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

I have read JA's outstanding reviews of Vandersteen speakers for years, but this is the first time he's heard their new System Nine.  Please read all the way down as Fremer mentions the late AJ Conte's outstanding TT:  Enjoy

From JA:
The first room I went to at the 2017 LAAS was that hosted by LA dealer Optimal Enchantment featuring a system based on Vandersteen's Model Seven Mk.II speakers ($62,000/pair) and M7-HPA amplifiers ($52,000/pair), which I reviewed in May 2016, this time reinforced by a pair of Vandersteen's SUB NINEs operating below 100Hz. It may have been the first room I visited but as good as many other systems sounded, they didn't match what Vandersteen refers as System NINE for its effortless sweep of sound, precise, palpable imaging, and smooth yet detailed high frequencies. On the title cut from a test pressing of Dave Brubeck's Take Five, the reverb surrounding Joe Morello's drums in his solo was more audible than I hear from my own system and the textures of his cymbals were superbly well differentiated.

The rest of the system comprised Audio Research Corporation's REF-10 phono preamplifier and line stage, with isolation stands and bases from Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS) and cabling and power-line conditioning by AudioQuest—a Niagara 7000 for the amplifiers and Niagara 5000 for the front-end components. But it is the LP player in this room that drew visitors' attention.

image: https://www.stereophile.com/images/060217-Basis-600.jpg

Michael Fremer shared my enthusiasm for the sound in this room, which had LPs played on the late AJ Conti's Transcendence turntable with the Super Arm fitted with a Lyra Atlas cartridge. In Mikey's words: "This turntable is the acrylic-free, minimal-plinth design I always hoped AJ would design and build."


Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/jas-final-report-2017-laas#mX8Fja9AgBY4SDyp.99
ctsooner
tonykay
856 posts
 
Is there a reason for this unsolicited advertisement?
ctsooner OP
2,104 posts
 
Tony, not an ad at all. Not sure why you'd say that when it's JA of all folks posting his thoughts on a brand new product by a pillar of the audio world.  

I was also intrigued that Basis decided to attend with their table as they keep things going after AJ's death.  I was blessed to get to converse with AJ often.  Yes, he was one of the true gentlemen in all of audio and is missed by many of us.  I just sold my own Basis TT as I have to get out of analog for physical reasons.  Along with VPI and so many others, Basis makes a great product at all their price ranges.  

I made this post to get dialog going on new and what seem to be cool products that I personally haven't had the chance to listen to.  I'm hoping that some who went to the show can share their thoughts, good and bad.  Don't see how that's an ad, especially since I'm an audiophile just like you and have no skin in the game.  


tonykay
856 posts
 
I'm glad that you're so excited about the new Vandersteen speakers and Basis table. Also, I'm sorry about AJ Conti's passing. However, I know there are many products being introduced daily by many pillars of the audio world that are covered in the audio press. If articles were reprinted here about all of them, there would be no room left for the discussions for which these forums were designed. Not seeing any questions for discussion in your original post, I must have been confused.
cedargrover
255 posts
 
Disclaimer:  Vandy Fanboy.

That said, I am suspicious of what benefit *additional* powered subwoofers could add to the Model 7.  I haven't heard the system demoed as the LAAS, so my suspicion is nothing more than that.  My understanding is that these subwoofers are very, very expensive so I would love to hear RV's explanation.
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