Vandie .7 vs Maggie .7

3rd call out for John Rutan at Audio Connection.

They're both good choices.  The 2 is even better, if you can get a recent-ish used pair. (I honestly prefer it to the 3, while acknowledging the latter is less colored) I love the dipole presentation, but you'll need more amp for the .7s.

Really enjoying everyone's contributions to this discussion. I emailed Vandersteen and the man himself answered. I spent a few days hunting down various Vandy  2ce models. I discovered a few pairs.. 1  from 1996.. Still asking 1500.00  which was very high I thought..another 12 years old at 1200.00  I asked RV about serial numbers.. And he said.. The company just does NOT keep accurate track of this. I tries to get the years and when updates were done.. And many here are correct. He does upgrades when better materials are available.. And does not always publish what is done. He also said this.... The 1ci's would sound better than an older pair of 2ce's!. His feeling is.. The latest technology of the 2 way would better older 2ces. Interesting dilemma. Finding the most recent 2ces I can find in my budget... Probably impossible. The 2ce are a 3 way with dedicated midrange... Where vocals, and jazz lives. Like to hear from the members on this. Many audiophiles would say a good 2 way in many ways beats a lesser designed 3 way. But we're talking about the  same company and  designer. With the sub I don't really need the extra bass if the 2's...its the midrange that's of interest. 
The KEFs... Ah... Another direction... Very cool... I'll have to seek them out and have a listen!! I've always thought... Having a great monitor would be EXACTLY what I'm looking for. On a whim I bought the  HSU bookshelf speakers a few years ago. The reviews and customer satisfaction is very high. Some people said they liked them more than many speakers costing 1'000's more. For 450.00  I went for them  hoping for nirvana. It's a 2 way that uses a horn loaded tweeter. No cigar.... They were good.. But my BW's 603II beat them easily. I sold the 603s to fund the purchase of my current Whafedale 240's which are 3 way instead of 2-1/2.. I'm on my way right now finally to the dealer that sells Magnapan and Vandersteen. Additionally.. Do any follow Steve Guttenberg? He's pretty cool and has been around. He has a YouTube channel.. Called the Audio philac The Maggie. 7's were his Speaker of the year fit 2015.He goes on to RAVE about  this particular model. He's owned 3'4 other Maggie's.. Bigger and. 6s   he goes on to say... There is something about the , 7s that just sounds better to him... It's  very special to him. He owns a few great speakers.. But this model just really makes him smile.  He was running a PASS 25 watt amp with them.. 50 watts at 8 ohms... And not at concert levels... Still... Is very in love with this model. I'll report back today if I get time with both speakers.. I know if I marry the Maggie's a better amp is in my future.... And the Vandies can coexist with my NAD longer. It will be goose bump factor and tonal accuracy that will win.  I'll be back... Then... I'll have to find a KEFdealer to make this more challenging!! Take care Otto 
  

Otto it sounds like you are having big fun along the way, which I find important and then settling down to imersing yourself in THE music afterwards...

Funny story circa circa 1983 or so...

Scott the owner of Progressive Audio where I worked yelled into one of the Listening rooms “ Hey Richard Vandersteen is on the phone, wants a word with you....don’t know why....”

Richard proceeds to congratulate me for selling the most Vandersteen product that quarter - he then says you do know we make a Model 2 right ?

Seriously, if you are considering the Kef ( and yes we were a Kef dealer also with 105.2 our best speaker at that time ) I would recommend you give the VLR a listen also, Johnny R probably has them...

+4 for Johnny Rutan.
I know he has made systems with the 1ci and Vandy 2wq subs that were quite respectable.

I, too, own a pair of HSU subs, as well as Vandy subs, and I can tell you there is no comparison. The Vandy's integrate seamlessly and unobtrusively. 
In fact, whether you go Maggie or Vandy, get one or two 2wq subs. Both benefit from the added low frequency. And, both work well with Vandersteen subs.
B

John Rutan is the man. He will not steer you wrong.