Vandy's are dynamic (cone) loudspeakers, not electrostatics. But they use simple first-order crossovers that are well implemented - very good speakers.
It's impossible to say what you were hearing, as you were listening to two unfamiliar systems in unfamiliar venues. The second system was obviously a lousy set up (a room full of equipment that was, in addition, almost certainly overdamped, based upon your description).
If you want to know what a turntable sounds like, I would see if Dave Lewis Audio or Overture currently has a high-end table set up on premises. Overture is a serious shop by current standards, but I don't know if they really know what they're doing with analog or give a shit (most places don't and don't). Dave Serota (Dave Lewis Audio), on the other hand, is a committed two-channel guy with some very serious analog clients - my guess is that his shop is where you would be most likely to get good exposure. Some people think he's a dick - he's been great with me, but I've been a customer.
It's impossible to say what you were hearing, as you were listening to two unfamiliar systems in unfamiliar venues. The second system was obviously a lousy set up (a room full of equipment that was, in addition, almost certainly overdamped, based upon your description).
If you want to know what a turntable sounds like, I would see if Dave Lewis Audio or Overture currently has a high-end table set up on premises. Overture is a serious shop by current standards, but I don't know if they really know what they're doing with analog or give a shit (most places don't and don't). Dave Serota (Dave Lewis Audio), on the other hand, is a committed two-channel guy with some very serious analog clients - my guess is that his shop is where you would be most likely to get good exposure. Some people think he's a dick - he's been great with me, but I've been a customer.