I have had both Soundlabs A-1s and the Vandersteen 5. I far prefer the Vandy. It is both transparent and dynamic, and handles the entire frequency range well. Soundstaging is unmatched and the midrange is crystal clear. It is due for a major update early next year. At approximately $10,000, the 5s simply can't be beat and the longer I listen to it, the better I like it, unlike the A-1s whose limitations began to wear after time. One note of caution. The Vandy 5s must be biwired. Good Luck
