Shahinian Obelisk vs VandersteenTreo

Bob,
I'll think about it;)
Meanwhile, I am coming over to the US like... tomorrow :))

Tomic601,
Thanks, enjoying VA right now. Next stop Boston, then on to Niagara and on to Chicago :-)
You were saying "his amps". What exactly did you mean?

Gentlemen,
Thanx for your support. 
Once I am back home, I have a friend who owns a pair of Quatros AND an amp another friend (an ex- owner of this combo) recommended for them - a Meridian G57. Will audition them both. 

JohnnyR,
Thanks.  Wil work on that. 

Will call JohnnyR, thanks. 
 Wrote  to RV, he thinks this might be the speaker itself. Willing to rebuild it, but oh what a hassle to send it in from Russia and to get it back.  At least 2mo of speakers not working...
Yes, it is tightly screwed.  

A big Q for you Quatro owners: when your power amp is off, but the Q is still powered on, can you hear some slight hum coming out of your midbass speakers? Only audible when you have your ear next to them.
Q#2: did your speakers come originally with some sort of spikes?  If you can, please attach pics.  Mine don't have them, don't know what to look for...
Thanks!

Well, after a while I finally decided to go for those Quatros and did so.
Got them a week ago and only now got home to update the battery and tune the HP filters and get a dedicated listen.
Unfortunately I discovered that midwoofer on one of the speakers produces distorted sound (especially audible on piano). I did all the fiddling with changing the wires, amps, sources, powering the speaker off, etc, but the middle speaker (right below the tweeter) sounds distorted no matter what I do. The other speaker sounds better.
The seller tells me that all was good with the speakers when he was listening to them last. Also, a week passed since I received them...
So. Has anyone had experience of this sort? What can be wrong with them?

Gdnrbob,
Thanks for the spike info.
Yes we do have dealers, but they only complicate things and slow them down: they outsource repairs, and, if I have to send a speaker for rebuild to RV, it’s going to be much faster to do it direct.
JohnnyR,
Will call you today.
Thank you.

tomic601,
Thanks for the info. 
If the crossover is faulty I will certainly fix it locally. If it's the driver, tough luck, off it goes to RV for rebuild.
Thanks to all for your advice and help. 

Gentlemen,
They were hand-delivered to me by the seller's nephew in his Land Rover (he was going somewhere further).  Although they wrapped them up well in bubbly cellophane (whatever the name of this material is), I guess it took some damage.  Or maybe it was defective upon dispatch, I don't know.
I got in touch with RV, he is willing to rebuild the driver, since he has none of them left in stock. A very helpful gentleman indeed. But this requires taking it out and sending it in, which takes a lot of time, especially around Christmas. 

Gentlemen, on the sidenote: what amplification you are using with your Vandersteens?  power amps specifically?

tomic601,
I do have those Shahinians, you know.
Thanks for your answer on the amp choice.

Bob,
On top of Shahinians I have a pair of open-baffle speakers of local make (Noize Fabrik) and KEF LS50s.
But... I don’t like the idea of backup speakers. Might give the main pair the idea that they r entitled to a vacation :-)

http://roshiend.ru/audiotech-page/noize-fabrik-scutum-3-0/

Here’s a link to one of my speakers.
They are extraordinary, BUT they need the right room to play well. In my room they don’t work, unfortunately. No bass.

Tom,
They also sound incredibly natural. But. The room thing is really essential.
I do have two extra amps (a Stingray II (a keeper) and an ARC CA50 and 3 extra pairs of speakers (all on sale). So I guess you can say I do have a spare system. For now ;-) But in my second location - I have to confess - I am using a single Bluetooth speaker (a Marshall Woburn, replica of Marshall guitar amps). No hifi, but easy to use and good for easy listening and movies. And HUGE ported bass :-)

Stingreen,
Thanks. Will keep your advice in mind.

Bob,
Like I said I will follow Stingreen's advice and carefully inspect everything. I have no intention of sending the driver overseas and learning that it is in perfect working condition :-) JohnnyR suggested a very simple, but very effective way of checking driver's performance: taking it out and connecting it directly to speaker cable at very very low volume so as not to damage it.  This method will demonstrate the defect (IF it is defective) instantly. All effective things are oh so simple :-)
And kudos to JohnnyR for taking his time to help.  It was a pleasure. 

Well, it's the driver. Took it out completely, checked it, it's off center. 
The seller suggested to take the speakers back, contemplated his offer, decided I want to keep them. 
So next week the driver is going to California.
CJ pre is burning in with a new Tesla tube. 
Will probably look for a Golden Lion Genalex, as they suggested on a CJ owners forum.  The Vandies have a somewhat dark sound in my setup Ann's room, so the Golden Lion will probably make it brighter, closer to neutral.

Ann's room=and room.

Yes, I suppose you are correct in your description.
 Thanks.  I will try to fix the problem locally, and if this fails, will send the driver in to RV.

Bob,
It was generous, yes, but... overall not a pleasant type to deal with, the seller that is.
I am as "paranoid" as you are, believe me :-)
They actually don't have a database even of years of manufacture.  I told Richard the serial number, he couldn't tell me year of manufacture...
On the sidenote, strangely enough, the speakers are playing quite nicely with this midrange missing. Go figure.
A sideways question to you Vandy owners:  how would you describe the sound of Vandies? "Dark" is what comes to my mind...

I think I found the reason for this darkish sound coloration: the Conrad-Johnson ET3 pre. It's either that it's still not burnt-in, or it's the Tesla tube coloration, or... that it's just not up to speed...

Tom,
I agree. 
Otherwise LOL 😂😂😂

Fixed it locally. Looks like it was a manufacturing defect. Disassembled, cleaned, assembled back.
These drivers are made by hand. Amazing.
Enjoying the sound as I write.

 Well, the preamp is improving.  I put it up on sale anyway, so if it sells, will replace it.  If not - will try to live with it, replace the tube once again, maybe. I am not 100% happy with the sound yet: not spacious enough, also not perfect in terms of tonal balance. Replaced the speaker wires, the Nordost gives a brighter sound, which is as improvement in my case. 

I was thinking Mcintosh D100, Meridian G02 OR a Mytek Brooklyn. One other option I was considering was a Cambridge Audio 851N.
3 out of 4 are DACs with volume regulator, the last one is a streamer  with this functionality too.
But the CJ is improving. If it keeps doing so maybe I will keep it. 

JohnnyR,
What exactly do you mean by "a real preamp without ICs in the path"? My preamp is quite real, and if you go separates vs integrated, you will always have ICs ( interconnects?) In the path. Or am I getting something wrong?
Also, what’s wrong with Conrad Johnson?
I have no spikes/cones whatsoever, so no. Need to buy them.
And I haven’t done the in-room compensation thing yet.

And what is that in a preamp?

Hey, listen, I AM WORKING ON IT :-)

Appreciate your advice anyway. 

Tom,
They were centered initially when they came in.
There are plenty SPL programs for smartphones. I was planning to use one of them. Now, throw your stones at me ;-)

Johnny,
This is plan indeed.  I just can't spend much time on this: I only see my family 2 days out of 7, and my wife is already jealous of the audio and forums :-) The two small boys are too.  So I am getting there, but just not too fast. 
Who is Jacqeline V? 
The previous owner promised to find those spikes. 

Privet comrades :-))

I really don’t know how to put it mildly, but I think I found part of the problem.
Since XLR output of my CHORD DAC64 is somewhat better, than RCA, I was using an XLR->RCA cable. Simple and handmade.
Well, I read in Stereophile review of this DAC that it outputs over 6V of signal out of its XLR out and a bit over 3V through RCA.
Well I replaced this cable with a simple RCA-RCA cable (an Atlas something). And... it shone. The system and the speakers.
Wow. A totally different sound. Open, natural, airy. I'm loving it :-)

Bob,
I Will experiment more, certainly. 
Everybody on this forum seems to like Ayre a lot.  Why? And what about other pre's ?
mr_m,
No more XLR-RCA's. No more. 

Thanks.
Waiting for the CJ to open up.
Frankly, looking at upgrading my power amp to an Aesthetix Atlas. Not sure that this is THE weak link in my system, but it got me thinking...

Tom,
I do have a USB mike somewhere: bought it for some room-compensating EQ SW that I never got to using...
So I guest it night work out.
Audiotools works on a Mac?

"... guess it might..."

Bob,
I looked those SPL meters up, and  I can get a cheapo version here.

Tom,
Point taken, thanks.

They are. We are all metric and centigrade, you know...

As for the size: "The two fronts are cones ¼ X 20 threads and a special spike in the rear with spacers for tilt 3/8 X 16 thread."

So, total we are 4 front cones and 2 back spikes, right?

Having them manufactured locally. Will show you pics once they are ready.

All done, will try to screw them in tomorrow.
Can’t attach pics here. How’s it done?

Schiit....
It's all wrong. 
No metal inserts. 

They do, but they are not metal: just the wooden stuff the speakers are made of. Not used to this.  Ruined q of an inch of thread. 
Guess they need to go deeper..

Gentlemen,
Thanks for your input. Quicksilver and Atma-Sphere don’t sell here, so I can’t try them.
I can get some ARC gear here, Line Magnetic, Rogue Audio, etc.
I am cautious about ARC, though, due to bad experience with their integrated - CA50. Had nothing but problems. Others aforementioned, as I understand, are entry-level tubes, made in China.
Manley is nice, love their Stingray, but on the expensive side.
What else have you had experience with vandy- and tube-wise? McIntosh? Like MC275, plenty of them around. 
Thanks!

Gentlemen,
Can you please measure the distance between the floor and 1. back and 2. front bottom parts of the speaker: I am trying to determine the length of spikes and cones. What is the difference between front and Back, how much are they tilted in your case?
Thanks!

Bob,
I broke it a bit myself. I thought there were metal inserts and screwed the cones in without looking. My bad.
However, rest of the thread is fine. 
And I can make the inserts if they are flat and fit into those depressions on the bottom.
I will also request Richard for those spares.
Can you guys please measure the gaps between the speaker bottom in front and back of the speakers and the floor? Thanks!

Bob,
What I want to know is how much tilt does it usually require to correctly position the speakers.
Hence the question.
And yes, there is thread both in the front holes (cones) and in the back (Spike).

Tom,
Ok, I guess you are right.  Will check the manual tomorrow.  For free. 
Meanwhile Merry Christmas to you all! ;-)

Bob,
The thread is there, it’s just not visible on the pics. The back spike hole has no metal inserts anyway.

So, can you thread your bolts into them?
B

Yes, but the front ones are toо feeble and not deep enough to hold the tilted speaker - without proper support by the washers, of course. I even broke part of the thread.

The back hole will hold the spike, though, as the cone is pressed directly against the speaker bottom, so no sideways pressure on the wood.

Any info would be appreciated and if you can redirect me to somewhere, that's cool too!

I'd suggest eBay. 
There are other local options depending on where you live (if outside the US).
There's a nice aggregator - HiFiShark.com - but it can pull data off eBay as well. So eBay in my opinion. 

I’m back for more :-)
I am looking at driving the Quatros with a tube amp: not completely happy with the Meridian G57 SS power amp. Still lacking something.

Your Vandee-tube experience and recommendations, comrades? :-)
What are the requirements for a tube amp to adequately drive the Vandees?
Thanks a lot!

That sense of ease... yes.
Ok, point taken.  Will look at approx 100wpc tubes.
Thanks.