Which speakers... B&W 802D or Vandersteen 5A's?

I'm driving my 5As with 60-into-8 Atma-Sphere M-60Mk.3.1s, and FINALLY I've found an amp(s) I probably will keep forever. There's no lack of power--the system plays louder than I'd ever want to listen in my largish 3200CF room, and it never sounds dynamically compressed. Of course, one reason for this is the reduction of bass energy the amp(s) has to reproduce, since you'll be using some version of V-steen's hi-pass filter required by the 5As (and Quatros and 7s). Also, damping factor is simply not a factor with the 5As, since most of the bass is reproduced by that magnificent-sounding powered-bass system.

Go for the Mac, Tubes.
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Audiofeil is right, and having done what he recommends I perfer the Vandersteen 5As - a great value IMHO, and don't underestimate the flexibility bass tuning offers.

Both are too big for that 12ft room dimension unfortunately.

IMHO--this is not really a good comparison--though all are valid--the Vandersteens are better in virtually every area.
More neutral, better and more realistic bass response, imaging.

But then, again, just my humble opinion.

Good listening,

Larry

And if it were a close call, I'd buy the one made in the U.S.A.