Personally after listening to Vandersteen Model 7 Speakers, I can not think of any other speaker to own even at 5 times their retail price! It is a whole new direction in dynamic loudspeaker design. Yes they build off what Richard learned designing the Model 5 Speakers, but they are taken to such a level above that its a whole new game now. All the main drivers are designed and made from the same material. This and the Perfect-Piston drivers has a huge affect on eliminating driver artifacts. The Model 2, 3, and Quatro Speakers have a 'Sound' to them that becomes less and less as one moves up the product line. By the time one reached the Model 5A this is almost completely gone and only shows itself under stress (I have not yet heard the Model 5A Carbon). The Model 7 on the other hand has no 'Sound' as it just completely disappears leaving only a huge natural soundstage with unbelievable depth. They sound great at low, medium, and loud volumes. They are the first speakers I have heard that don't start showing their weaknesses are higher volume levels. I attend 2 to 3 ASO Concerts a month and the Model 7 is the first speaker to make me think I am in the hall where the recording was made. VTL 300's would be fine for the way I listen though you should probably speak to Richard about how loud you want to listen to them for his input on power. And while speaking of higher levels of listening, I noticed I didn't need to play the Model 7 as loud as I listen to the Quatro Wood or Model 5A Speakers. So I would say go listen to them for a few hours in a large demo room. I like the Model 7 with a tube front end being driven by Ayre MX-R Mono-blocks.
Vandersteen Model 7 in large room with power music
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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- 9 posts total
- 9 posts total