30-year itch, downsizing from Vandersteen 2Cs

Easy solution - get rid of some friends!

 

That’s not easy when they’ve all enjoyed my smoked ribs!

 

I've never heard the small Harbeth units you are considering, but I did hear their flagship - the 40.2, twice. And twice they made me yawn and wonder what all the fuss was about? I have, however, heard the 2C's you're trying to replace, and I would never swap them for the 40.2, which sell for something like 8 times the price, even if offered in trade.

I don't think it will be easy to adjust from a glorious fullness of sound the Vandies produce to something "detailed and lifelike" yet lacking any magnitude. Folding chairs sound like a plan, my 2 cents.

 

Over-salt and burn the ribs twice in a row...

 

And then take down the Texas flag flying over my house up here in Idaho?

 

Thanks for a different perspective. Listening to everyone.

 

yes, erect the Italian flag so that folk will think you only eat pizza, spaghetti and cheese.

 

I think you have a rather bleak view of Italian cuisine.

 

I’m an old Texas boy who knows how to cook a good steak; I’m definitely not Italian. But my hat is off to those small town chefs in Tuscany. There is nothing in the world like bistecca alla fiorentina!

 

William, agree with you on Steak Florentina!
Did not notice before that you're just outside of Boise.
If you're going to take a trip to the west side to audition speakers I recommend Portland over Seattle.
I know the shops here and in Portland and you'll find a much wider variety of gear and independent shops there.
Plus there's no sales tax which is a huge bonus.

Just for clarification while I love Harbeth, I was recommending listening to as many speakers as possible however fatiguing and ime, it is fatiguing.
BTW, I don't own Harbeth presently but made the switch to Revel.
I do regret trading my HLP3ES speakers in a deal where the Dali's I traded for got ripped off.
Be sure to audition Revel monitors. Really sweet, natural speakers.
Superb for strings

 

I would also recommend Dali & Dynaudio speakers to audition.
They both have a wide range of options

 

I put this in your CD thread but I'll put it here as well.

Do try ProAc Tablette 10's or 10 Signatures! Transparency and accuracy.

 

This does make most sense.

 

The ProAcs do sound much larger than their size suggest- go loud too, however if the OP listens to non rock other speakers like the baby Harbeths maybe better, just a thought.

 

I own both. Worth hearing them both.

 

Took the plunge and ordered a pair of P3ESRs. I’ve enjoyed my Vandersteen 2Cs for 30 years. Very curious to listen to several hundred CDs for the first time ever through another speaker system. Fastening my seatbelt…

 

They will be very different. I can't recall, but I'm presuming your room is of modest size ...

My humble advice: try and listen to them for like 3-6 months before passing any judgement; two reasons: they'll sound very 'light', lacking most of the low bass you get from the Vandersteens; and they take ages to break in, despite what Alan Shaw. But after, I dunno, the better part of a thousand hours of playback, you'll be presented with just about the most focused, natural midrange and musical sound of any speaker out there. Given the types of music you listen to, I'll venture you're an ideal Harbeth customer.

I'll possibly get blowback for this -- they're more than competitive with the old Quad panels, but without the maintenance headaches.

 

Best of luck with your new Harbeth speakers.

A few years ago, I downsized from my 2CE, SigII Vandys to Byrston Mini-t (3 way, w/8" woofer). Although they are not "mini", I have enjoyed them very much. They have increased in price a lot the last few years and I believe run about $4K a pair new. Something to keep in mind if you change your mind.

 

?room is around 14 x 15 ?
That is a tennis field?
That is NOT a room?
14×15=210m²
And you want to go with that little harberts?

 

That’s 14 x 15 ‘merican! Feet not meters! Ha!

 

4.267199863449604 meters X 4.571999853696005 meters, but I'm sure the audiophile soundstage is significantly wider . . .

 

I expect that, even when playing music without much bass, those Vandersteens would be reproducing original ambience, which includes low frequencies..

If at all possible, consider hiding a subwoofer to supplement smaller replacements.

 

I have a backup plan in case I can’t live without the bass. There’s a little area in the corner behind a chair that would be perfect for a small subwoofer.

 

I went from Quatros to harby shl5+ ....not missing the bass...Harbeth bass is better than advertised....enjoy your new speakers bud

 

+1

You can 'tune' the bass up a little bit ... experiment with moving the P3ESR's closer to the wall. Lack of ports means you may be able to get by without a sub.