This is a random pic of a pair of Vandersteen, model 2, from the web. Of course, Vandersteen is iconic and earned it. We are not challenging the design, just curious: What's the purpose of the posts, canopy, and sleeves? Aesthetic or acoustic? What's your take? Also, what's you opinions on these speakers?
Entirely Aesthetic.
Great speaker, but not a pretty design without the cloth.
Several speaker brands in the late 80s, early 90s went the wraparound cloth sleve route: Vandy, Definitive Technology, Mirage. It was very chic at the time.
Great speaker, but not a pretty design without the cloth.
Several speaker brands in the late 80s, early 90s went the wraparound cloth sleve route: Vandy, Definitive Technology, Mirage. It was very chic at the time.
Without the posts, canopy, and sleeves, it would surely look a lot smaller! Could the two posts in front of the drivers create some sort of problems reflection-wise?
Probably. But I bet it was a fair tradeoff to get a good sound AND an actractive package to sell mass market.
Wilson has a similar design, but without the posts. Narrowest baffle for each driver. But a higher end price point, and MUCH fewer units sold.
The most difficult part of loudspeaker design is the aesthetics.
Number of displeasing appearing products is unbelievably large, unlike bad sounding ones.
Number of displeasing appearing products is unbelievably large, unlike bad sounding ones.
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I think this is a clever solution: the 'hard' box is not visible so it can have a shape optimized for acoustics. A complex shape that only needs basic finish.
The external 'box' is acoustically transparent and is optimized for looks. A simple shape with 'good' finish.
Due to easier finish (fabric wrap) and highly optmize-able box shape this can be a good solution for DIY.
The external 'box' is acoustically transparent and is optimized for looks. A simple shape with 'good' finish.
Due to easier finish (fabric wrap) and highly optmize-able box shape this can be a good solution for DIY.
This was one way to reduce costs to the end user eliminating expensive wood veneer
and the same time the smaller baffle area was found to benefit time alignment
and sound transparency .
Richard regards any baffle area as added distortion coming off the drivers and the small
dimensions aid in a more rigid enclosure overall.
He made a concentrated effort to reduce end user costs without compromising superb
driver impulse response
and the same time the smaller baffle area was found to benefit time alignment
and sound transparency .
Richard regards any baffle area as added distortion coming off the drivers and the small
dimensions aid in a more rigid enclosure overall.
He made a concentrated effort to reduce end user costs without compromising superb
driver impulse response
May I assume the speakers will work equally well sonically without the posts, canopy and sleeves? Odd looking or not?
Yeah, for sure works better sonically without all that extra structure. Although difference is likely small, especially if you listen relatively far away. But sure, you could leave the stuff out.
Yes. If aesthetics are not a priority, it is relatively easy to design/build a high performance cabinet. But if it has to be good looking as well... well, that is a more difficult challenge...
The 2c was a good speaker in its day, and it competed with speakers selling for much higher prices. Mr. V kept his prices down by keeping the aesthetics and finish work simple... as @AVWERK and @AlmaAtaKZ mentioned...
Without the posts/top/sleeves, the Vandersteen looked like vintage KEF? With tweeter, mid, woofer in their own compartment and time aligned.
Vandersteen uses 1st order filters on most of their designs. I met Richard at a stereophile show in NYC around 2000. I tried picking his brain about the newer models he came out with at the time, but he was as tight as a clam when I inquired about the actual crossover topology. The 2ce was an excellent speaker in terms of resolution and detail, very good at playing classical, acoustic and piano music. They weren't that capable of any noteworthy SPL being a 3way, mainly thanks to the 1st order filters. The drivers were Vifa / ScanSpeak. The mid was very similar to the P17WJ-00-08.
The sleeves most certainly. I’ve never heard or measured the Vandersteens. But when you read the trouble John Atkinson takes to justify the ragged response obviously caused by the top panel amongst others, i know enough.
