Hi Ctsooner
I too recently switched speakers after having them for many years. They are good speakers but were extremely picky about what they matched with. This experience has let me to certain realizations I didn't have during ownership. For all they did right and for all the efforts I expended in making it right from cables to amps to pre-amps, source components I could never capture the "it" factor which sustains engagement long term and found myself gravitating more towards favorite recordings, sound over music, a bad omen. Furthermore, when I purchased the speakers used, on this site, I never had the opportunity to listen to them first hand. Again, good speakers but how long do you try before conceding they just aren't your cup of tea?
So are you saying that you like the Proacs but you like the Vandies better? Or have you considered that the Proacs might be improved by changing out some or all of your upstream components which you are going to do regardless? This can get tricky unless you are willing to start over because you don't like or are uncomfortable with the speakers which you indicated you love. You are fortunate in that you have a great dealer that can help you sort all this out as he also sells Proac but might you still love the Proacs if you could find gear better suited to them? Would he be willing to let you listen with other gear in your space? I'm not suggesting this is the answer but is just another consideration in the equation. Maybe the Vandys are just better to you and your mind is made up, they are certainly wonderful speakers, I owned the 2cs for many years, one of only two speakers I have owned that I loved, the other my current speaker that stepped into my system, synergistic magic! How lucky fortunate is that? But I knew before hand that the amp was staying and the new speakers would have to be electrically compatible, were they ever. Just more food for thought. Sometimes what appears to be a "nobrainer" is often a mirage. But if you have a wad of cash to throw and don't mind spending the dough, do it, but FIRST you should hear in your space to be sure. Your situation is the opposite of mine, I had the system but the speakers were the issue. It seems you have a speaker you love but the system may not be ideally matched to it.
I too recently switched speakers after having them for many years. They are good speakers but were extremely picky about what they matched with. This experience has let me to certain realizations I didn't have during ownership. For all they did right and for all the efforts I expended in making it right from cables to amps to pre-amps, source components I could never capture the "it" factor which sustains engagement long term and found myself gravitating more towards favorite recordings, sound over music, a bad omen. Furthermore, when I purchased the speakers used, on this site, I never had the opportunity to listen to them first hand. Again, good speakers but how long do you try before conceding they just aren't your cup of tea?
So are you saying that you like the Proacs but you like the Vandies better? Or have you considered that the Proacs might be improved by changing out some or all of your upstream components which you are going to do regardless? This can get tricky unless you are willing to start over because you don't like or are uncomfortable with the speakers which you indicated you love. You are fortunate in that you have a great dealer that can help you sort all this out as he also sells Proac but might you still love the Proacs if you could find gear better suited to them? Would he be willing to let you listen with other gear in your space? I'm not suggesting this is the answer but is just another consideration in the equation. Maybe the Vandys are just better to you and your mind is made up, they are certainly wonderful speakers, I owned the 2cs for many years, one of only two speakers I have owned that I loved, the other my current speaker that stepped into my system, synergistic magic! How lucky fortunate is that? But I knew before hand that the amp was staying and the new speakers would have to be electrically compatible, were they ever. Just more food for thought. Sometimes what appears to be a "nobrainer" is often a mirage. But if you have a wad of cash to throw and don't mind spending the dough, do it, but FIRST you should hear in your space to be sure. Your situation is the opposite of mine, I had the system but the speakers were the issue. It seems you have a speaker you love but the system may not be ideally matched to it.