Vandersteen 2C Klippel data by "hardisj"

[Rick Sykora]

If I still had my 2Cs might be tempted to upgrade them. Here is what I can offer based on when I salvaged mine...

1. The drivers are good quality. Due to age, the tweeter is the most questionable as it may have dried out ferrofluid. The woofer, surrounds should be checked, but otherwise are fine. Not sure what I would due the with active coupler...
2. Would leave the crossover (physically) in place as it is coated with epoxy and is too much hassle to replace. Would simply bypass it entirely. If the active coupler cannot be used as-is, may be able to use as a passive radiator or simply remove it and replace the hole with a vent.
3. I liked the sound of my 1Bs better as well. The woofer is comparable in the 2s, so thinking that porting them would be like adding a midrange to the 1s. This could be a winner.

Hope this helps!

 

[soundtrane]

I had the experience of opening up a Vandersteen 2Ce to take a look at a grainy tweeter. I was appalled to see the inner construction. Black caulking all over the place, piece of felt stuck around the tweeter, the quality of the wiring to the back panel, and a black plastic 'cup' which i traced to an American plumbing supply - presumable to use to cover an open pipe to cover the back of the tweeter... And of course, a staple gun used to keep the 'sock' in place between the two pieces of wood on top and bottom...
And all the justification in the world ('Ask Richard') for a stupid electrical screw terminal to connect the speaker cable to...

 

[Holmz]

How do the staples and black caulk affect the sound?
I suppose if we want to look inside of the speaker, then many are caulked and many have absorber.

 

[soundtrane]

How do the staples and black caulk affect the sound?
I suppose if we want to look inside of the speaker, then many are caulked and many have absorber.

I am referring to the construction, the product or industrial design on a device costing a few 1000$. It was a ****** construction hidden under the bloody sock.

 

[Holmz]

I am referring to the construction, the product or industrial design on a device costing a few 1000$. It was a ****** construction hidden under the bloody sock.

I know what you are referring to.
But they have been sold for the last 45 years with Richard saying he would not spend any money of the cabinet when he could spend it on the drivers and XO.

It is akin to liking and admiring the lipstick and shoes which a woman is wearing.

If it was a bridge or something where the internal parts make a difference, then I could abide.

 

[soundtrane]

drivers? the replacement tweeter on the 2ce was priced at some 70$ US. wow, that's a LOT of money being spent on the tweeter.

we can go on and on about arguing whether the lipstick or the lips are important.

I firmly stand by my opinion about product design and construction.

What i saw when the 2ce with the jocks pulled down was like - a very tall handsome guy who when his jocks are pulled down and the doctor sees he has a severe affliction of 'the clap'. Even a DIY attempt would be better imo.

I read somewhere post 2000 Vandersteen products veered away from quality - maybe this is the issue...

 

[Holmz]

drivers? the replacement tweeter on the 2ce was priced at some 70$ US. wow, that's a LOT of money being spent on the tweeter.

we can go on and on about arguing whether the lipstick or the lips are important.

I firmly stand by my opinion about product design and construction.

What i saw when the 2ce with the jocks pulled down was like - a very tall handsome guy who when his jocks are pulled down and the doctor sees he has a severe affliction of 'the clap'. Even a DIY attempt would be better imo.

I read somewhere post 2000 Vandersteen products veered away from quality - maybe this is the issue...

OK being a dealer, what do you carry that i should look at?

 

[soundtrane]

OK being a dealer, what do you carry that i should look at?

Look at what are the products I represent. I have NOTHING TO DO WITH HIFI PRODUCTS.

Please go find yourself a Hifi dealer, but i wonder why - since you are so so happy with Vandersteen. With the jocks on or removed. Hah.

 

[Holmz]

Look at what are the products I represent. I have NOTHING TO DO WITH HIFI PRODUCTS.

All I know is under your avatar is says dealer.
I have no idea what you deal, but I assumed dealer on a audio site meant you deal in audio.

Please go find yourself a Hifi dealer, but i wonder why - since you are so so happy with Vandersteen. With the jocks on or removed. Hah.

I wouldn’t spend a lot time wondering about It.

 

[soundtrane]

All I know is under your avatar is says dealer.
I have no idea what you deal, but I assumed dealer on a audio site meant you deal in audio.




I wouldn’t spend a lot time wondering about It.

only professional audio.

<I wouldn’t spend a lot time wondering about It.> oh, i am done. i have better places and things to spend time on.

 

[Dismayed]

The first speakers that I bought on finishing grad school were Vandersteen 1b’s. I was never very happy with them, but they fit my budget at the time. I moved on to Martin Logans and have never regretted dumping the Vandersteens.

 

[Holmz]

The first speakers that I bought on finishing grad school were Vandersteen 1b’s. I was never very happy with them, but they fit my budget at the time. I moved on to Martin Logans and have never regretted dumping the Vandersteens.

What subject was your grad school study in?

 

[Dismayed]

What subject was your grad school study in?

I went to grad school twice - it took a while to get it right. The first stint was to work on a PhD in physical chemistry at Dartmouth. I completed the coursework, but left and went to U Chicago for an MBA. I’m still shocked by the sorry state of economic theory. It was mostly an attempt to indoctrinate us in neoliberal ideology.

 

[Holmz]

I went to grad school twice - it took a while to get it right. The first stint was to work on a PhD in physical chemistry at Dartmouth. I completed the coursework, but left and went to U Chicago for an MBA. I’m still shocked by the sorry state of economic theory. It was mostly an attempt to indoctrinate us in neoliberal ideology.

Sorry, the question was a poor attempt at humour.

But from an MBA sense, why buy a speaker if one is not happy with it?
It is like wanting a Porsche, and buying a Carmen Ghia, when one could have “made do” with a VW beetle.
However changing one’s tastes and wants over time is not uncommon.


A friend has the M-Ls, and had Spikas before that.
It has been difficult to find amps that drive them, but they do sound nice.

 

[Dismayed]

Sorry, the question was a poor attempt at humour.

But from an MBA sense, why buy a speaker if one is not happy with it?
It is like wanting a Porsche, and buying a Carmen Ghia, when one could have “made do” with a VW beetle.
However changing one’s tastes and wants over time is not uncommon.


A friend has the M-Ls, and had Spikas before that.
It has been difficult to find amps that drive them, but they do sound nice.

I bought within my budget. What I wanted was a larger budget, but I did the best that I could do given the constraints. Fortunately I now have fewer constraints. My youngest graduated from college in May, and I don’t need to pay tuition for his PhD.

 

[Holmz]

I bought within my budget. What I wanted was a larger budget, but I did the best that I could do given the constraints. Fortunately I now have fewer constraints. My youngest graduated from college in May, and I don’t need to pay tuition for his PhD.

Same with mine, who was on a full ride.
(Good job on that.)

 

[Dismayed]

Same with mine, who was on a full ride.
(Good job on that.)

I explain to people that don’t have children that a cocaine habit would be cheaper.

 

[Holmz]

I explain to people that don’t have children that a cocaine habit would be cheaper.

Covvee is also an alkaloid, and is more affordable.

 

[soundtrane]

I am referring to the construction, the product or industrial design on a device costing a few 1000$. It was a ****** construction hidden under the bloody sock.

found the old photos of the Vandersteen when i had to open them. here is the tweeter.
LASCO is a plumbing supply company in the US.
go figure.

 

[soundtrane]

<The cables should all be the same length. This is not due to the time that the signal takes to travel through a cable, but rather that two different lengths of the same cable will sound different.>