Also there is occasional irritating glare. Could be the tube and metal midrange combination
I think the VS 4SR11 uses composite pulp mid range, this will be better damped and will be less likely to give you "glare" like a metal mid range. (rigid cones generally suffer from ringing more than damped pulp/paper/woven designs)
The problem with the Watt Puppies may have been their strength in the 80 to 100 Hz range in your room (overly bass heavy or punchy).
Have you considered Wilson Sophia or Sophia 2? (They are much less bass heavy than the Watt Puppy line)