wpm

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $350.00 from From a friend

Summary:
I was about to give up on floor standing loudspeakers, because they simply did not interact in my 13’ X 15’ room the way I wanted them to. Having gone through numerous speakers of varying quality, from Magnepan MG-12's to JBL L80S, I found none of them truly impressed me; at least in the way I felt content to keep them indefinitely.

Oh, sure, the MG-12’s imaged like crazy, but they did not offer the bass I wanted or expected. The JBL’s, while having great bass, could, at times, make your ears bleed with their titanium tweeters. That, and the 80s “loud and clear” technology really showed its colors. And all the others in-between, well, they were just variations of the two.

Then I went to a friends house one day and heard a pair of Vandersteen 1B's. In his house, hooked up to a vintage Pioneer Spec 4 system, they sounded smooth, rich, and detailed. I was immediately impressed. To make a long story short, I purchased the speakers (thanks, Dave).

I won’t spend a lot of time waxing over audiophile terms except to say that in my home, hooked up to my Quicksilver Audio system, the 1B’s sound absolutely stunning. I have never heard such richness, transparency, and vibrancy. Music just seems to come alive through the 1B’s. They have the transparency of the MG-12’s with the bass of the JBL’s. Seriously. These unassuming speakers put out a surprising amount of bass. The whole soundstage gels, whereas before it sounded detached and, for lack of a better word, incomplete.

So, if like me you have big speaker aspirations, but your room and, indeed, your budget is better suited to stand mount designs, get yourself a pair of Vandersteen 1B’s ( or 1’s or 1C’s). They just may be your ticket. Highly recommended!

Strengths:
Warmth, richness, transparancy, and and overall "rightness" to their sound. Big bass without need of a subwoofer (room dependent).

Weaknesses:
None that I could detect (I wasn't listening for them, either).

Similar Products Used:
Planars, stats, dynamics... too many to list.

Price Paid:  $700.00 from Listen Up

Summary:
I have owned the 1Bs for nearly 10 years. They have been my workhorse speaker. They have survived 5 different moves, been knocked over several times by my dogs and still look and sound like new. Will probably have them another 10 years.

Strengths:
The Vandys may not be the best at one area of the musical spectrum but like all of Richard Vandersteen's offerings, they excel at all of them. "Boxless" design truly gives a very open, spacious sound without the box speaker coloration. Laid back and smooth. One of the best speaker bargains in high end audio.

Weaknesses:
The only weakness IMO is their looks. I would like to see an attempt at updating it, but I guess the Vandys have always been about substance over style.

Similar Products Used:
You name it, I've heard it.

Price Paid:  $650.00 from Audio Advice Raleigh

Summary:
Nothing better for the money. Have had them for 11 years and like them as much as when I bought them. A great investment, haven't even had the itch to "upgrade" them.

Strengths:
Amazing imaging, very 3d-like. Never get tiresome to listen to. No shrill highs or thudding bass - just beleivable pleasing sound.

Weaknesses:
Could use a little lower bass extension, but for their size they probably couldn't go lower w/o losing their tightness.

Similar Products Used:
Snell, MB Quart, Thiel

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Digisom

Summary:
I really don't understand why people complain about these speakers bass when they use it with lousy amps! These are made to sound fabulous when partnered to a DECENT amp, and when properly positioned in the room. I've had a pair for more than 10 years, and I'm quite addicted to them. Bass has an extension very difficult to find in speakers of these range, and they play organ well, which is quite rare!! Besides that, the absence of boxyness and coloration of the midrange is something quite addictive when you get used to it, and after you're used to these you'll have lots of difficulty finding speakers you like! As for home theather, I'm presently using them for it, together with a pair of mirage rear effects and a center from sonus faber, and a Rel storm3 sub - all the equivalent from vandersteen was far too expensive here to be considered. I drive them now with mono amps from cyrus that can deliver very high peaks, and the sound in stereo is still fabulous... You do need a good amp to grab them, and lots of care when positioning in the room, but when you get it, the sound is amazing...

Strengths:
Bass extension - they go to 34 hz, unlike some have said here... Absence of box colorations Dispersion and imaging

Weaknesses:
Need a good amp - you'll notice huge differences in bass response as you upgrade amplifier

Similar Products Used:
None - heard a lot of speakers.. quite like monitor audios, especially the metal cones ones, and love some panel speakers sound, like martin-logans ang magneplanars... Can't afford them, though, and

Price Paid:  $650.00 from Overture Audio

Summary:
Great product for the price. I have had these for 10 years and still haven't found a better sounding speaker for the money.

Strengths:
Smooth,clean, and great imaging

Weaknesses:
Could have a bit more low end, but for the money I found nothing that does.

Similar Products Used:
Paradigm