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

@jwm  

JV is known for this in Absolute Sound. Every review the product brings out things he's never heard before

Not sure what i see as the problem here. I always thought the essence of this hi-fi pursuit was to hear more of what the original artist and engineering team intended? My experience has always been that hearing more is better. Now this is not to say that sometimes an emphasis on a certain frequency range will suddenly spotlight something you have not heard before. For example with the addition of super tweeters in my system I became aware of the noise of piano action on many recordings. As I worked with the system and dialed back the tweeter (shifting x-over from 10KHz to 12KHz) it's still there but no longer so up-front (and arguably annoying) -- so the over emphasis was wrong but I still learned from being exposed to the detail

Another example -- opening the door to my room (into an adjacent storage room) freed up the bass and without the room being overloaded as it was before all sorts of detail becomes apparent (not just the ultra low bass) -- would I want to go back -- no.

So I would hope that as JV makes incremental improvements in his system he hears more/differently and adds to the sonic portrait he had before -- certainly been that way for me, and not in the slightest emetic

wow, I reread much of this thread and found it fascinating.  I was talking with a designer yesterday about real world listening vs listening in a chamber.  It makes sense to listen and voice in a real room since that's what most of us listen in anyways.  I know a few designers who do only this along with some measurements and always seem to produce popular and outstanding equipment.  

Most of the listening rooms I heard/hear when I'm at a dealer are just not good.  They usually are over damped and bordering on dead sound wise.  I'm sure many of you will disagree and tell me I'm at the wrong dealers, but this is MANY over a lifetime.  Some have great rooms, but they also aren't trying to sell many room tuning devices I don't think, lol.  

It started off with the Vandy Sub 9 system.  I know a few who have gone this route and I'd love to hear their thoughts on how it has been sounding now that they've lived with it for awhile.  Not looking to get into politics or changing the subject or other subs as I'm not interested in those.  Just want to know their thoughts on the Sub 9.  Thanks. 

Pete with my musical tastes and room, I just dont feel the need...the 7’s play pretty low with authority and definition..... but IF i ever di build a room it would be my first choice in a sub to pair w Vandersteens.....

Thanks Jim. I think I want the new M5 mono blocks and eventually maybe the smaller subs lol.