Vandie .7 vs Maggie .7

+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.

@otto, I am glad you like the Vandy's. They really seem to do things right at a great price point.
For me, I would opt for the 1ci's over a 2ce.  The 1's will be easier to place and set up and also require less power, and if you want later, you can add subs. I owned a pair of 3a sigs, but hated how the Sound Anchors stuck out of the back- Not good in a limited space situation.]
B

Thank you Bob and Helomech! We'll my plot thickens! First... I know nothing  ZERO of the VLR'S.... I'll have to start looking at these. Are they in my budget? 2. I did some reading on reviews on LS50's and some user comments... The reviews were positive... User reviews were mixed... From... No bass... Mostly... I have the HSU SUB and his 500.00 electronic crossover.. So I have been hi-passing for many years... I'm even using it with the big Wharfdale 240's...to my ears... Doing this adds clarity... In short.... When I sold hi end audio.. We were an M&K dealer... And got very into hi passing and see the value and concept. When I was a pro musician... Most of the sound systems were bi and TRIampd with crossover. I still have a very excellent MX125... Which is a dual 12 'push-pull' arrangement.. I have  been thinking lately of trying it.. In place of the HSU... Which is an entry line model I bought 10 years ago... Their technology has improved dramatically since then. The MK is in my Desktop PC system. Back to LS50... I read the efficiency is pretty LOW.. 84 OR 86 dB... I'll check that.  Hummm not happy about that. So... I will start down the VLRpath and see if the dealer has them to listen too.  With the reviews on the 50s...with the STRONG comments here on female vocals which is most if what I listen too.. Along with Saxophone and Trumpet... The LS50 sure sounds like a done deal!! I can almost go ahead and buy them... Sight unseen... There is deal on a pr... I found... is that dumb... Always listen first... Then do I listen to the VLR'S... I guess as I type... I must listen... Audio and opinions... I must listen before I buy. I don't want to lose the deal on the 50s....i guess I can always resell them.... At least we're past the Maggie's so you speak... With the introduction of the KEFs into this.. It has thrown me into another place... I'm laughing.. And soooooo appreciate the direction... It's always a blessing to read forums to help someone else in a similar situation.. Work through the current dilemma.... Lmao. I'll look up VLR'S and look for A KEF  DEALER. KEF is another brand I have zero time with. Working for a BW dealer... I did not have any interest in looking up KEFs.  When you listen to the older 805, 802s  801s who cared! Please let me know if on a WHIM I should take a shot and buy the 50s... There are under 900.00

Thank you Otto