Dennis,

Since I own both....

The DQ-10s are close in the "experience" of what the Vandies will give you- that open, wide, room-filling sound. But read on-

They are pickier to place than the DQs, so a smaller sweet spot- also first order crossovers and the vertical aligned drivers (also time aligned) which to my ears offer a great leg up on other designs- but further add to the issue of the small sweet spot.

It's peculiar for the Vandies- that big open sound they offer- but only if you're in a relatively good seat in the room.

What they offer over the DQ-10s is clearly more bass- due to the design and incorporation of that rear-firing passive radiator. This also makes placement critical- otherwise bass will be boomy or lacking dependent on room.


I think the Dahlquists with a subwoofer is going to give you a very similar speaker.


The Vandies prefer amps that are more articulate- Adcom and Yamaha come to mind- this helps keep them clear and clean sounding.

Warmer amps are not an ideal match- to some, the speakers will even become hazy or lazy sounding.




Anyhoo, the Vandersteens are a favorite of mine- not as articulate as my Thiels, but incorporating those first-order crossover and time aligned drivers that I love, this time with, loosely and not 100% accurately described "open baffle" design of the upper drivers offers a delighful and relaxingly enjoyable listen.



Not the final word in inner detail and razor sharp accuracy, but these are never fatigue inducing- you can listen to them all day long.




They get my recommendation- but may prove overkill since you already have the DQ-10s.




Oh- they are vastly improved with the stands- an option. So be sure they have them if you buy- especially at that price.

I've actually had the pleasure of listening to Elroy's Vandies on two separate occasions now and the difference between the two was remarkable. Room placement, different amps(?), different ICs, etc. all seem to make a pretty big impact on these speakers in particular.

I've never been disappointed listening to them but on the second occasion I remarked that I didn't remember them having such deep or articulate bass. Elroy credited this mostly to an adjustment in room placement and whatever it was, it certainly seemed to work.

What others have said about a smallish sweet spot is also true, IMHO. My wife and I swapped seats, right next to each other, and the difference was remarkable. They certainly do fill the room nicely and don't seem to fatigue. I was also impressed with their ability to handle a wide selection of musical genres with equal aplomb. Everything from U2, both good and great recordings, and INXS (my wife's favorite) to an excellent Jack Johnson recording, my beloved YES, and even a taste of Tool.

I'd be very happy to own a nice pair of these and can highly recommend them. I've never heard the DQ-10s but have heard DQ-8s and own DQ-20is and think that with the right room placement the Vandy 2Cs would fit nicely in to such a collection. And yes, I think my wife would agree.

Haven't gotten to really play with the amp yet but will in the next few days while my wife is out of town

hope the amp works out, as you were saying you have a soft spot for adcom amps, so I would assume you will like it.

elroy