John Atkinson's thoughts on the New Vandersteen System Nine from LA Show

erik,

What exactly is the "stereophile curve?"

ctsooner described a rising treble in many speakers and you seem to attribute this to JA, yet I regularly read JA criticizing speakers for non-linearity in the high frequencies, particularly peaks or a rising treble.

Yes, that's not a curve at all.  It's just some designers who, turn up the brightness control like LCD TV's in Best Buy to have them stand out.  These speakers are 'loved' by many, but are not what you hear at live music events.  That's fine if that's what folks want, just like Vandersteen's are fine for me, because that's what I want.  

I don't see how JA has anything to do with how a speaker measures.  I also say measuring isn't a be all end all and there are always a few exceptions to the rule.  

Heck, I can live with the Audio Note speakers and their knock offs.  They remind me of great FM music.  Can listen all day and love listening.  That said, to ME, they don't have a sound stage that many high end speakers have. They aren't as dynamic or tight as many others, but man are they fun.  I feel that I've chosen a speaker that does ALL of that.  

I do want to hear about the 'curve', but in regards to what Richfield posted about the system 9, I can't wait to hear it.  If I could ever afford them and they really do sound like Richfield says they do (I'm good friends with him and know what he likes and what he LOVES),  I will really want a pair that shows only the carbon fiber with clear coats on it (yes, I asked once and they WILL do that if folks really want that).  

@prof
JA is a funny guy. He’ll call one speaker deliberately altered which isn’t, but others with demonstrated treble issues "neutral"

It’s more complicated than merely more treble. The Stereophile involves not only exaggerated treble but also a couple of big bumps.

https://speakermakersjourney.blogspot.com/2016/05/stereophile-reviews-data-doesnt-lie.html

Best,

E

JA also did a particularly bad review of the Crystal Cable Minissimo. In addition to just half- .... er, phoning in the review, he ignores the manufacturers recommendation for placement, ignores his own measurements which show that his alternative placement was not working, and also claims they played around with the treble balance, which was not in evidence in the data.

I can’t imagine some one with that much experience doing all of this for the sake of objective reporting.

https://speakermakersjourney.blogspot.com/2016/09/stereophile-slanders-crystal-cable.html

As a speaker designer myself, I’d be livid, but also, most laymen wouldn’t see the issues I did.

I won't get into the politics of it all as it's not always pretty (but can be depending on who you may deal with), but I've said for years that designers are voicing their speakers in a way I described above.  Vandersteen and Avalon before him, never do that/did that. Real world listening and anechoic chamber listening are also totally different as you know Erik.  

There needs to be a balance to get things right in an every day environment, but the problem to ME, is that we have these references forced down out throats by the pubs/bloggers and so many don't go to enough live performance's or they just listen to others and not their ears. 

Thanks for sharing likes to support what you are sharing.  Makes it much easier to understand.  I'm much more in your camp IRT the manipulated curves.  That's just the way audio is and always has been.  Folks are told what to believe and most don't fully trust their own ears and so many rarely, if ever go to live events. Even at live events, it may be at a venue with crappy sound (so many are).  

You get used to what you own and that's what counts.  Folks always say how happy they are, but Audiogon proves that most aren't.  I look back at my last 5 years in audio and asked myself if I'm being a hypocrite by saying that as I've changed every component in my own system during that time frame.  

Went from a new system of Vandersteen Treo's (now own Vandersteen Quatro's), Music Hall DAC/headphone amp (then to the Empirical Audio ODSE/SE and now the Ayre QX5/20), Ayre AX7e integrated (then the Ayre AX5 and then upgraded to the 20 version).  Music server is the fully rebuilt (by Steve Nugent) Mac Mini with Paul Hynes LPS.  Bought a Basis 1400 TT (just sold it to a friend) and an Aesthetix Rhea Phono pre stage completely rebuilt and updated by Jim White's team (about to put it up for sale).  

I need to get out of Vinyl due to health reasons (can't get up and change albums ever 20 minutes), but I've stayed with the same company for my changes and all were major upgrades that I expected to do when I got my new system 5 years ago.

I don't feel the need to tune with new cables or anything else.  I did go from a Synergistic Research Powercell 10 mk 2 Tesla power conditioner to the new Audioquest Niagara (yes, putting the SR power cell up for sale too, lmao).  I have had all balanced AQ cables and when I did the A/B testing, felt the Niagara was better for my system in my room.

In my ears I trust, lol. Interesting where the thread is going.