Revel Salon vs Vandersteen 5A

Sure the best thing is to listen to both, but chances are you'll like the Vandersteens better in your home. The dealer will use the many controls in the back to adjust your speaker for your room. Also, because the Vandersteens have their own bass amp, it permits your amp to loaf just on the mids and highs, therefore providing better sound.

I couldnt agree more with String. The Revel is smooth for sure but IMO a touch more forward compared to Vandy. But I do love the Revels looks over the 5A. But its not really about looks so I have to firmly fall in the 5A camp.

I have heard both the original Revel's powered by all Levinson and Proceed gear (helped set up), as well as the Vandersteens. For me, it would be a no brainer for the 5A. The Revels always sounded like what most people term a very "accurate" speaker, but they had no soul. The Vandersteens took you to the music event and let the emotion also come through. Two excellent choices, but entirely different sounds (the runner up for the guy buying the Revel's were large Thiels).

So, Mcreyn, the Revels (Salon2s, I assume?) are accurate, but have "no soul"? Does that mean a speaker has to be inaccurate to have soul?

No it means it has no warmth, accurate is good for some but cold and sterile to many others. You can also have accurate with warmth its all in how somebody voices a speakers I suppose.
I think the Revels sounded forward or harsh in midrange so maybe we heard same thing but worded it differently its not offensive but its there all the same.
All in all I think its looking pretty obvious the 5A is the one to get!