I would agree with what has been said about the Vandersteen 3A and 5, but would add, regarding the Vandersteen 5, that although the bass may be more tuneful and as deep or deeper than the 3A's, the most startling thing about the 5's is their midrange and highs. They highs are open and airy and natural without being sharp. The mids are transparent. As good as the 3A is, the 5 is another animal. I heard the 5 with Nordost SPM interconnects/speaker cables and Ayre K1 and V1 preamp and amp. I believe due to the Nordost, which I have always found to lack bass, the audition did suffer from lack of deep earthmoving bass, to some degree. I am sure this was not the fault of the speaker. Otherwise, I found the Vandersteens to be perfectly balanced, including the bass typically found in music, not sound effects, natural with wide and deep soundstage. I would characterize the 5 as being not "warm" but neutral. I would characterize the 3a as "warm".
