Well I have herd the Meridian but not in the same envirnment so I don't want to compair. I own the 5a and use them in a 2 ch - 7.2 set up. Since you are in the HT forum I would guess you would want to use them in a ht. I don't see a Meridian center to match the 8000.
One of the things with vandersteen is his speakers match so well it is seemless for me from the center to the sides to the sourounds. Heck even his wall mount vsm sorounds have tuning pots. If you are looking for HT remember 70% of your sound is that center speaker and it has to tonally match the rest withthe exception of the sub that can be different. With all of vandersteen speakers they all match each other, I don't know if this holds true with any other line.
One of the things with vandersteen is his speakers match so well it is seemless for me from the center to the sides to the sourounds. Heck even his wall mount vsm sorounds have tuning pots. If you are looking for HT remember 70% of your sound is that center speaker and it has to tonally match the rest withthe exception of the sub that can be different. With all of vandersteen speakers they all match each other, I don't know if this holds true with any other line.