Ben77059

It really is hard to listen to speaker brands like these anywhere. I'm lucky to have a very unusual high end store where I live in the SF Area.
I heard the Sonist C-3 at the Cal Audio Show, in the dehavilland room
listening through an all tube Ampex 351 tape deck. It was one of the few rooms I went back to, really amazing sound. The Sonist are really effeciant at 95db so a low to medium power tube amp is all you need. They have a smaller speaker with one 6 inch cone and ribbon tweeter but for some reason that model isn't on there site but I remember it being $1,300 or so? My BG's have a 10 inch planar midrange with a 3 inch tweeter as a coax driver, so the sound was like my BG's but much easier to drive. I wouldn't get too carried away with room treatments though, or your room will start to sound dull and lifeless. If you ever get a chance to listen in at recording studio you'll know what a mean! Put a couple of big leafy indoor plants behind your Vandy's, it's a pretty interesting tweak, plus house plants don't have audiophile price tag![yet]

Happy listening!

Vinyl9

vinyl9 April 05, 2011 20:34

Gotcha, you need something that can go closer to the wall. The rear firing "acoustic coupler" of the Vandie may be an issue there. Have you tried them closer to the wall? Are they too boomy then?

I'd also be worried about having one speaker in that corner (unless you can use the other wall). And I'd still want to treat those bare walls.

daverz April 02, 2011 17:00

Vinyl, thanks for the tips. I went to the Sonist website, is that the one you were referring to? I like the look of the Concerto 3 floorstander. I would love to listen to them but I doubt there is a dealer close to me.

ben77059 April 02, 2011 03:45

Jax, did you see where Dynaudio is coming out with II and Signature models of the Confidence line?

The Confidence Signature and Confidence II models will start shipping in June 2011. Confidence C1 Signature models have an MSRP of $8,300. The Confidence C2 Signature jumps to $15,000, the Confidence C4 Signature is $22,000, and the Confidence Center Signature is $8,300 each.

The Dynaudio Confidence II series will come in slightly lower, at $7,500 for the Confidence C1 II, $13,500 for the Confidence C2 II, and $20,000 for the Confidence C4 II. The Confidence Center II has an MSRP of $7,500 each. All prices listed are per pair, except where noted.

ben77059 April 02, 2011 03:35

Daverz, my normal sitting position is about 6 - 7 feet in front of the speakers. I'd like to have something that doesn't need to be quite so far away from the way. Maybe two feet max.

I have to admit, they do sound good. I paid around $700 used and if I upgrade I plan to spend about 5 times that. I know I will not get 5x improvement, but maybe it will satisfy the upgrade urge for a while.

ben77059 April 02, 2011 03:31

What makes you say the Vandies are too big for the room?

It does look like you could use some treatment on those bare walls. Atsacoustics makes some nice looking, easy to mount 4" thick acoustic panels.

daverz April 01, 2011 16:53

Ben77059

Nice system, I also have the smaller room syndrome. Here is my partial list of speakers that work in small rooms that can be CHEAPER then your Vandy's and totally out class them.

BG Radia Z92 I've seen them go for under $1,000 for the pair on the Gon! I really do believe that the midrange and mid bass can just about out class anything I've heard from Vandersteen. Mind blowing speaker for the money. Made in Carson City Nevada, BG makes all if it's own drivers and also for the OEM market.

Quad 22L2
Great British sound and not a laid back speaker! Works great in a small room, solid state, tube both sound great an awesome little floorstander.

Electrocompaniet PSF-1 Not really cheap at $2,900 the pair but these little speakers can really rock! I included them because they need a little more oomph and you have Bryston gear, should sound great together.

Sonist Concerto-2
Another totally American speaker, hand made solid piece of Poplar with a horn loaded ribbon tweeter, 95db@8ohms This little floorstander just pain makes music, all though I heard these at the Cal Audio show with a 8 watt tube headphone amp they still sounded great. At $1,350 these are another steal!
Check out the website as they about 4 speakers now.

I think all of these speakers can out preform the [big 4] mass produced brands IMHO, these all play music very well, they are not involved in the so called imaging, transparency wars that have nothing to do with music sounding live at all. I'm sure there are many more I could list but I've owned or have a heard all of these many times so they come to mind first.

Good luck hunting, always take the chance to listen 1st.
Enjoy the music.
Vinyl9

vinyl9 March 31, 2011 17:58

lol, yeah, I need a flat panel, but then I will need a cable box for HD, and then I would need a wider stand... Then, with a nice big wide screen I would start watching more movies so I would need surround sound...

Actually, I was thinking I would put the old tv in the opposite corner, but for now it will probably stay.

Yeah, it does sound really nice. I do want to replace the Vandy's but I'm afraid it will take a lot of cash for just a little (sound) improvement.

I think a pair of Dynaudio Confidence C1's would be just right. Did you happen to audition the C1's before you bought your S 1.4's?

ben77059 March 29, 2011 23:56

Very nice! I like the super clean look. With the speakers out from the wall like that you probably get some very clean bass. I'm sure it sounds terrific. You should spring for a flat panel tv, that old one is spoiling the look of your system. :)

jaxwired March 29, 2011 20:53