Thread: Vandersteen 7 mk2 and Vandy Amp Review

http://www.soundstageultra.com/index...ono-amplifiers






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Thanks Mike for posting the link to that review. The review really summed up my feelings about the Vandersteen 7 Mk2 speakers and M7-HPA Mono Amps. In a word, magnifique!

Best,
Ken

Excellent review and description of the technical and musical elements of a great speaker/amp combo.

Ken, I can only imagine how good your system sounds. Congratulations!


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At the NY Audio Show, a few years ago, the Vandersteen 7 Mk2 was the most beguiling room I sat and listened in.
It was unbelievably natural sounding to my ears.

Originally Posted by Melbguy1

If you like natural sounding gear, i'd recommend checking out Jorma Design cables from Sweden which are the most natural sounding cables i've heard (though I haven't heard them all).

I'll look into them, thanks!

Originally Posted by Rnrmf

At the NY Audio Show, a few years ago, the Vandersteen 7 Mk2 was the most beguiling room I sat and listened in.
It was unbelievably natural sounding to my ears.

It's not unusual for me to listen to the Vandy 7 speakers and amps for six to ten hours at a time. Sometimes I even listen right through the night until morning. There is truly zero listening fatigue. Just an effortless and and natural sound that allows total immersion in the music. Hands down the best purchase I ever made.

Best,
Ken

Originally Posted by cmarin

Ken, I can only imagine how good your system sounds. Congratulations!

Thanks Carlos, right back at ya!

Ken

Updates to the Model 7 are being rolled out. The 7 XTRM is the new nomenclature. I wonder if Richard is offering the ability to get the updates for the original 7 owners.

From the Vandersteen site:

Model Seven XTRM

IT'S ALL IN THE TIMING The Model 7 XTRM continues a tradition to push time and phase correct audio reproduction to the ultimate extreme. With new pistonic side-firing drivers, matched to the patented mid-range and tweeter, the XTRM manages to bring further clarity and harmonic accuracy in a way that surprised the designers and the expert listening board. Give yourself a treat and take a listen soon.

Originally Posted by Ritmo

Updates to the Model 7 are being rolled out. The 7 XTRM is the new nomenclature. I wonder if Richard is offering the ability to get the updates for the original 7 owners.

From the Vandersteen site:

Model Seven XTRM

IT'S ALL IN THE TIMING The Model 7 XTRM continues a tradition to push time and phase correct audio reproduction to the ultimate extreme. With new pistonic side-firing drivers, matched to the patented mid-range and tweeter, the XTRM manages to bring further clarity and harmonic accuracy in a way that surprised the designers and the expert listening board. Give yourself a treat and take a listen soon.

The last time I spoke with Richard, he said the Model 7 Mk2 would be upgradable to the Model 7 XTRM. I haven’t spoken with him recently about it but if he is doing the upgrade, it would be interesting to know the cost.

Ken

Originally Posted by Dre_J

Call your dealer next week. They should have the upgrade cost and logistics information or be able to get it by that time or a bit later.

Dre

I’ll probably give them a call to see the upgrade cost but I honestly doubt I will do it. I don’t see enough improvement in the design to warrant a $20K increase in speaker price. They moved from two 12 inch aluminum opposing slot mounted subwoofers to two 11 inch ribbed aluminum side mounted subwoofers. Having the subwoofers on the sides of the cabinet will increase output but will also increase sidewall interactions. If they had made the subwoofer cones from a carbon-balsa-carbon sandwich, I would have been much more interested. They also added a base to the cabinet, which can already be purchased as an accessory. I passed on that because my speakers are already spiked to a concrete slab and at the optimum listening height.

Ken

Originally Posted by Alpinist

I’ll probably give them a call to see the upgrade cost but I honestly doubt I will do it. I don’t see enough improvement in the design to warrant a $20K increase in speaker price. They moved from two 12 inch aluminum opposing subwoofers to two 11 inch ribbed aluminum side mounted subwoofers. Having the subwoofers on the sides of the cabinet will increase output but will also increase sidewall interactions. If they had made the subwoofer cones from a carbon-balsa-carbon sandwich, I would have been much more interested. They also added a base to the cabinet, which can already be purchased as an accessory. I passed on that because my speakers are already spiked to a concrete slab and at the optimum listening height.

Ken

Good summary. Makes sense. Surprised no carbon-balsa-carbon sandwich. That would have made sense.

Originally Posted by Mike

Good summary. Makes sense. Surprised no carbon-balsa-carbon sandwich. That would have made sense.

I don’t see Richard pushing the design envelope like he did in the past and going for more economical solutions over more substantive changes. Paper cone sandwich subwoofers in the Sub9 Subwoofers and a basic reshuffling of the Model 7 design don’t really do it for me.

Ken

Hi Dre,

Actually I wasn’t looking for a response from you so my apologies for responding directly to your post. For the record, I have been extremely satisfied with my Vandersteen 7 Mk2’s since I purchased them five years ago as everyone knows on this forum due to dozens of highly complimentary posts over the years. As for the Model 7 XTRM, I’ve already listened to the System 9 Bedrock Base extensively, and while it is far better integrated than placing the speaker on a granite slab, I didn’t hear any material improvement over my current setup. While I don’t know all the ins and outs of the new subwoofer design, what I’ve seen so far doesn’t excite me. For these reasons I won’t be doing the upgrade.

Ken

FWIW, I found that the addition of the granite bases to my original Model 7s was significant. I found it brought everyone more into focus, especially the bass which got much tighter. It was money well spent in my system.

My listening room is carpeted on a concrete slab.

Originally Posted by Alpinist

I don’t see Richard pushing the design envelope like he did in the past and going for more economical solutions over more substantive changes. Paper cone sandwich subwoofers in the Sub9 Subwoofers and a basic reshuffling of the Model 7 design don’t really do it for me.

Ken

There are many paper based coned drivers that are excellent (and many exotic material drivers that sounded horrible), I wouldn't look at that as a negative. Also, looks like they are implementing what Vivid Audio and Martin Logan along with Kef have been doing for years - opposing-side mounted drivers creating a counterforce that cancels each driver’s potential for adding cabinet vibrations. Plus the EQ improvements for better sub to driver integration. Plus the base decoupling mentioned. You may be oversimplifying the upgrades and ultimately hearing is believing.

Originally Posted by sb6

There are many paper based coned drivers that are excellent (and many exotic material drivers that sounded horrible), I wouldn't look at that as a negative. Also, looks like they are implementing what Vivid Audio and Martin Logan along with Kef have been doing for years - opposing-side mounted drivers creating a counterforce that cancels each driver’s potential for adding cabinet vibrations. Plus the EQ improvements for better sub to driver integration. Plus the base decoupling mentioned. You may be oversimplifying the upgrades and ultimately hearing is believing.

I already have opposing 12 inch subwoofers that cancel cabinet vibrations and integrate beautifully with the 7 inch carbon balsa sandwich lower midrange/woofer. And I’ve listened to the granite base which didn’t provide material sonic improvement over spiking to my concrete slab (I don’t play at higher volume levels). I will probably listen to the new model when I get the opportunity but I highly doubt I’ll bite. I’m not saying it doesn’t sound better, I’m sure it does. But it would take a significant improvement for me to upgrade my current model.

Ken