I do think the Vandersteen 5 is an excellent recommendation. It is hard to falut this speaker in any parameter. I think it is competitive to speakers in the crazy money categories.
It's positives: A true full range speaker (and very reasonable sized); Best bass of any resonably sized speaker, period (goes to 15 Hz in my room, rattles your fillings out); Phase and Time coherent (something you can't live without if you begin to hear it); Natural laidback sound a tiny bit on the warm side; World-class midrange (maybe the Amati Homage are a bit better, or the JM Reynauds); Highs are natural and extended, aren't pushed out in front of the music, but live with the music; Easy to drive; Very attractive in exotic wood finish (mines Ebony); Very good soundstaging, mid-hall perspective.
It's only weaknesses in my experience are:
It lacks the last amount of air and shimmer that some ribbon/electrostatic/plasma tweeter speakers can have.
It can play very loud, but is not the be all and end all of kickass speakers. If you regularly play music with an average SPL of 100 db, the Vandees won't be for you (and neither would the Sonus Fabers).
Other more efficient speakers can play micro and macro dynamics better (like AvantGarde), but the Vandees are very respectable in that manner too.
OK, other speakers.
Sonus Fabers Amati Homage I have heard in depth about ten times in a great system. They are similar to the Cremoras in construction etc. Warm natural speaker, magical midrange. Can't play real loud, they fall apart. Natural bass, but only goes down to 40 Hz or so, and drops off steeply.
JM Reynaud (Offrandes, Twins, others): Wow, I love the sound of these speakers, naturally warm and beautiful sound. One day I will have to try these at home. Efficient. The Bob Neil reviews in Positive Feedback are spot on. The Offrandes for I think 5K are a steal and would keep you happy for a long time!
Peak Audio Consulting:
world-class midrange, warm, fairly full-range for a stand-mounted speaker. A joy to listen to.
Spendor: Warm, perhaps a bit too warm, engaging, euphonic. I haven't heard these in detail in at least ten years.
A comment (just my opinion): the big review magazines seem to like 'neutral' speakers. What they would call neutral, I most often would call cold. Yes, the Wilsons Watts, even in the 7 models are a bit cold sounding. That's the sound Stereophile likes basically, and a lot of audiophiles. Same for a lot of their recommended systems. Also consider that most of those reviewers then put in a lot of room treatments to counter the coolness. Put a Vandee or a JM Reynaud speaker in those rooms and they will sound dull. Put them in your average home, and they will come alive.
It's positives: A true full range speaker (and very reasonable sized); Best bass of any resonably sized speaker, period (goes to 15 Hz in my room, rattles your fillings out); Phase and Time coherent (something you can't live without if you begin to hear it); Natural laidback sound a tiny bit on the warm side; World-class midrange (maybe the Amati Homage are a bit better, or the JM Reynauds); Highs are natural and extended, aren't pushed out in front of the music, but live with the music; Easy to drive; Very attractive in exotic wood finish (mines Ebony); Very good soundstaging, mid-hall perspective.
It's only weaknesses in my experience are:
It lacks the last amount of air and shimmer that some ribbon/electrostatic/plasma tweeter speakers can have.
It can play very loud, but is not the be all and end all of kickass speakers. If you regularly play music with an average SPL of 100 db, the Vandees won't be for you (and neither would the Sonus Fabers).
Other more efficient speakers can play micro and macro dynamics better (like AvantGarde), but the Vandees are very respectable in that manner too.
OK, other speakers.
Sonus Fabers Amati Homage I have heard in depth about ten times in a great system. They are similar to the Cremoras in construction etc. Warm natural speaker, magical midrange. Can't play real loud, they fall apart. Natural bass, but only goes down to 40 Hz or so, and drops off steeply.
JM Reynaud (Offrandes, Twins, others): Wow, I love the sound of these speakers, naturally warm and beautiful sound. One day I will have to try these at home. Efficient. The Bob Neil reviews in Positive Feedback are spot on. The Offrandes for I think 5K are a steal and would keep you happy for a long time!
Peak Audio Consulting:
world-class midrange, warm, fairly full-range for a stand-mounted speaker. A joy to listen to.
Spendor: Warm, perhaps a bit too warm, engaging, euphonic. I haven't heard these in detail in at least ten years.
A comment (just my opinion): the big review magazines seem to like 'neutral' speakers. What they would call neutral, I most often would call cold. Yes, the Wilsons Watts, even in the 7 models are a bit cold sounding. That's the sound Stereophile likes basically, and a lot of audiophiles. Same for a lot of their recommended systems. Also consider that most of those reviewers then put in a lot of room treatments to counter the coolness. Put a Vandee or a JM Reynaud speaker in those rooms and they will sound dull. Put them in your average home, and they will come alive.