Help wanted choosing speakers and subwoofer

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.