Von Schweikert DB99 or Vandersteen 5A ??

To those thinking Parsifal vs 5A, I'd bet that your preference will be clear pretty quickly, though which choice you make will reflect your priorities. I own Parsifal Encores and have extensively auditioned 5As. Verities can't begin to touch the power, extension and pitch definition of the 5As in the lowest 2 octaves. Then again, I'm not sure I've heard any speaker that does (Vandy's room tuned bass system works far better than any such alternative I've ever heard.).

However, the Parsifal sounds much more dynamic and open through the mid-range. Until you get to very high levels, the 5As sound polite and laid back by comparison. Also, the Parsifal is amazingly seamless, the dynamic mid to dynamic mid bass to dynamic bass. As you get lower in pitch, you'll hear the speaker's shortcomings only in ways specific to deep bass reproduction. Conversely, as you get higher in pitch, you'll hear the 5A get less convincing unless you get the volume really cranked.

Both are great speakers. Neither is perfect. Choose your poison.

BTW -

No "tight vs. dry" jokes please. In retrospect, maybe a less than ideal choice of words. :<{

Have fun shopping!

Marty.

P.S. If you're expanding your options beyond the 5A and the DB99 as originally posted - there are other interesting choices in the price range. Although space limitations precluded Soundlab in my listeninig room, I thought they presented another apealling "flavor" vs. the Vandy and Parsifal.

Sam,

To clarify my comments on the Parsifal's bass:

On most music, you will probably find it absolutely satisfying down to the lowest registers. However, certain recordings will reveal the shortcomings of the underdamped Verity approach versus the powered, highly damped Vandy bass system. Specifically, you may want to listen to these speakers with African pop music featuring tuned drums. (Peter Gabriel's Last Tempation of Christ Soundtrack features descending drum patterns at the conclusion of several tracks.) The difference will be obvious. Also, any well recorded kick drum will probably highlight the Vandy's advantage, albeit less dramatically.

I personally would recommend auditioning the speakers with this material (or other similarly revealing music) before spending this kind of money.

On balance, I still prefer the Parsifal. They sing with one voice - one that is tremendously satisfying from the mid-bass up, and a bit less satisfying below that ...but ONLY when you have chosen music that shows off these specific shortcomings. For my listening habits, that is a pretty rare event.

Incidentally, you may prefer the Verity mid bass sound on some material - the speaker imparts just a touch of mid bass warmth that can be addictive on small jazz combos and other small scale acoustic music. While Vandy's also have a reputation for warmth, I found that the 5As sound a bit "dry" in this region (by comparison to either the Parsifals or, for that matter, any of the passive Vandersteen speakers). One man's "warm" is another's "euphonic", just as one man's "tight" is another's "dry".

If this description troubles you, absolutely AUDITION FIRST!

good luck,

Marty