Vandersteen Audio

In our last issue, we discussed at length the incredible design of the balsa wood/carbon fiber/epoxy construction of the woofer, midrange, and tweeter of the flagship Model 7. These new cones do not flex or vibrate internally but push the air as a unified whole, just like a perfect piston would. To achieve this, Vandersteen employs a sandwich construction consisting of the lightest available type of balsa wood layered on the front and back with carbon fiber. The resulting cones are the most perfect piston-like devices used in loudspeaker reproduction, their only drawback being the very high manufacturing cost. (Please see Issue 13 for a complete description of how these marvelous drivers are created.)

Vandersteen Audio has decided to make the Model 7 midrange available in a new version of the Model 5A call the Model 5A Carbon. (Model 5A owners should not panic! The 5A Carbon is an additional model in the line and does not replace the standard 5A.) This change makes the improvements and refinements of the Model 7 midrange, the most important part of the musical spectrum, available in the Model 5A at a much lower price than the Model 7. The model 5A Carbon sells for $24,000, and any original owner of a Model 5A can have his loudspeakers upgraded to the 5A Carbon.