David, I think you indicated in your post that your MBL audition was in a room smaller than your own, but you had concerns in re: speaker size vs. room size. If you meant to indicate that your room was smaller, it's very important to audition the 101 on-site before purchase.
Llike the big Wilson speakers, the 101s seem to have been voiced for a very large room. The 101s bass balance will tend to overload a medium sized room. On the basis of two recent auditions, the smaller 116 and 111 (I think those are the correct model designations) floorstanders seem to me better suited to a typical room. However, my impression from the listening sessions also suggest that the 101s are really in a different league than the other MBLs (although those models are certainly very good speakers in their own right).
BTW, I've also been looking at Sound Lab and Vandersteen and ESP. Of the zillion things I've listened to over the last year (in anticipation of equipment change related to relocation), these are my finalists. I haven't decided yet, but I will say the Vandy and especially the 101 seem to me to be better suited to your taste in music.
Llike the big Wilson speakers, the 101s seem to have been voiced for a very large room. The 101s bass balance will tend to overload a medium sized room. On the basis of two recent auditions, the smaller 116 and 111 (I think those are the correct model designations) floorstanders seem to me better suited to a typical room. However, my impression from the listening sessions also suggest that the 101s are really in a different league than the other MBLs (although those models are certainly very good speakers in their own right).
BTW, I've also been looking at Sound Lab and Vandersteen and ESP. Of the zillion things I've listened to over the last year (in anticipation of equipment change related to relocation), these are my finalists. I haven't decided yet, but I will say the Vandy and especially the 101 seem to me to be better suited to your taste in music.