Avalon Ascendant or Vandersteen Quatros?

Listened to Quatros with Ayre (Pre, Amp,CD) components with AudioQuest Cables that was impressive. Lots of air. I remembered the percussion having good spacing of instruments in the soundstage of a complex piece.

Avalons are part of my fab five of speakers but I have not listened to the Ascendants.

While I am an Avalon fan, and have no doubt that they are a top-flight choice, I have not heard the Ascendant. I have heard the Vandy's on quite a few occasions (with Aesthetix and Cary components), and found them very impressive. Last time I heard them I thought that the soundstage seemed a little small, but I think it was a combination of a lower volume level and the fact that I had just listened in the next room to the Vandy 7s, which are exceptional speakers that throw a huge soundstage. On prior occasions I did not have that same feeling. The Vandersteens are very well-designed and tonally balanced, excellent speakers for the music you mention.

I heard both with Ayre, AR, Jadis, Cary gear. Ascendants never inpressed me, with any electronic. Vandersteen played pretty good with Ayre. But they are difficult in setup, without experienced and measurement electronics you are not able to maximise their performance.

Thanks for the repsonse, I'll definitely have a hear both to make a decision.

Wig,

Good luck on your search. I have Avalon Ascendants and really enjoy them. I am using Herron electronics with them and to me they are very musical. The thing that impresses me about them is that the are "boring" but in a good way. After you really settle down and listen, you realize how natural and balanced they are and they produce some pretty good bass so I don't miss my sub that I used on my Utopia monitor set up.