I've owned Vandersteen 2ce for about 10 years. Have been driven with old Acoustat TNT120 and more recently McCormack DNA-.5 I know very well what that system sounds like.

Adding a 2wq completely changed the system. Soundstage got dramatically larger and deeper. It was like listening to my music collection for the first time, as it revealed things in the music I'd overlooked. I used to dial down the high and mid range on the backs of the 2ce as I thought CDs sounded harsh, but with the 2wq in the system, eq is back to zero.

I wish I'd done it years ago.

Musical, quick, and accurate
Build quality
Design
Value

Not optimized for home theater

This subwoofer is most notable for its ability to blend seamlessly with the main speakers. I suppose it helps that my main speakers happen to be Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures but I think it'sprimarily the unusual crossed-over connnection from the main amp that helps meld the sound together so gracefully.

The addition of the 2Wq gave my system the bass detail and dynamics that was lacking and seemed to liberate the 2Ce's to do what they do best. Drums and upright bass are more present and palpable now without anything extra being added. The 2Wq responds quickly and actually adds detail in the bass rather than smearing it out as some home theater subwoofers will do. Most importantly, positioned in the corner of the room with a plant on top it and blending so naturally with the mains sonically, the 2Wq does not call attention to itself. As with the 2Ce Signatures it does take some patience and experimentation to optimize the sound but now that I finally got it right the 2Wq is one exciting vanishing act. Don't cheap out on the crossovers or the speaker cables.

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Onix Rocket UFW-10

excellent tone, and tempo

takes at least 100 hours to come alive, be patient.

This is an excellent sub for music. Great tone and tempo. It does well with movies if you adjust your tone controls or the controls on the sub. I listen to music most and this is were it really exceeded my expectations.. It blends so well with my old Magnepan MG3a's that I almost forget its even there. I do not have a corner to put it in so the Q control is very useful. I can't wait to by a secound one for true stereo tone and tempo. I keep saying tone because this sub delivers it dead on. My old sub was good for movies and music but became tiring after long listining periods because the bass seemed...bloated? One 2wq does not play as loud as some subs, however the accuracy is unbeatable.

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Velodyne

Accurate Fast and deep

Not much output below 23

Maybe not the best or ultimate sub available but extremely capable, accurate and quick. It's versatility shows as it handles music and movies with aplomb. Went to this from a SVS which musically was a big disappointment.

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SVS HSU

Placement friendly and plenty of adjustability

Gain pot could be more precise and more finish options would be nice. $50 up charge for black?

This is for the V2W home theater (?) Vandy sub. Same difference as the 2Wq but is set up for single rca, LFE sub out (input) from your pre/pro or AV receiver. I listened to a lot of subs in the $600 to $2000 range and bought this one without even listening to it. Had read a few magazine reviews and figured out what kind of sub I wanted and tried out some other designs in my listening room. While others claim it, this one will do it, that is work just about anywhere in the room. The slot loaded 3 active motor design with a big passive radiator up front thumps anywhere you put it. The corner out about a foot on 2 sides works well for me but I also tried it up front next to my center channel and that works just as well due to the adjustability of the sub itself and the bass management in my pre/pro (Outlaw 950). This sub is musical and thumps when you want it to on the movies. Try out Yes Fragile DVD-A on the Vandy, Cans and Brahms for lower register organ notes, it's scary low and powerful. Gunshots sound pretty authentic as well. Also check out any Marcus Miller disc on the Vandy. This sub will do what ever you want it to do, rock the house or shake the foundation and rattle the window panes. It's all in what you want it to do and how you set it up. The gain pot works a little too well. Could stand to be more tactile with less gain per increment. Zero works just fine for my set up. Proceed from there with caution. Warn the neighbors and contact local nuke plant to see if they are Vandersteen rated.

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NHT, PSB, Def Tech

Well defined tight and deep bass. Adjustable Q which works to compensate for in room response variations.

Proper setup takes a while.

I purchased two Vandersteen 2WQ subwoofers at a total cost of around $2600. Compared to the single $3000 dollar REL Stadium 3 they are by far a better buy. I owned a REL stadium III for over one year before purchasing the Vandersteens. Both the Vandersteen and the REL hook up to your main amp in conjunction with your main speakers. Both of these subs retain the sonic signature of your amplifier but I could not get the REL to provide a smooth in room frequncy response and it would not fill in the in the room null at 40hz. This was solved with the Vandersteen and its adjustable Q control. The bass integration of both subwoofers are seemless with full range speaker that extend to below 40hz. The two Vandersteens have a much more solid bottom end with no overhang. On movie sountracks the Vandersteens also exceeded the REL. When the REL is driven near its max output wind noise is heard from its port which is audible from my listening position about 12 feet away. This does not happen with the Vandersteens sealed enclosure. The Vandersteens can provide more bottom end then almost anyone will ever need. My room is about 3,600 cubic feet and the bottom end scares me. You will have to adjust your processor to redirect the LFE to your main channels(easily done usually by just selecting "NO subwoofer" on most processors). This will actually provide the listener with much more coherant sound, and is also more compatible with the new SACD and DVD-Audio formats as the bass is derived from your main amp instead of your processor. system: power conditioner: Balanced Audio Technology BP-2.5 speakers: Vandersteen 2WQ (2) Dunlavy SC-IV Dunlavy SC-I/AV projector: Runco CP760W Stewart filmscreen processor: Anthem AVM-20 v2.0 amps: Anthem MCA-20 Anthem MCA-5 series II source: Elite DVL-91 CD/LD/DVD transport Onkyo DVC-610 CD/DVD 6 disc transport real time analyzer: Rane RA30 previously owned components: Lexicon MC-1/Citation 7.0/Sony TAE1000ES Classe CA-200;CAV-75/PassLabs X150 Acurus A150(4)/Sony TA-N55ES;TA-N220 Infinity RS8Kappas;ERS840(6);Modulus REL Stadium III Classe CDP-.3/Sony CDP-X333ES/Muse 5

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Owned a REL Stadium III & Infinity Modulus. Auditioned many.

Build quality, SOUND , and Vandersteens cust. service is A1.

ZERO!

Tight deep BASS!! Using with 3A sigs. and let me tell you its like listening to 1spkr with a buit in sub. Get 2 or forget it.

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REL

Deep,tight bass.Easy to follow rhythm and pace,transparent blend with main speakers. Solid 20hz output and into teens.

None, if true,articulate bass reproduction is what you're after. Boom heads look eslewhere.

I now have 2 of these units, but had one
for several months. My review is of the performance with one unit. First, these are
music first subs. If boom for movies is what you're after you can probably do better for the money($1250). The Vandrsteens hookup differently than most other subs ( in parallel to the main speakers off the main amplifier). You must have a separates system (pre-amp,amp) or
a receiver with pre-outs/man-ins to hookup
with the 2W. After trying dfferent crossover settings with the WX-2 crossover
box (this inserts between the pre-amp/amp)
I settled on the manuals recommended 80hz
setting. I have never heard such a seamless
blend between sub and mains before ( okay
maybe the REL line of subs, but none better). The sub just sits there, but my
Vandy 1C's are now "turbocharged" seemingly
reaching into the teens. If it weren't for the "tremendous",foundation threatening bass that seems to come from the main speakers now, I would think I'd been ripped off! There is no perceptible sound emanating from the 2W enclosure! Bass quality is
tight,tight,deeep,deeep! On top of which
the mids and highs are seemingly cleaner and more transparent, I don't mean subtlely
so,but quite noticeably.It has added tremendously to HT,although I think HT enthusiasts will find its bass a little on
the tight side with the Q adj set at the .5
setting, they can always adjust the "Q contour" to get a little more "Boom" for
movies. I can't find any faults with this units performance ,its made me start going through my music collection all over again,hearing bass I didn't know was present before. I mean scary bass. On movies unreal. Godzilla,T-Rex,"Saving Private Ryan all threaten to bring my home
down. Bass players now sound like they are
really in my listening room. Within the last month I've purchased another 2W, I won't even try to describe. BTW, I'm not even what you would call a bass enthusiast,
imaging,palpability,midrange,highs, these
are the things that were most important to me. The Vandersteen 2W has opened my eyes to what I was missing.

The Vandersteen Woofer is the fastest subwoofer I have ever heard. It has wonderful clarity and deep, true bass.

The hookup is a bit of a challenge - but Richard Vandersteen is accessible to assist, and he gives great advise if you can stand his lack of social skills (Read: This man is a genius, but intolerent).

Amazing subwoofer! An acoustic bass SOUNDS acoustic. The difference between a plucked note and a bowed note is clearly defined.

Be prepared to spend an additional couple hundred dollars for some good speaker cables and interconnects. The feed forward correction works best between a pre amp and power amp, so if you have an integrated make sure to do your homework, or you will have an expensive coffee table.

Another suprize. Be prepared to spend an additional $100 for the caps which replace the temporary crossovers.

Thats it! Now for the good news. The subwoofer integrates better than any sub I have heard. I do recommend placing the sub between the two main speakers (if you use one sub) to ensure the stereo image is true.

Lastly, to my ear, the calibration knobs on the woofer sound best (in my room) with the sensitivity 3DB > than the speakers rated sensitivity. The "Q" setting sounds best between 7 and 8 depending on the type of music or DVD.

Simply put, the best subwoofer under $2,500.

Strongly recommended.

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REL, PSB, Mirage.

Very fast.

None

Very fast. Easily matches my Magnepan's,
it just makes my speakers sound amazing.
Could not be happier, even for movies it can really
shake the floor. If you can find one cheap, buy it,
you wont regret it.