Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus Review

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[@ErinsAudioCorner]

A simple request: If any of you find yourselves shopping for anything sold by the retailers below please consider using my generic affiliate link. These can earn me a small commission which goes a long way toward helping me review items and make content. It is a great way you can help me continue doing what I enjoy doing without costing you anything extra. It is truly appreciated! Amazon: amzn.to/3v6i6ov Audio Advice: www.audioadvice.com/?referral=erins-audio-corner Best Buy: howl.me/ck2IPpcOp1h Crutchfield: shop-links.co/cgZmmT81jmh Newegg: howl.me/ck2IQg52L5b Samsung: howl.me/ck2IQ5qe16w Target: howl.me/ck2IRDNsIqn Emotiva: shorturl.at/pBEU9 Monoprice: bit.ly/3yAY6NH Arendal Sound: arendalsound.com/store/?refer=hardisj Purchases through these links can earn me a small commission - at no additional cost to you - and help me continue to provide the community with free content and reviews. Doesn't matter if it's a TV from Crutchfield, budget speakers from Audio Advice or a pair of socks from Amazon, just use the link above before you make your purchase. Thank you!

[@Arthax83]

Love that you show your objective messurements and then compare it to similar speakers. Adds much to each vid! Big up!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I appreciate that!

[@adamjj85]

Love the comparisons with the preference scores!

[@NWGR]

My dude... You have no idea how useful this video was for me! I currently have kanto YU4s and am looking to upgrade, but didn't really want to "sidegrade", so I've been looking into speaker setups for around $600 or so, and looking up reviews on the new vanatoos led me here. Browsing some more of your videos, and subscribed. Also, when I purchase my new speakers, I'll be for sure using your links. I'm not set on powered vs passives yet, but if I go passive, I'll for sure be grabbing the fosi ZA3 as my amp. Happy New Year!

[@middleearthltd]

Best audio channel Thank you 🙏 for another excellent video

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Thank you too!

[@epicmike3915]

These guys have great customer service. The speakers sounded awesome. I had the older encore and decided to purchase the plus to add somewhere else.

[@Styllarr]

Great vid as always :)

[@timh6510]

Love these reviews. 👍

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Thank you.

[@carll2222]

Thanks for a great review. Been waiting for this one. I think they are pretty good value considering they have dedicated amps for the mid/woofer and tweeter and offer an auto high pass filter from the sub port. For my desk near field set up I'd probably prefer the Kali LP6 with the Kali WS-62 dual 6.5" subwoofer you tested. But the LP-6's are too big.

[@hifipi3.14]

The Vanatoo’s have a sweet spot in my heart. They were me just dipping my toe into the hifi world figuring I’ll spend $600 at the time to see if I liked this hobby. Well over $10k plus now so I guess the answer was yes lol. Still use them on my pc which is what they’re really meant for. Really glad you did this review!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

That's cool!

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Dam you do a good job appreciate you 👏Hot blooded was my fav song at 5 years old !!!!!!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

"Say You Will" is probably my favorite song of theirs.

[@willbrink]

Use your phone for pre amp/streamer/etc, and you have very cost effective audio set up.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Thanks for the tip!

[@tombern]

I’m surprised that the risk of your amp blowing (and thus rendering your speakers useless) is not addressed here. I own a pair of dead TO Encores that died after 3 years and 5 months. The vendor refused any discount on replacement or toward purchase of an upgrade. The only solution they offered was to sell me a new amp with DIY instructions for $125. Unfortunately, they could not guarantee that the new amp would last any longer than the first one. I elected to go back to passives. Vanatoo said to me that “when the amp in these does, you’re out of luck.” I consider it a $650 lesson to learn that active speakers are not yet ready for prime time. Perhaps other active speaker manufacturers offer a more durable product or sufficient warranty?

[@user-mz6lt2pr9s]

I agree that’s been my experience with powered speakers. They sound great but once the amp fails, and it will, you’re out of luck. Separate amp and passive speakers is the way to go unless you have money to burn buying new equipment every so many years.

[@SacrificiaLamb.The.Gixxerator]

oh man, This is a deal breaker. You could've fix it and sell it off afterward. regardless thanks for the headsup.

[@vladimirdorta6692]

Great review.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Thanks!

[@oraz.]

Actually seems very good

[@Lightbrush11]

Hi Erin, are there mid-tier monitors with USB input and DSP crossover besides the two Vanatoo models that you reviewed? It is pretty disappointing that it is almost 2024 and such option is still sparse.

[@vladimirdorta6692]

This is a great desktop speaker.

[@nicbboi]

When you compare the Vanatoo's to the other speakers at 14:15, were the Vanatoo's measured in "Shelf mode" or in "Flat mode"? The frequency response of the Vanatoo's in that graph seem pretty different from the graph you showed at the start especially in the bass region and closely match Vanatoo's own graphs in their feature sheet of the difference between Shelf and Flat mode. Just want to clear this up as I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger on these and getting confirmation that those comparison graphs were with the Vanatoo's in Flat mode would help A LOT! Thanks!

[@SacrificiaLamb.The.Gixxerator]

@ErinsAudioCorner What distance do you, In your opinion, think they work BEST at?

[@1337sim1]

Did you try to turn down the Treble to help reduce the siblance? Thank you Erin, awesome review!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I did, and it helped some, but then it really cut off the error of the speaker altogether. I think it well placed barometric. EQ is probably the best option in this case.

[@1337sim1]

@@ErinsAudioCorner if I understand correctly, the tone control helps but it would be better to have a more precise EQ applied (ex. miniDSP)? 😊

[@peteleoni9665]

I believe we have entered a new era in speakers because the flaws are clearly revealed by the Klippel system. Good small speakers will finally begin to sound alike, as they certainly should. What is likely to happen next is people will rediscover the beauty of dynamic range. This of course leads to low mass drivers which in turn will lead back to horn loading. But small speakers? They certainly should all sound similar if they are accurate.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I think for Deerfield, listening that becomes more and more true. For Farfield, listening the radiation pattern, especially horizontal, radiation and directivity, are really going to be strong factors still. You could have very similar or even the same in response, but very different, sounding Speakers in response is only steady state and you need to see the components that make that. Might be a good topic for a video sometime down the line.

[@peteleoni9665]

@@ErinsAudioCorner Here in Mississippi, we actually have a lot of Deerfield listening (-: But seriously yes, I meant nearfield. Recording engineer I have spent my life 3 feet from a speaker (-:

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

@@peteleoni9665 LOL!!!!! Man, Siri really doesn't understand my accent!

[@dc5001]

​@@ErinsAudioCornerhow does the vanatoo encore plus compare to the ls50 wireless 2's volume capability wise?.

[@300ZCorradoVR6Z]

That woofer looks like it has an underhung motor, perhaps XBL^2?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I think so, too.

[@user-pf3qn4bg8l]

How did you hook a sub to the Kali's?

[@josephstark4944]

I just ordered some PSB Alpha AM5’s for my desk. I’m also considering ordering these to compare. The AM5’s were $430 shipped though. Do you have any thoughts on having the tweeter under the woofer for desktop use? Even on stands? I wonder about issues with first reflections. The Vanatoos are very compelling with adjustable DSP, tone controls and an automatic high pass filter. Are they worth the extra $300? I’ll be running a subwoofer.

[@stephen0993]

Hi there, Can I ask if you managed to buy both and make the comparison? I have never heard in physical these speakers, but in the e project yt channel there are sound tests of the Alpha P5 (it is the same AM5 but passive) and I don't like its sound profile, mainly in the high end.

[@josephstark4944]

I did not. But I did return the PSB’s and ended up buying Kali audio studio monitors to play guitar with. But if I hadn’t done that, I would have got the Vanatoos. I think they would have been great. I really need the adjustability

[@stephen0993]

@@josephstark4944 Oh ok! thanks! and yeah, these Vanatoo's are attractive for me, you have a 5 inch woofer in a relatively small cabinet, but right now I can't afford it lol, maybe I'll wait to buy them on sale.

[@shaolin95]

Overall this one is a step above their other one you reviewed earlier, right?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

It is.

[@tessie4204]

To bad we can not buy these in Europe! These sound great with a SVS SB-1000 PRO.

[@Dasbeerboots]

The Kanto TUK is a more accurate competitor, due to the features included and price point.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

That would’ve been a good one to compare, but I don’t have any personal listening experience on that one. I did with the YU6.

[@somejerk1520]

The addition of HDMI eARC would have made them competitive with The Fives but the omission just makes them $200 more with less capability.

[@carll2222]

The Fives here in Canada are $1449 CAD at most retailers. The Encore Plus $870 (black) and $980 (Cherry) via a large online retailer. That price differential is difficult for me to justify especially when it is easy to add the Kanto Sub8 subwoofer for $260 CAD (on sale this week).

[@somejerk1520]

@carll2222 The Fives here are $499 new and $389 renewed. With $1449 you can buy The Sevens with $150 leftover or add $50 and buy The Nines.

[@trevorbartram5473]

Hi Erin, HDMI implies a TV connection. To do TV & surround sound well with a 2/2.1 downmix, requires adjustable phantom center and surround levels. Increased center level can improve speech intelligibilty, reduced surround level produces a less muddied sound. My Sony AVR has these features and it works with headphones too. I have not seen powered speakers with these features. Otherwise, an optical connection to a TV will give a LPCM fixed (non-adjustable) downmix, selectable in most TV audio settings menus. Good luck, Trevor.

[@raykazlauskas2149]

Great added info. Was always wondering how to add home theater affests to my Vanatos.

[@amanieux]

it was very interesting to see that with an added sub the difference between speakers are erased, my question is : if we cut the speakers under 80hz when we add a sub then do we really need 6.5" speakers woofer to go below 80hz ? would the 3" version of the same speaker sound the same as the 6.5" size speaker when we add a sub and cut the speakers below 80hZ, would the 3" even sound better as it's smaller size would make it better in the mids than the 6.5" (smaller wooferis faster). so what is the optimum speaker woofer size for best sound quality near field when you add a sub (3,4,5,7" ? ) thanks

[@stephen0993]

Bigger woofers sound bigger; better soundstage and can play louder, this is generally speaking. I don't recommend 3 inch woofer, for near-field you will be good with a high quality 4 inch speaker, or 5 inch maximum depending on your desk size.

[@xavdeman]

There's the Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus which has a 4" woofer and passive radiator and an actual filtered crossover for a subwoofer at 80Hz or 125Hz in shelved mode :)

[@kingdavid7571]

Are you able to test the Kanto Tuk? Thnx

[@epicmike3915]

The tuks sounded like garbage to me. It was an instant return lol.

[@m4nc1n1]

A subwoofer is recomended on ANY speaker

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Mostly. But not always. Some speakers have enough DSP in them that the base is extended, and a subwoofer would only really be needed for higher volume listening or compression is a factor. This speaker is one such example.

[@word2RG]

👍

[@seanb3303]

I had the first version of this product. Excellent build and features but I returned as they were too bright and edgy for me.

[@thewirah1]

I found the Fives awful for music and tv listening, kind of as if they were under water. The fact that the vanatoo are just about better in your measurements is worrying. The Yu6 were decent, even though the Pscores were lower.

[@flashhog01]

I heard the originals on a couple occasions and found them lifeless and boring. I’m glad they fit the bill for some people.

[@burton7023]

700 dollars nope 😅

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

It’s a tough sale but the performance and inputs are there.

[@hifipi3.14]

For a smaller room and an easy active system they’re money well spent. Have you personally heard them???

[@burton7023]

@@hifipi3.14 no but I promise you I could spend the same on some separates and sound better

[@SacrificiaLamb.The.Gixxerator]

@@burton7023 How do hell you know it will sound better if you haven't heard this one to begin with. I'm curious what sort of setup with that $700 budget. enlighten me.