Thiel CS 2 2 vs. Vandersteen 2CE

I think the Thiel 3.6 has a better reputation than the 2.2. I'd be willing to bet it would be worth the extra bit of money.

Thank you all. I found the threads Unsound was referring to and they are really helpful. Now I worry that if I did go with Thiels (and was leaning that way) that they'll sound horrible because of something bad upstream (that I might not have realized was bad until I got the things home).

Rtn: I don't have the amp to drive the 3.6, unfortunately (Forte F 55, AB, 100W).

IMHO, the Thiels are more sensitive to upstream components (especially amps), but the Vandy's are more sensitive to room placement and listening position. Your Forte' gear won't sound horrible with Thiels, or Vandys.

I have been installing Vandersteens for over 20 years
and of course it all comes down to preference.
one comment above I am in complete disagreement with is the Vandersteen placement actully will work better in a variety of room placements.
Because of the staggered design front 8 and rear 10 tend not to one note bass overload the room and or compete with mid range definition.
I think we have taken in on trade over the years at least 2 pairs of 2.2 and 3.6 in applications where the Vandersteens were just more room friendly by design.
One of the best tunes to prove this is Allman Bros Statesburo Blues on the opening Bass line or Cowboy Junkies
Misguided Angel /Trinity Sessions.
Cheers Johnnyr

With all due respect to Audioconnection , I beg to disagree. I'm sure that many might indeed prefer the Vandy's to the Thiels, I doubt it's because of room interaction. While the Vandy's go deeper, the Thiels are tighter in the bass. That looser, warmer bass can be problematic. I suspect that the Vandy's minimal baffle area might have it's benefits, but it might also create more variables with regard to early room reflections than the Thiels more controlled approach. I like both these designs very much and struggled deciding between the them when choosing for myself. I have been comparing these series from their respective manufacturers for over 20 years in many, many different rooms. In my experience the Vandys have demonstrated less consistantcy than the Thiels. Without proper placement the Vandy's and perhaps especially the 2's can sound really, really bad. I have not noticed the same variability with the Thiels. Though I ultimately chose Thiels, I have to admit, all things considered, I think the Vandy's are the better value. FWIW, I have no professional interest in either of these products.