I have a pair of 5s that I really enjoy. I haven't yet heard the 7s and have only read some show notes and the Stereophile review. Has anyone given the 7s a good listen? What were your impressions?
Vandersteen Model 7
- Thread starter Jay_S
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I have yet to hear them, but of all my speakers the 5s is my favorite. If I know Richard, the 7 must be very good. Funny story about my 5 Signatures, Richard was in the area and I asked him to take a magic marker to the top of both my speakers, to put his REAL signature on them. The plate on the back of the speakers is not how he really signs… he said “This is a first, I have never actually signed the speakers myself”.
A truly good guy and he really knows his stuff as well.
Bob
A truly good guy and he really knows his stuff as well.
Bob
The tops have a wood border around the cloth and at the rear it's around 2". He signed there.
AVguide.com just posted Robert Harley's extremely favorable review of the Model 7:
http://www.avguide.com/review/vandersteen-audio-model-7-loudspeaker
I know that Harley has reviewed some other statement speakers such as the Wilsons. But this review doesn't have much to say about how the 7s compare with specific competitors (other than a brief reference to the less expensive Revel Salon2s.) Harley concludes that if he had to pick now, these are the speakers that he would spend the rest of his life with.
http://www.avguide.com/review/vandersteen-audio-model-7-loudspeaker
I know that Harley has reviewed some other statement speakers such as the Wilsons. But this review doesn't have much to say about how the 7s compare with specific competitors (other than a brief reference to the less expensive Revel Salon2s.) Harley concludes that if he had to pick now, these are the speakers that he would spend the rest of his life with.
Harley has a long-term love affair with Vandersteen speakers. He loved the 5A and 5 as well as many lower-priced earlier models.
Stereophile's measurements of the 7 are here.
A pair of Model VIIs are coming this week in Bentley Rubino Red. Vandersteen applies 40 coats of Automotive Finish to each carbon fiber enclosure. Deep paint. Comments to follow. Norm
Aesthetix: Rhea Sig, Calypso Sig, Romulus, and Atlas Monos. Oracle Delphi Mk V, Graham 2.2, Dynavector XX-2. Home built Server w/ SS drive, SOtM USB Card, Core Audio Linear PS, OWC 2 TB e Firewire Storage Drive (28,000 WAV Files,) Audioquest Diamond Firewire and USB Cable, Win 8.1, jRiver19, and dB PowerAmp Ripper. AQ Digital & Analogue Cables. Thanks for asking, Norm
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Should be sweet combo. The Atlas' always sounded good driving the 7s in the Vandersteen room at CES!
I heard the 7s at Raleigh last year, with Richard driving them with ARCs best stuff. Excellent! Vandersteens have always been a great all around speaker to me. Richard was there discussing the particulars and what a cool guy- loves music and it shows. I also heard the Quatros driven by Ayre and the sound was also very good. Awesome sound for the $ with any of the Vandersteens.
I have heard the Quattros driven by NAT Audios - 120w SET amps - awesome, along with Avalons and Verity these are the only box speakers that I like. Also their bass tunes well to a room unlike Avalons. I heard the V7s at Munich. I have ARC reference 3 and 110, so might get a inhouse demo of Quattros before I switch to new planars
I like your choices. The current quatro actually replaces the model 5a (discontinued) I've heard the 7s at shows and dealer showrooms and I think the 5 carbon is the equal of the 7. Id have a hard time choosing between the two, if price were a consideration id take the 5 carbon all day long.
I just heard the Seven Mk. II at Audio Connection--best system I've ever heard. Jon was using an Aesthetix Romulus Signature, Calypso Eclipse, and Atlas Signature Stereo.
Says a member whose moniker is "16hz" no less! love it! ...as a bass freak myself, i have never heard the Vandersteen 7s...and in fact, the last time i heard any Vandersteen, it must have been the 1b or whatever they were producing in the late '90s. But i can confirm i have yet to hear any speaker where i would not seek to use some [properly] added sub-frequencies...with the possible exception of the Genesis 1.1 4-tower speakers. Even the mighty Arrakis, I thought, was capable of just that much more presence with a very, very well set up all-out pair of subs. In fact, i think there is an Arrakis on Audiogon where the owner has subs alongside them.
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