Vandersteen Model 7: has anyone heard?

"Any manufacturer who insists that his speaker is right and all others are wrong is a manufacturer who should have his ears, if not his head, examined."
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No mystery. I was just merely commenting on Csmgolf's post above describing his experience with Tidal speakers at RMAF 2010.

My bad, I missed Csmgolf's comments on the Tidal room.
Thanks for the clarification.

I recently had the opportunity to listen to the model 7's in Tacoma, WA, and will say this; I don't frequently voice comment on the attributes of sound equipment, as I usually prefer to quietly listen. But these things put a grin on my face I couldn't wipe off. The idea of distortion free drivers was merely a concept to me before hearing these speakers. The 7's have an accuracy to their sound that I have never heard reproduced through recorded music. The listening session changed my perception of what a dynamic loudspeaker is capable of. Remarkable.

Asktheaxis,
It's not often that I read something written so succinctly and honestly, that I have to step back and reread it two times. THIS was such a comment.
I too think that Rich Vandersteen has something magic here with this speaker. That midrange driver is a work of art...only the best Planars have the qualities that this speaker offers. He's done a remarkable job building, and YOU did a remarkable job reporting on that.

Best,
Larry

I was shocked a couple weeks ago. Usually I don't have much time and am not looking for new speakers so I don’t spend a lot of time listening to speakers. I have been doing this a long time and also have a company that installs home audio systems, home automation, HT etc. Besides I have 5a and they are great. When Vandersteen was out doing the demo of the sevens in the area I didn’t even go. Several month ago I walked into Audio Connection for something else and he had the seven set up I listened to them and was impressed I knew they were special right away but just didn’t know how special.
Well a couple weeks ago I was there and there was a guy there seriously looking at different speakers so I didn’t feel bad following him around since I was not wasting any ones time and we had a good conversation about audio anyhow. I spent several hours listening to everything 2’s 3’s magnipans etc. I was shocked. I have owned Vandersteen 2,3 fives etc and many other brands. I know the differences between the two’s and three’s and then to the fives, the fives are just more there. Then we went to the sevens in a small room with glass in back right on the street, I wouldn’t say is ideal and the music just came alive and was so much clearer. So clear that I had to go back and wonder what was wrong with the 5’s, I couldn’t believe the difference.
I always though Vandersteen speakers where way laid back. These are not, the music is right there. It is hard to describe on vocals is it soft and nice to listen to but if you crack a symbol it is right there just like the guy was in front of you. There is always a compromise with speakers, the laid back sound of phase correct. The overly harsh thin sound of some but these just seemed to have great balance. The base was also terrific, same woofer as the 5a so I don’t know what is different but it is just better. I also have been back a couple of times and listened to them on different equipment and found my conclusions to be the same.
Anyhow I regret that day because I now find myself looking for a pair of sevens. But it was eye opening once I spent some time with them.