New Vandersteen oil cooled hybrid amplifiers

I agree with most of your positions here, that shows and dealers are not optimal, but in a lot of people's cases, shows are the ONLY option for hearing a good cross section of gear because all the brick and mortars in cities even with a million plus people, like where I live are ALL GONE!

So manufacturers don't get to play the "I can't make a hotel room sound good" card........any more.......
Too many folks in the room......doesn't play anymore either.........
Lots of manufacturers seem to be able to make their stuff sing at the shows.......

I've heard the 7s with several people in the room and with no people in the room, from the center and from front row and everywhere else......and they sounded boring to my ears........conversely, every time I've heard the quatros or treos, they sounded much more alive and engaging........commentary in the rooms from others seemed to agree with what I was experiencing......

I am a Vandersteen fan, owned Vandy's most of my audiophile life and indeed, if I ever decide my Magnepans are too large visually, I will likely look at Quatro CTs

But never in my life will I consider paying 50 g's for a pair of mono amps that can only pump 600 watts into 4 ohms.......I don't care what novel fluid technologies are inside it..........there are a whole bunch of world class amps that punch way above that in terms of headroom, sound quality EVERY bit as good or better (yes I've heard them) and their components will last a lifetime too........Ayre, Conrad Johnson, Convergent Audio, Bryston's Cubed Series...Constellation....Pass Labs...I can go on and on.......
Does that mean 7 owners won't buy these?  No.......they will.......
but for me it is still BIZARRE that for that kind of coin, they don't pump out 3000 watts into 8 ohms of the cleanest and most musical power on earth.......as they should as one of the most expensive pairs of mono amps in audioland.......and comparatively one of lower powered ones.....

I get that you think it's bizarre.  Not knocking you on that and I hope it didn't come across that way.  it's just novel technology and thinking outside the box.  I bet others will eventually try the same although the patent may hold them back.  The are built for this one speaker for the most part.  My own personal is that I don't really concern myself with how many watts or heat an amp puts out. I just listen for the sound.  There is plenty of head room in these amps.  When they were playing digital that night we heard them go extremely low.  I have an Ayre and love it.  I've head CJ, ARC, Quicks and a few more. I don't change my system too much unless it's a major upgrade.  Have I heard amps that are as good or better?  depends on the situation of course.  These are so specific with their high pass, I can't honestly say something is better or worse as I've only heard the Ayre mXr twenties, the Atlas and the ARC ref against it.  Richards amp has given me the best sound so far, but as I always post, that's MY ears.  

As for show sound, we will have to agree to disagree.  If you hear something you like or love, then the bones are obviously there.  If not, then I fully get that you may not want to give them or can't give them a chance elsewhere.  I"m blessed in that I live near enough to NYC and I travel a lot and am not shy to go listen. I have purchased items or systems all over the country as I don't waste folks time. That's the only way I met the folks at Audio Connection and ended up with Vandy's. I went in to purchase a new pair of ProAcs. lol.

As for engaging, I've heard more than a few say they liked the 5ct's better after hearing one after the other.  Set up plays a huge part and the rooms are in the same building but totally different.  For me, I've found that the 7's are just so revealing that it takes time to 'get' them.  Not making excuses, but Avalon's were the same for me years ago.  I LOVED some of the lower priced ones and didn't get the upper priced ones until I spent time with them.  It was the subtle nature as they did things I wasn't used to hearing in other speakers.  That's what the 7's do for me.  

they may not engage you right away or ever and that's fine.  Hey, I'm buying a pair to Quatro's as soon as I sell my Treo's. I totally get it and I have listened again to anything from 30k down that I was able to in order to make sure I wanted Quatro's over the others.  They do engage me, so I understand, but I'd still happily trade for a pair of 7's and be more than thankful, lol.  Great discussion, thanks.

I'll wait for the steam powered amplifiers to come out so I can save a few $ having to use electricity to run my tubes. Sign me up.