THE MODEL 3A 

UPGRADABLE LOUDSPEAKER
Since 1977, Vandersteen Audio has designed and built innovative loudspeakers using advanced design concepts. Minimum-area baffles eliminate virtually all cabinet edge and grille diffraction anomalies while mass alignment of driver elements insures proper time arrival. Vandersteen Audio was the first loudspeaker manufacturer to use the Gen-Rad 2512 FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) Computer Analyzer for in-house research and development and remains a leader in interfacing complex computerized analysis of loudspeaker parameters and performance with practical design and engineering.

The Model Three benefits from our years of experience designing and building loudspeakers of unparalleled value and performance. It couples proven technology with advanced materials, construction and design for a speaker system that is always true to both science and music. The Model Three is completely upgradable. As future improvements in technology and/or materials enhance the capabilities of the speaker, cost-effective updates will be available to upgrade existing speakers to the latest components, performance and specifications.

THE ACTIVE COMPONENTS
The components used in the Model Three combine classic durability and strength with innovative design and construction. The metal-alloy dome tweeter is a dual-chamber design to improve range and linearity. It is critically damped to extend the high frequencies past audibility without the excessive ringing associated with open or underdamped metal dome tweeters. The specific alloy used for the dome was chosen for its superior strength and resistance to break-up.

With our experience in FFT computer analysis and extensive research into the negative effects of diffraction, we developed a unique, proprietary midrange driver (Patent # 5073948) that outperforms previous designs in several significant parameters. In conventional cone midranges, the acoustic energy from the back of the cone immediately strikes the front of the driver's magnet assembly and is reflected back through the cone and into the listening room. This distorted secondary signal created by the internal diffraction smears the sound of the driver and inhibits true transparency. The frontal area of the magnet assembly on the Vandersteen midrange is minimized through the use of advanced materials and construction techniques to reduce internal diffraction and the resultant distortion to inaudible levels. With the elimination of this distortion, the sound of the Model Three is cohesive and smooth with a level of inner resolution unequaled by other loudspeakers.

The active acoustic coupler and woofer use costly cast-metal baskets rather than the more common stamped baskets. The cast-metal baskets' inherent rigidity and superior vibration control increase cone movement accuracy and resist sympathetic resonances for cleaner and more natural sound. Filled polycones are used on the woofer and midrange to insure high stiffness, superior internal dampening and greater neutrality than metal alloy, woven plastic or treated paper cones. The stiff, low weight polycones resist flexing under all drive conditions for lower distortion and increased detail.

The dual-spider active acoustic coupler accurately complements the woofer to reduce box loss, thermodynamic loss and active/passive transfer nonlinearities. This novel Electro- Mechanically Optimized Woofer System provides powerful, detailed and extended bass response as the Model Three operates much more closely to the ideal than conventional ported or passive designs.

THE CROSSOVER
The crossover in the Model Three is comprised of transient-perfect, first-order networks designed to preserve the phase integrity of the music. It is compensated to allow the drivers to operate in absolute phase with each other for more precise and stable imaging than in conventional multi-way speakers using out-of-phase drivers. The crossover's computer-grade components, including low impedance air-core inductors and high-quality film capacitors in the signal path, are hand soldered on a double-sided, plated-through PC board tested to insure less than 0.1dB deviation from a reference circuit. Custom 6N wire with polypropylene dielectric is used for internal wiring to maximize signal transfer.

The crossover is engineered for bi-wiring with a stereo amplifier or passive vertical bi-amplification with two identical stereo amplifiers. Inputs are heavy-duty screw terminals.

THE ENCLOSURE
The baffles holding the drivers on the Model Three are as small as possible to eliminate virtually all of the early reflections that affect dynamic speakers with conventional flat or low diffraction baffles. Reducing both early reflections and edge diffraction improves the imaging and enhances the openness and transparency of the speaker.

The Model Three's enclosure is constructed of 1 to 1 1/2 inch thick MDF, an advanced material that resists vibration and reduces cabinet resonances. Broad-spectrum, low-Q resonances are controlled so as to cancel rather than become additive.

THE ALIGNED DYNAMIC DESIGN
The Model Three uses the proven Vandersteen Aligned Dynamic Design to optimize the dispersion and transient accuracy of the drivers while maintaining the input signal's time and phase integrity. The drivers, their positioning and their associated minimum baffles were developed with the aid of FFT computer analysis to minimize diffraction, cone break-up, multi-driver interference and out-of-band phase irregularities. The construction, alignment and positioning of the drivers allow a point-source wave front and maximize the phase coherence of the loudspeaker at the listening position.

The Aligned Dynamic Design is used for the Model Three due to its many potential advantages:

• Precise, more dimensional imaging and a wider listening area.
  
• A greater flexibility of placement options within the listening room and better transient response.
  
• A high level of genuine transparency and detail typical of planar speakers without the distortions and response variations of multi-directional dynamic loudspeakers.
  
• Increased efficiency and improved dynamic range.
  

QUALITY CONTROL
Each Vandersteen Audio Model Three undergoes rigorous testing and retesting during each phase of construction. Each driver and crossover is tested for proper operation and computer matched to within 0.1dB. After final assembly, each pair is high-power sweep tested for structural integrity and FFT computer analyzed for correct response and performance compared to a model reference. This intense commitment to product quality and reliability is unsurpassed in the audio industry.

DIMENSIONAL PURITY
Music is pure in its dimensions. Vandersteen loudspeakers are true to the original dimensions of the music. They preserve its carefully crafted proportions and weight. They accurately convey the composition, shading and timing that build an involving experience. They reveal the power, the authority, the subtlety and the intimacy of the music.

This dimensional purity is the essence of the Model Threes. It allows them to recreate the music's original scope and passion. You hear deeper into the music and better understand the feelings forming its foundation. You become more involved in the music as its complex inner structure is revealed with increased clarity and realism.

At Vandersteen Audio, we believe that these qualities are fundamental to your enjoyment of your music. We are pleased to have embodied these qualities in a speaker whose simple, but elegant, physical presence complements the decor of your listening room. We are devoted to continue building distinguished loudspeakers that make a statement about the importance of music in your life.


DRIVERS

• ACTIVE ACOUSTIC COUPLER
  Long excursion, dual-spider 10" with die-cast basket and aluminum alloy cone
  Heavy-duty 1 1/2" four-layer voice coil with ventilated aluminum former
  60 oz. linear excursion magnet structure with focused field pole piece and copper rings
  Range of operation: 26Hz - 35Hz1" critically damped metal alloy dome

• WOOFER
  Long excursion 8" with die-cast basket and curvilinear polycone
  1 1/2" two-layer voice coil with ventilated aluminum former
  40 oz. linear excursion magnet structure with focused field pole piece
  Range of operation: 35Hz - 600Hz

• MIDRANGE
  4 1/2" with linear surround and curvilinear polycone
  Proprietary high performance die-cast basket and magnet structure
  Ferrofluid voice coil cooling
  Range of operation: 600Hz - 5kHz

• TWEETER
  Dual-chamber design
  Ferrofluid voice coil cooling
  Range of operation: 5kHz - 30kHz
  

SPECIFICATIONS
Even with advanced test equipment and complex computer analysis, loudspeaker design remains an incomplete science. No measurements currently available can fully convey the sound of a speaker or provide a meaningful comparison between differing designs.
The truth is in the listening.

• IMPEDANCE
  6 ohms nominal 4 ohms minimum.

• EFFICIENCY
  87dB with 2.83 volts of pink noise input at 1 meter on axis.

• RECOMMENDED AMPLIFICATION
  100 to 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms.
  The amplifier must be stable into a 4 ohm load.

• FREQUENCY RESPONSE
  26Hz to 30kHz 3dB
  30Hz to 22kHz 1.5dB
  By FFT step function.

• DISPERSION
  26Hz to 17kHz 3dB
  30 degrees off axis.

• CROSSOVER FREQUENCIES
  600Hz and 5kHz
  First-order, 6dB per octave.
  Dual inputs allow bi-wiring with a single stereo amplifier or passive
  vertical bi-amplification with two identical stereo amplifiers.

• INPUT CONNECTIONS
  2 pair of heavy duty screw terminals.

• CABINET FINISH
  Hand-matched and finished natural oiled wood veneers.

• VIDEO APPLICATIONS
  Main or surround speakers
  The Model Three is not magnetically shielded and should be positioned
  at least 10 inches away from a direct view television set.

• PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
  48" high x 16" wide x 10 1/4" deep.
  102 pounds gross, 90 pounds net.

• WARRANTY
  One year, extendable to five years by registering the free optional warranty within 30 days of purchase.

• UPGRADABILITY
  The Model 3 series speakers are designed for complete upgradability.
  As future technological advancements improve the model's capabilities,
  cost-effective updates will be available to upgrade existing speakers to the
  latest components, performance and specifications.
  

Specifications and design are subject to change without notice due to our ongoing research and development program.

Please contact Vandersteen Audio for complete product information and performance graphs.

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Copyright 2004 Vandersteen Audio, Inc.