Vandersteen 1 in the nearfield, for rock music?

@dave123456 ,
Given what you have just reported, can we get a list of your equipment?
I won't say Vandy's are for everyone, but when someone posts their speakers sounding 'muffled, and etched', I have to think something upstream is at fault- unless the speakers were damaged.*

*Remember, we are here to help, as well as Mr. V.
If you think the speakers have an issue, just leave a telephone message and he will call you back in a day or so. Also, PM John Rutan (audioconnection), he knows these speakers inside/out.

BTW, nice catch on the Vandy's!
Bob

 Ok, I got them to sound better by repositioning them slightly and also by lowering the treble. I still think the tweeter in my Dynaudio 42's sound better, but the 1c no longer sounds etched to me. Does anyone know the thread size on the bottom of the Sound Anchor stands for spikes? Right now they just have felt pads on the bottom. I sit fairly close and from I've read the closer u are the greater the tilt should be. 

I think it is 3/8".
And you definitely need the spikes. 
B

you can also download the manual for tilt instructions for free.

Yes, they need to be tilted.
Check the Vandy website.
B