Jeff,

well, after dealer setup and calibration, the 5's sound even better... deeper bass extension, better bass integration, and a more coherent soundstage. I am really enjoying them!

stretiak August 14, 2003 00:58

jeff,

thanks for your input.

i definitely feel that proper room set up first will result in better sound in the end, if for no other reason than that vandersteen recommends correcting only 75% of the variation from flat with the equalizer, so i expect to get closer to flat by optimizing position first.

i have finished moving them around, and have put them up on spikes. I'll let you know how things change (hopefully improve) with further adjustments.

sean.

stretiak July 20, 2003 22:00

jeff,
thanks for the input. dealer set-up and calibration is included, but i am doing experimentation with room positioning myself first (a combo of predicted good positions with testing with listening).

i picked up some used audioquest clear, 7 foot discrete biwire. they were recommended by both my dealer and by richard vandersteen as a reasonably priced cable. (i kinda blew my bankroll on the speakers and the audio research front end). i didnt compare them to everything, but they sure are better than the mit t2's that they replace.

stretiak July 13, 2003 06:24

richfield,
as you suspected, i have been really impressed with the improvements in jumping from the 2ce's to the 5's. Transparency and detail are both much improved; i am still fiddling with the bass, but it already crushes the 2's. i have always liked the 2's, but the 5's are much, much better.

stretiak June 30, 2003 17:15

i would strongly consider upgrading the center to a vcc5, unless you never watch with anyone else, in which case the phantom center will sound best anyways. i actually upgraded the center for my 2ce's from the vcc1 to the vcc5 and found the performance to be much better, with noticeably less compression. Now i am finally bringing home model 5's, and am anticipating the improvement.

stretiak June 07, 2003 09:44