The Vandersteen 2Ce's sporting walnut trim
Now here we can focus on one of the prime goals of Stereo Haven, which is showing quality, long-lasting products that continue to improve over time. There are more Vandersteen 2's in the country than most any brand of speaker. If you doubt me, watch sales on the used market. Since the mid-70's this model has been in production, and hearing the newest version, the pinnacle of the 2's, one can understand why.
Using the same floor footprint as any small standmount two-way, the 2Ce's give a complete top to bottom cohesiveness lacking in so, so many speakers in its price range.
So now to a few truths and assumptions about this speaker. Like some, I was never a huge fan of the Vandersteen line as a budding hobbyist. In my youth, I heard them at local shops, yet always chose some electrostatic or British 2 way to save my pennies for. And many of my friends had these very same assumptions. After trying to give them my best at the ol St Louis Stereo, while again very nice, just didn't quite get the boat afloat. And that was with the great man of audio himself, Richard Vandersteen, overlooking my setup while visiting there.
Yet here they are, amongst a handful of other great speakers that I've chosen to represent out of zillions out there - I swear there's as many speakers now on the market as there are crappie jigs at Cabela's. Why are they here? Because I was duped into believing they were only very good, due to poor rooms (St Louis Stereo) or poor setups ( past local dealers), I almost passed them by. The newest version of these speakers are without a doubt one of the great buys in all of audio, that's why they're here. Coupled with the right amp, perhaps a Line Magnetic 211 -EL34 tube, Line Magnetic 501 -KT120 tube, or an Audio Research VSi60 -KT120 tube, some quality cabling from Audioquest, a great source like the Line Magnetic 215CD player or WTL Amadeus table/Dynavector P75 phono stage/Dynavector 20xL cartridge, and you're set. Come give them a try, again. One listen at the Haven and you'll be shaking your head why you should pay more... well, for some of you, anyway. And THAT I can help you with as well....
Using the same floor footprint as any small standmount two-way, the 2Ce's give a complete top to bottom cohesiveness lacking in so, so many speakers in its price range.
So now to a few truths and assumptions about this speaker. Like some, I was never a huge fan of the Vandersteen line as a budding hobbyist. In my youth, I heard them at local shops, yet always chose some electrostatic or British 2 way to save my pennies for. And many of my friends had these very same assumptions. After trying to give them my best at the ol St Louis Stereo, while again very nice, just didn't quite get the boat afloat. And that was with the great man of audio himself, Richard Vandersteen, overlooking my setup while visiting there.
Yet here they are, amongst a handful of other great speakers that I've chosen to represent out of zillions out there - I swear there's as many speakers now on the market as there are crappie jigs at Cabela's. Why are they here? Because I was duped into believing they were only very good, due to poor rooms (St Louis Stereo) or poor setups ( past local dealers), I almost passed them by. The newest version of these speakers are without a doubt one of the great buys in all of audio, that's why they're here. Coupled with the right amp, perhaps a Line Magnetic 211 -EL34 tube, Line Magnetic 501 -KT120 tube, or an Audio Research VSi60 -KT120 tube, some quality cabling from Audioquest, a great source like the Line Magnetic 215CD player or WTL Amadeus table/Dynavector P75 phono stage/Dynavector 20xL cartridge, and you're set. Come give them a try, again. One listen at the Haven and you'll be shaking your head why you should pay more... well, for some of you, anyway. And THAT I can help you with as well....
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