tk49

Craig, nice job on the pic, they look good. Put my name on the list as well. Tom

I was the first to try the Road Show AA’s and was very impressed with the improvement over my AL 3’s, the open natural sound was well beyond anything I had. I wanted a pair. After much discussion with Dean I ended up with the Super AA’s with the Mundorfs over the “entry level” Road Shows. What I got was more clarity and detail from top to bottom, tighter bass, with crisper highs, the sound stage is bigger and with more “in the room” presence, the LaScala’s have never sounded better. These crossovers have revealed a whole other level of what Craig’s VRD’s and the LaScalas can produce. Dean and Craig are masters at what they do, well worth the price of admission. Tom

I think you will find that there is a completely different world out there relative to stock. Dean is a genious when it comes to crossovers. I'm currently enjoying my hot-rodded Super AA's, clear, clean, detailed sound with a full sound stage. Just makes you smile. Tom

I have owned Heresy's, Forte's, Cornwall's and Khorn's, the LaScala is my favorite. Looking forward to hearing you take on Dean's Road Show Super AA's. Enjoy the music. Did you get on the list?

Dave, glad to hear they have had a positive affect on your system. Enjoy them for a while, I'm in no hurry to get them back. Tom

Dave, I'd be happy to send the AL3's for you to try . I installed a Crites refresher kit in them with the sonicaps about 3 year ago. Like Dean said, this will give you another piece to the puzzle in finding what sound best in YOUR system. I think you may find that there is more than just a subtle difference. Tom

ABK I have a pattern for the bass bin reinforcement I did, happy to send it to you, PM me with your address if you like. Thanks for serving TK

I would agree with muel, no need for a tweeter replacement. I have 1990 Lascala's with AL3 crossovers and have replaces the squacker horn with the fastrac wood horn and reinforced the bass bins. I just auditioned AlethiaAudio's SuperAA, they made the single greatest improvement for my LaScala's. I recommend you get on the Super AA Roadshow list and hear for yourself. They are in your $ ballpark. Tom

Beauty and the Beast

A quick up-date on the Crossover Roadshow. As a benchmark I'm comparing the Super AA's in my '90 LaScala AL3's updated with a Sonicap kit. I have struggled over the years with my mids and high blending. With the Super AA's that problem is gone, I have more clarity, definition, tighter bass, yes bass from a LaScala, I ended up turning my sub down to near nothing. My system has an over all fuller and more coherent sounding now. I've ordered Dean's ALK Universals, there's no way I can go back to the AL3's A couple of my hifi junkies friends heard the Super AA's and kept bugging me to put AL3's back in to HEAR the difference. Well, I HEARD the difference when I put the Super AA's in, and didn't need any convincing by going back. I finally pulled the Super AA's and sent them off to Cameron on Tuesday and put the AL3's back in the system. So today I finally gave the AL3's a listen, boy do I miss the S AA's, I know they are what Dean calls "entry level" crossovers, but I have to say they are way ahead of my updated AL3's. Nice job Dean!!! Now looking forward to getting the Universals in and running. As Josh said in an earlier post, you can't spend this kind of money on one up-grade that will move your system beyond the next level. Tom

I'm surprised someone hasn't jumped on these. It was the first step in the right direction for my 90 lascala's, next was Dean's crossovers, great combo for a very clean, natural sound.

Couldn't agree with you more Mike. The clarity, detail, attack, imaging and better bass are all great descriptors for what I experienced with the Super AA. Dean's building my ALK Universals this weekend. Tom

Since they are black I don't see an issue with consecutive #'s, if they came at the end or a parts run then there could be and argument for consecutive #'s. Just make sure they have matching parts. I have 1990 LaScala's, black with AL3's with a Sonicap kit rebuild, always struggled with tweeter and squawker blending. I just got Dean's Super AA Road Show crossovers last Friday. Let's just say that there will be a large sonic hole in my system when I have to ship them off to the next listener. More open, more detail, fuller sound, very coherent. That's where my $'s are going. Local market always dictates price, if you can get it done for under $900 it's a deal where I live.

Cut-Throat, I've been doing the case work for Craig's VRD's and Stereo 45 for the past couple years and now the NBS preamp. He decided to continue to offer all in the three basic woods, maple, cherry and walnut at his listed prices, if you want a different species, contact me, I'd be happy to discuss options. I just finished a curly cherry NBS unit with black stringing for another forum member that turned out quite striking. Email or call, we can talk. tkeady@neb.rrdotcom 402-440-7 three nine 0. Tom Keady

I'm amazed at the lack of interest in a chance to hear an affordable up-grade from stock for free, I came late to the party and still ended up first on the list. I mean how many times have we said, "it would be nice to hear that in my system before I shell out the cash". At any rate I'm looking forward to hearing the difference between my Sonicapped AL3's and the Super AA2's. Hope to see/hear them by early next week. Will report back with impressions. t

Done, prayers with you Craig. Tom

I'm in Lincoln, give me a call four 0 two four four zero 73 ninty Tom

Dean, great educational article, gave me a better understanding of the crossover process, although the water got a bit deep a couple of times. Parts two and three shed light on Vandersteen's audio philosophy and willingness to stick with it. Certainly worth the time spent reading. t

Jeff, you have email.

Thanks Rivernugget, I've been struggling with trying to sign in from my laptop for the past 3 weeks. Mike, sorry to hear of your misfortune hopefully it will lead to something better. Tom

Thanks Cameron, that's very generous of you to say.

That would be mine. Tom

Here's a better view

Miles Davis, The Complete Concert, My Funny Valentine w/Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, George Coleman and Tony Williams Recorded live at Lincoln Center's Philharmonic Hall in 1964 Columbia/Legacy C2K 48821