Cerwin Vega Re30 vs VS-120 Which is Better?

Vega vs Vega, there's nothing I love doing more than putting Cerwin Vega speakers to the test. The best part about this video is I put the CV VS-120 and the CV Re30, 2 very similar speakers manufactured around the same time, to to the test. which one sounds better?

[@RadWorlock]

O man another great video! I have the Re30s and always wondered how the VS 120 would compare to them. Played your video three times with my eyes closed. Every time the speaker changed my ears knew right away which speakers I personally think sounded better in this comparison. Re 30s won, I am so appreciative of this video. Thank you.

[@JR-ho5qm]

Good video! being a VS120 owner I was always curious about the RE series. Thanks!

[@SavingVegas]

So was I. They are in my opinion still a very great speaker. If it were me I would put an EQ inline to get that tweeter clalmed down.

[@WXSTANG]

I remember buying some Cerwin Vega Vega Series car audio stuff... absolutely loved the stuff. My friends had the home audio speakers... those things are legendary. Nice set!

[@SavingVegas]

Yes they sure are. The high efficiency mixed with high power handling equals loud and clear sounding system. I would like to get into some of their mobile audio gear soon. The day I got my first car, when I was 15, I had nice system that my dad and I installed. Not Cerwin Vega, there wasn't a lot of CV gear around at that time in the early 2000's. The popular brands then were Alpine, JL Audio, MTX, Kicker and Rockford Fosgate. Always been into car audio so there is a good chance you will see some videos on some CV installs soon.

[@sabrowenie]

A pair of RE30’s was one of my first vintage acquisition. Foams were rotted out as usual. Previous owner’s cat was living inside one of the cabs. A missing bass tube was its entrance. New foam and grill cloth. Removed /replaced replaced the acoustic padding. Washed out cabinet with dilute vinegar then sprayed Fabreeze inside. Made a new bass port with an old cardboard tube. Cabs are ok enough. Still use them in my home gym /workshop powered by a Pioneer 100 wpc amp I found at a thrift store which needed a bit of love too. Over the years my listening space contains more ‘desirable’ gear but until we downsize our house these are keepers.

[@SavingVegas]

The Re-30s are definitely worth the work you put into them in my opinion. They definitely aren't the most accurate speakers but just a lot if fun when you want to crank up the tunes. They do what they were designed to do very well.

[@_Napoletano_]

I owned vs100 back in the 90s. Loved those speakers

[@vannhan69]

Thank you for sharing

[@calebhall1940]

I’ve actually done a side by side comparison of both of these too because I have a set of each. Couple differences, my amp isn’t as nice as yours, the room was a little more open, and I have refoamed all 4 of the woofers. I have to say I like the RE30s better. They seemed to have a much more even response whereas the VS120s had a harsher treble and the midrange wasn’t as forward as the RE series. That being said, it is hard to notice a difference until louder volumes, which both handle very well. Who knows, maybe 30 years has treated our crossovers differently! Currently have the REs as my front speakers and the VSs as my rears for a movie setup. Absolutely killer!

[@SavingVegas]

It would be hard to find two speakers as similar as these two are. I want to say the woofers are the same but when it comes to ordering recones there are 2 different kits for the VSW12 woofer and the REW12 woofer. I recently reconed some 122W2 woofers from a set of D7s and the cones were also marked REW12 on them but who knows I can't say for sure. As far as I know the mids in both the Re and VS are the same and cabinets are the same. I never did actually go through the crossovers to compare but there might be differences there. As for age and possibly bad crossovers, I have just recently looked over my VS120 crossovers and they all test within spec. I have no doubt that the Re30s were probably good as well but you never know. Both great speakers and wasn't easy picking a favorite.

[@user-ue9si9bx3d]

I have the 120's and I like the fast base they have but the highs are missing a teensy bit so I added E706's to lift the mid and highs a bit. NICE!

[@mwrightinsurance]

The VS - 120s were my very first store bought speaker from circuit city back when I was 17 years old, I’m now 43 and these are still the front main speakers in my living room set up going strong.

[@SavingVegas]

I will never give up my 120s. I have a spare set even. These are the speakers I remember as a kid and had to have a set the moment I heard them.

[@mwrightinsurance]

@@SavingVegas yeah I’ll probably never get rid of them either, I like them in the living room set up, of course I have a full on 7.2.4 home theater downstairs with much better stuff but there’s just something about ‘em.

[@frozenfist3360]

😀 Purchased my RE30s at about age 17, also 43 now and still rocking these for tunes and movies. What an amazing value.

[@Digital_Gangster]

I'm 43 and my first were also VS from Circuit City, mine were VS-80 when I was 14.

[@DiGiTaLdAzEDM]

I purchased a set of the RE30s in 1996. They are still going strong. I have never replaced the foam, and can see they are starting to break down a little. Will any generic 12" foam kit do? Any recommendations? Also, do you know where I can find full spec for these online? I need a new amp, as my Yamaha AX930 has died--permanently. I am considering a pro audio power amp from Crown Audio XLI series.

[@williambanzhof9739]

EXCELLENT!

[@timlingenfelter797]

Cool comparison video. Im curious what the 30s mid and highs will do with more power. I bought the VS 120s in the 90s and hooked them up to a 300 watt per channel Yamaha power amp and it sounded great. I think you hook them up to that what looks like a Behringer power amp sitting behind you on the work bench. I have the EP1500.

[@alxdukextars2620]

Hello ! I would love to see a comparison of the CV line from the 90s VS the Infinity SM125 - SM 155 line. I always imagine it must be a great fun battle!!

[@jaymachael4766]

Pure fan boy. I have owned the same set of RE30s twice. Original owner and bought them back this past summer. Right now they are powered by a Alesis RA-100. Sounded even better when i had them on my Carver TFM-22 pushinf 225 per channel. I juat need to get it fixed lol

[@SavingVegas]

I believe it! Even though those speakers have a higher than average sensitivity rating and don't require lots of power but they sure do love it when they get it.

[@deweys]

vs-120s were great house party speakers.

[@srt8beast249]

I love my RE30's, bought them new in 95' ( along with the RE-6C) and they are still my daily speaker. Any tips on keeping the surrounds from drying out? Mine are currently fine but in time they won't be. Thanks!

[@SavingVegas]

Simply Speakers sells a sealer. I have some but never used it yet. Might try it out on a set with older foams and see how they hold up.

[@connormason7907]

Easy and cheap to replace surrounds yourself. Just installed 2 new ones and the drivers sound substantially better

[@peterrichard3706]

I've used flexseal on them cause mine had little cracks. The seal stuff worked great. It's rubbery an couple 3 coats worked good

[@crsracing1313]

Sounds like the 30’s have more treble to them. Better clarity. My parents have re30’s they bought them brand new in 94 when they got married. Still work great to my knowledge… been needing a refoam on them tho for probably 10 years now. 🤣 Cerwins are AWESOME

[@nikhook1114]

I have a pair of LS 12's really don't know what the differences are? Maybe someone can help me. Don't even know when they were built but they sound incredible.

[@s.lockhartgaunt.6682]

I have vs 120s and am picking up u-321 hed's in a couple days. I can't find much info on the 321s? Are the not very common??

[@SavingVegas]

They are less common yes, depends on your location as well of course. I'm in Saskatchewan Canada and there are some U-351s for sale right now in the next province over. Would love to buy them but it's a 6 and a half hour drive away from me.

[@audio-obvious568]

I have 1 small suggestion for the RE-30 and the low end (if anyone could notice, I could) Remove 1 of the ports on each cabinet and leave it open. This could be done from the outside (without taking the driver out) and set aside on the inside. if you don’t like it then, hot glue it back in place.

[@peterrichard3706]

There open all the time. I've plugged them and no dif

[@TheNor38]

Interesting and good review/ comparison. However, I think you should have used the yamaha as a pre-amp and a more powerful amp in-line to power the speakers. These speakers are rated at about 250 W rms each. When you turn up the volume, it really makes a difference to have enough watts. Using an amp with not enough power, it may explain sound distortions (at higher levels)? At least I experienced a big difference after I got a qsc plx power amp. for my vs120s and AL1000. I actually blew the mid-range in one of my cerwin vega AL1000 while using a "weak" NAD amp (150 wpc) alone before I got the qsc. The AL1000 I believe is rated 400 wpc rms (1000w peak).

[@SavingVegas]

I have used many different amps to power my Vega's. That Yamaha is great amplifier and I was nowhere near high levels of distortion or clipping. Thats how you wreck mids and tweets by overdriving your amp. I do run pro amps but I usually prefer hifi power amplifiers that have much more power on reserve in most cases. At 97dB efficiency these speakers sound great with the 100 watt yammy. My main system I use in my shop is a pair of VS-120s with 2 Adcom GFA-555s running in mono for 850 watts per speaker on hand with a 4 ohm load. Even running one Adcom in stereo at 350 watts per channel at 4 ohms it not only sounds better than most pro amps but I am able to drive them way harder before clipping.

[@trailerpark187]

I have the re 30. When I seen them back in the 90s I wanted them but had no $ being only in my teens. Wonder why vega didn't use the tweeters from the re35 in re30 and re25.

[@michaelshafer2996]

Put the grill on and it tames the high end quite nicely.

[@SavingVegas]

I suppose it maybe would. But Cerwin Vega's, at least to me, are definitely a grills off speaker lol.

[@tonyedge540]

whats that song you played called? by the way good video but i love my vs120s

[@SavingVegas]

Im glad you enjoyed the video and yes I am a VS series kinda guy too. VS 120's are what I have in my shop and use pretty much everyday. As for the song I used I will have to see if I can find it. It's on the royalty free music app I use for my channel but I don't think I saved it because I just used it to play through the speakers for the video.

[@kenh.5903]

I have some old CV D5 speakers that I am using for my main left and right on a 5.1 system. What speakers do you think would complement the D5 as my left and right surround speakers?

[@SavingVegas]

Well surround speakers don't typically play much lower frequencies, unless you use the 5.1 system in an "All stereo mode". I personally would suggest sticking with the D series like the D-1's or D-2's.

[@kenh.5903]

​@@SavingVegas thanks for the quick reply !

[@DarinSkye-yo5yi]

To close to call , i love both the same .

[@SavingVegas]

Agreed, they're both awesome speakers at the end of the day.

[@beesting6135]

Any Vega is a good deal

[@keithschneider4483]

I feel the vs 120s have more of a cleaner music you can hear the musical instruments better imo

[@Govtmule420]

I bought my VS120 at Silo in 1995 I think I paid $235 or $265. House shakers.

[@SavingVegas]

Yes both of these models are definitely ready to party lol

[@rafaelrosas8744]

Are cerwin vega V21 good?

[@SUMMERSK123]

Hey I got a set of brand new serving Vegas that I bought from a guy but I need some tweeters for some d7s and and some mid ranges

[@SavingVegas]

Blowing mids and tweets is pretty common. Lots of people run too small of an amplifier and overdrive the amp to clipping. Clipping will kill tweeters and midranges very quickly. Keep an eye out for used original parts, they come up for sale every once in a while. The D7 needs a C-5G (flat black finish) or C-5 (gloss black finish) tweeter. Depending on what mids you need remember that the 2 mids on the D7 are not both the same. Bottom mid will have an H after the model number. Also there are 2 different versions of mids as well. There are some that have a completely round basket edge (FM-6H bottom, FM-6 top) and the mids with rounded corners and flat edges on the top, bottom and sides (M-6H bottom, M-6 top).

[@DougMen1]

The tweeter on the RE are even cheaper than on the VS. None of them, the RE, the AT, the VS, or the E series have a tweeter that compares to the great Dhorm tweeter on the D series and earlier, IMO

[@johnbrazzell9469]

There is a difference between the two cerwin Vega speakers re 30s are 250 w at 4 ohm the vs120s are 255 watt at 8 ohms re 30s at four rooms will run a receiver hotter and give a different lower end sound

[@johnbrazzell9469]

Correction re 30s at 4 ohms run a receiver hotter and give a lower end sound

[@SavingVegas]

VS-120's are 4 ohms not 8. The VS-80's and 100's aren't even 8 ohms, those are 6 ohms.

[@OfficialNakatsuMegami]

I think the SE series Beats them all. I seriously think the SE series was Cerwin Vegas best speakers ever made.

[@DougMen1]

You do a disservice to all great CVs if that's how you play them. Turn down the frickin' bass so it's in balance with the mids and highs and then they become a true hi-fi speaker, not just a crappy boombox

[@SavingVegas]

I have vs120s in my shop for my everyday speakers and I run them with an Adcom power amp and pre amp and the bass and treble are always balanced. For some reason to me Yamahas Natural Sound gear just sounds too flat. I have had many Yamaha amps and pre amps and they are all the same. So yeah I always tend to bring the bass and treble settings up on them. I wouldn't say I'm doing a disservice they are serving me just fine. If the amp ain't clipping and the fuses ain't blowing let em rip lol. I have yet to ever blow a Cerwin Vega but I do like to push the limits every now and then. Don't get me wrong I do enjoy listening music the way it was intended and I don't use Cerwin Vega's for that. Well not till I get my hands on some nice vintage CV's like S2's or a set of 316r's,I let a set go a while ago and have regretted it ever since, hard to find around here.

[@peterrichard3706]

I got the 30,s. Nice! I put 250wts in em. Just fine. I don't think more $$$ ones could keep up! Keep your 120,s. I'll keep my 30,s. Just sayin

[@gerardrusso9642]

I have the re 30s and I run them with a pioneer sx980 which is 85 watts per channell I can blast mine with no hashness at all they are in my basement workshop

[@ajvboston1]

The RE’s have better Bass and sound a bit louder inside my car.

[@SavingVegas]

I honestly wasn't able to hear any difference in bass response

[@ajvboston1]

@@SavingVegas I was in my car and through it’s stereo the RE’s bass was a little nicer! But you were there and it’s probably because of mic and speaker placement. Either way man they’re both DOPE!

[@SavingVegas]

@@ajvboston1 they sure are! I am going to look for a good equalizer to run with them and see if I can calm them tweets down a bit.

[@peterrichard3706]

U fit them in u car!?

[@stevewheelerjr.6394]

No the vs120 was better sir need to readvise it

[@chris-jw4sx]

re 30 is much better

[@silkydan2941]

Re 30 sound better, the 120s don't have enough highs, you gotta have highs

[@SavingVegas]

That was my original thought as well but at high volume levels I found it was too harsh.

[@silkydan2941]

@@SavingVegas you have to adjust it right, I have a pair best sounding speakers I ever had, next to the AT 100s

[@SavingVegas]

@@silkydan2941 If I were going to keep the Re30s I would definitely run them with an equalizer in line to calm the tweeters down but I think I will be passing them on.

[@silkydan2941]

@@SavingVegas I'll take them off your hands, how much