Vandersteen 3x Owners: More Bass?

Zargon, this is in no way a negative comment on your system. I'm sure it sounds fabulous. However, I am disappointed to hear that the 5's can be improved measurably by using subs in conjunction. Would have thought, for that price, that the use of subs would have been obviated.

The "subs" are part of the 5As, integrated within the 5A cabinet and with their own 400Watt amplifiers (for the subwoofer frequencies) per speaker.

Thanks, P. This is what I thought. Guess I had mistakenly inferred from Zargon's comments that he was using separate, additional subs.

4yanx, sorry for misleading you. I was comparing the virtues of separate versus integrated subs. The 5A subs cannot be improved on IMO.

Pubul57, the search never stops! (:-)

My next step is addressing power and conditioning. I am currently running 2 Richard Grey 400s in series, with the pre on the first and the CD on the second. The amp and subs are direct. Everything is driven off a single 15 amp circuit with nothing else on it. The 15 amp circuit is a very short run (15 ft.) to the main.

Frankly, I have virtually inaudible ambient speaker noise (even without the RGs), and such great performance that I can't imagine that I can improve on it. Is it possible that the all ARC, all balanced equipment is so well designed and so compatible that any power issues are accounted for?

However, based on AGON reviews and given the reasonably low cost, I can't see any down side to adding dedicated circuits. I would put 3-20 amp circuits in (1 for the amp and 1 for each sub), and 2-15 amp circuits in (1 for the pre and 1 for the CD).

Have you any experience in this area?

I had a 20 Amp Dedicated Circuit installed, but unfortunatley it was done at the same time I brought in the CAT and ARC CD3 - so of course it sounded better than before. I asked ARC about power conditioners and I get the impression they use Richard Grey for shows. I would imagine power requirements at shows are not great given the day time hours and the electrical use in typical hotels. My take on dedicated circuits is they can't hurt. On Power conditoners it seems CAT and PASS both feel they provide no benefit, at least with there equipment and design approach. It is the typical reply I here when asking electrical engineering types. I think when the equipment is well engineered, when the components work synergistically, when the room acoustics, speaker position, and seating position have been optimized, that some of these "tweaks" might make a difference - if not just on an emotional level.

Do I see a REF 2 calling?