Price Paid:  $10500.00 from Audio Art, Richmond, Virginia

Summary:
Give them an audition from a reputable dealer who has them set up correctly in a good room, and who has burned in the associated electronics properly. If they are not set up correctly, you may get a bad impression. I urge anyone thinking of buying Vandersteen speakers, especially the 5's or the 3A Sigs with the 2WQ subs to open their mind and read a bit of Hardesty's material on the subject, and especially on using powered " musical " subs in addition to the full range speakers by using a high pass filter which allows a system approach to amps, power, and ultimate re-creation of music. Not boom box subs, musical low Q subs ( or at least adjustable like the 5's and 2WQ ).

Strengths:
Too many to note, but their ability to fit into many placements is great. If you really want to understand these speakers, read Richard Hardesty's interview of RV, or buy the Audio Perfectionist journal from Hardesty. They need to be set up correctly and tweaked a bit, and I am still in the tweaking stage, but for all people who love music, just pure, accurate music, detail, soundstaging, etc., this is the speaker. I am a dedicated two channel advocate and these are now my speaker probably to the end. Upgradable too, and just do too many things to talk about here ( like having the built in powered subs with the dedicated bass amps and a high pass filter which allows you to use a musical amp for the mids and highs, without giving up base control and impact ).

Weaknesses:
Expensive and heavy, especially in the history of Vandersteen. A less expensive alternative is to use the 3A Signatures with the 2WQ subs and a high pass filter, see Hardesty's journal, etc. ( This is not a complaint, I thoroughly researched many speakers, many at a much higher price that I felt had much less overall performance ).

Similar Products Used:
Magnepan MG3A's were my former speakers, for years.

Price Paid:  $10900.00

Summary:
If you haven't heard a properly set up pair of Model 5s, go and do it right now. If you can appreciate the sound of natural instruments and human voices, you will fall in love. Also, with their 400 watt powered, 12" metal cone, push-pull internal subwoofers- along with the superb Vandersteen x-over system, they really do make the best, most extended and most articulate bass in the world. Bass that doesn't sound like a subwoofer!

Every other speaker sounds blurry, muddy and compressed compared to the Vandersteen Model 5. Even speakers that I otherwise really love!

Just go hear 'em.

Strengths:
Truely, the best, most complete speaker ever built. The best bass in the world. Totally natural uncompressed sound from top to bottom! Time and phase coherent. The ultimate value in the highest end speaker. Upgradeability & flexability like no other speaker.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Nothing else really comes close.

Summary:
I would like to append an earlier review. Since the 1st review, I have upgraded my amps to Cary 1610's. With more power, the speakers sound quicker and tighter than they did matched with the Cary 805's. Super amp unless you like colored reproduction. 5 Stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Strengths:
reproduction of vocal sound and transparency

Similar Products Used:
B & W 801, Vandersteen 3A

Summary:
The Gentlemen at Advanced Audio (Tacoma, WA) allowed me a chance to sit in the ribbon chair of their new setup; Linn CD (the $20K job), Ayre Amplification, Cardas Cables, and the Vandy 5's. . . I was fortunate enough to hear "The Vikings" from the 'Pomp&Pipes' CD on Ref. Recordings (as well as snippets of the rest of the disc). The sub-bass from the organ filled the room as a 32' pipe should. The other sounds also had equally harmonic correctness and definition. . . spectacular.

Imaging was coherent, focused, but not zealous. However, the salesperson demonstrated some of the adjustments that can be made, and in so doing, the sound collapsed onto itself, sounding as pale as my Mission 772's (US$600/pr.) I also noted that the speakers were placed well away from the rear walls (moreso than what I've seen before). With adjustable bass, I'd think it imperative to take placement into consideration. With the ability to baffle/unbaffle the tweeter (what the salesperson called, "the Martin Logan switch"), placement again becomes crucial.

The flexibility in this speaker is a double-edged sword. I would consider these a must audition, but I would also make the effort to really communicate with your audio store before, during, and after purchase: these are serious speakers for sound tweekers.

Strengths:
Great Value! Flexibility, Soundstaging, Harmonically Correct "Blackness"

Weaknesses:
If not set up right, could be the worst $9K you ever spent.

Similar Products Used:
B&W Nautilus 801

Summary:
I heard these at Audio Connection in Verona NJ and would highly recommend this place. This was the only speaker I have heard that could reproduce a Grateful Dead show similar to the smaller venues they played in the seventies. Micky Hart's drum solo was astonishing. I find the big difference between the Vandersteen and Martin Logan speakers is the Vandersteens present the entire musical experience, the Martin Logans are excellent speakers but often times you will find yourself picking out elements of the recording as opposed to listening to the music. If you enjoy live music give these speakers a listen and it will all make sense.

Strengths:
Draws you into the music like no other speaker

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Martin Logan, Theil, BW