[95bcwh]

Zybar,
 It's a dealer setup.. unfortunately it's the only dealer in Houston that sells the Vandy.. so can't cross-check with another one..

This dealer must be the same one where I listened to the original Vandy 5s years ago (dedicated room, same BEL amp). My impressions were similar to yours. This only tells me that many dealers/owners don't set up their systems well, because at about the same time I listened to Vandy 5s at a Florida dealer and they were wonderful.

Ah! Yes yes, it must be the same dealer.. there's only one in Houston, inside the loop, along highway-59..!

[toobluvr]

The Vandy 5A's are really wonderful sounding speakers when properly set up.  I have to agree with Georges (Zybar) comments above.  

I have listened extensively to Vandy 5A's with Quicksilver V4 amps at Audio Connection in Verona, NJ.  Some of the best music my ears have every heard.  If you are ever on the East Coast, I encourage you to stop by and meet the owner John Rutan.  The store is only 30 minutes east of NYC.

The speakers are tricky to set up, but all Vandy's placement off rear and side walls to sound their best.

Regards,

NB

I too have heard this exact same setup at Rutan's place.
To these ears, the finest home audio system I have ever heard!
       

[rotcoddam]

My friend in Sacramento has the 5A's and everytime I hear them I get blown away.  
    Vandersteen himself may want to pay the (might be deaf) dealer a visit to see what's up.

[John Casler]

One small point about the 5A which is a very capable speaker, is that Richard designed it to sound best at a "specific height" due to the time alignment of the driving array.

The first time I heard them, I wondered what had happened to the HF, since my personal speakers "killed" them.

Turns out I was sitting too low. (on a low couch)

The next time I was at the right height, and they sounded excellent.

Which brings up the point, that different speaker designs may require attention to details many might not be aware of.

This could lead one to hear a speaker or system and come away not knowing how good or bad it really is.

[Bill Baker]

There's nothing wrong with your ears. You heard what you heard, and that's the way you should make all you audio decisions...via personal experience with the equipment.

 Very nice! Here is what I tell my customers.......

 "Build your system for yourself, not the critics"