Wow. This is an interesting comparison because these speakers are so different. They are both exceptional in what they do well but they have different strengths. The Vandy's are extremely dynamic, have a warm sound with a high end which is there, but not very prominent. They can have somewhat of a bass bloat unless set up very carefully. I feel that they have absolutely the best bass extension of any speaker anywhere near there price. I have heard, particularly with some amplifiers which I assume could not deliver enough current, that they can sound a little "slow" (I hate that word but I don't know how else to describe it) and congested. In other setups, I have not heard that slowness or congestion. The Proacs are definitely brighter than the Vandersteen's. I don't much like bright speakers but the Proacs have another worldiness in their upper mids to highs which is very seductive. It is like no other speaker which I have heard. I am not sure about their bass extension since I have never tested them in that way, but I am sure the Vandersteens would walk all over them in that regard. Vandersteens are more dynamic but the Proacs make up in midrange to high end beauty what they lack in slam and drive. Both spread the soundstage widely but they sound different in how they do it. Both are smooth, but the Vandy's are balanced toward the warm side and the Proacs are more balanced slightly to the bright side. I think you have to hear both and make up your own mind. We each assign different weights to what we hear and noone can tell you which sounds better. Given that, at least as I see it, here are two speakers which I respect which couldn't be more different, you shouldn't have any trouble determining which you like best.
