Help wanted choosing speakers and subwoofer

Now, I got the picture Coach. You're an audiophile, music lover at heart that is starting his first home theater.

In that case monitors with a powerful sub might not be best for you. You're idea of using 2CEs with a 2WQ might be just what you're looking for. Not the most powerful set up, but one that will give you good balance and natural bass. In this configuration I'd run the 2CEs set to "full" with the 2WQ on LFE duty. I'm not sure if the 2WQ would be the best choice for movie LFE, but it should mate well with the 2CEs and will probably be relieved of most of the muscial bass duty with the 2CEs running full range.

Others may feel that there are better home theater choices out there for your mains, center and surrounds, but that depends on your listening taste. You know best why you gravitated towards the Vandies and Maggies.

Good luck, it should be fun and interesting!

Like Maineiac, I've listened to Thiel, B&W, Tannoy, and Vandersteen. I love the Thiel 1.6's but to put together a whole system using Thiel's is outrageously expensive. I've also listened to the Maggie 1.6 and Vandersteen 2ce. Both companies offer an attractive reasonably priced good sounding home theatre system. They are musical, accurate, detailed, casting a wide soundstage. The Maggies are soft in the bass but it's like you are listening to the music live.

Maineiac, what Vandy's did you listen to? Have you heard the new Model 3a Signature which is upgradeable? What was it about the VSA's that won you over vs. the Thiel or Vandy?

In my separate HT system I was looking for musicality AND forgiveness of brightish commercial movie soundtracks, so a front trio of Spendors (S3/1p and matching SC3) works extraordinarily well. I found a great deal on a Boston PV1000 (Velo clone) sub, and like the proper boundary-support voicing of the Boston VR-MX bi/di surrounds a lot.
Adding a cheap NAD receiver completed the setup around $3k with Canare starquads and my DIY PCs. Remember that the last thing you want to be doing is reaching for a treble control while listening to a movie soundtrack....

The dealer that I went to did not have the Vandy 3A, just the 2ce, which I did want to hear but did not have the opportunity. Both the 2ce and the Thiels (both 1.6 and big brother) sounded a bit dead to my ear, flat. The dealer where I listened was dumping Thiel, but they were not open to the details of why. The VSAs sounded so much more open with great soundstage as well as image detail. I thought for sure it was the room and equipment at the dealer but I was fortunae to get an in-home trial and it was the same there (I don't get as much depth since I have my tv and equipment just behind the speakers). The VSAs really have worked great for me. Really changed the way and what I listen to. I would add that tthe Sonus Faber GP Homes were close.