or a very high power tube amp to deal with the large impedance swings and low impedance (2 ohms or so?) in the bass - not to say you won't like it, but you might not know what the 1s are capable of without trying them 100 watts and high current output. Personally, I think your amp deserves a better and better matching speaker (though the VS is very good for the money), the MC30s are first rate, with a little maintenance (cleaning, capacitor replacements, etc) they should last you a long time. Let us know if you ever think of selling them. One of the great vintage amps!! Really in another overall league than the VS1s IMHO.

Someone with more exact knowledge, please correct me if I'm wrong here, but I believe the only way to tell if they are 1B or 1C models is to look at the serial number. If there is a B or a C at the end, then they are either 1B or 1C models. I hope you enjoy them; they have a great reputation.

-Bob

Thanks Pubul57, I really appreciate the input and the honesty, I have yet to but these babies together, from the following post I will pick up the speakers this week they seem to be worth a try. I did take the amps in to a local McIntosh dealer here is South Florida to have a once over and all he could say was WOW!! I guess thats a good thing. Thus starting me in the Hifi audio world. I guess it like a drug hard to kick, I am in the process of looking at other options to mate with my amps, or possibly buying some new ones. The problem is, being new there are so many options out there, one does not know where to begin. A good friend has been ranting and raving about the the tubes amps from Manley Labs, being that he has 2 mono blocks and I must say the sound is heavenly.

I guess I will start with what I have and work my way up from there. I think I keen on the McIntosh gear, seem like that is the way I am leaning, it's just finding some speakers that complement them.

Thanks for all the input.