Vandie .7 vs Maggie .7

+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.

+1000 on Johnny Rutan

Well.... I listened  to the. 7's and there 1ci's today. Spent about an hour in this shop. First about the equipment used.... CDs were spun by an Audio Research player.. Didn't ask specs and model... Suffice to say... Built like a tank... Had to 10k maybe more. Amp was a Rogue Integrated...all tube... Forgot  the name. It's very popular. Kimber wires. First was the Maggie. Images as expected were bigger then usual. Sound was a little on the soft side... I wish the amp was 100%solid state... As the Rogue is all tube. By soft I mean that mellow tube sound... (I'm generalizing),,, wasn't bad. Timbre was good.. I'm enjoyed them. The dynamics compared to what I'm used to... We're not as "snappy" as to box/dynamic speakers. I've Never had the pleasure in ALL my years sat down and listened to Vandersteen speakers. It took about 20 minutes.. To adjust my brain... And.. I'm short... Lol  I hope... I heard spatial cues.. Information on my CDs I had not heard before. I couldn't believe it. I know the music... And the CDs I brought. I'd have to give it to the Vandys! The only thing through Maggie had better was image size due to yet size of the panel. Vandy is no slouch... It was more precise... Far better bass... There really must be Something to their use of first order crossover. Also... No baffles... Etc..   Price wise.. There about 150.00 apart. I experienced the difference in amplifier power. To run the Maggie's were I was listening.. Volume knob was about 1 o'clock... With 1ci's.. It was 10 o'clock.. 11 was loud. So... I think I have to go Vandy... It's been suggested I listen to the KEF 50s...I'LL have too do this before I settle on the Vandy.
I'll probably obsess for a bit... Over seeking out recent Signatures 2ces...vs the 1ci's. That's going to take luck...no telling where I'll wind up... Maybe I should just settle on near 10 year old 2's  AND NOT try to drill down hard on what the possibilities are vs the 2...im sure there is A break point.. In serial numbers where the newer 1ci's will perform better than older 2ces... Isn't this a wonderful hobby... Lmao.. And there's the possibility that the KEF might best the Vandys... Then it's over.   Now to find a KEF dealer.... And I will call John... John are you reading all my notes here... Take care Otto 

If you get a chance to listen to the KEFs, pay attention to the trailing edges of vocal notes, especially female vocals. Both speakers do this well, but I found that the KEFs are just a bit more refined and detailed. They have none of the upper midrange distortion that the 1Ci exhibited with hot recordings.

Jeff Dorgay of Tone Audio claimed to prefer the VLRs over the LS50s, but in his 1Ci review, he says the LS50s have greater resolution and imaging. So I wonder if the VLRs are possibly better than the 1Ci, sans bass extension.