This is an excellent thread and many Audiogoners know my positive position on timbral accuracy that Thiel and Vandersteen provide.
I owned the original Studio 100s back in 1997 for about a year powered by Parasound and then Bryston electronics. They were my first high end speaker. I now have the Vandersteen 2Ce Sigs and have been thoroughly enjoying them for about a year. IMO there is no comparison for accuracy of timbre and timing; the Vandersteens are truly superior in this regard as well as in the areas of extension and especially imaging. It takes awhile at first to get used to them simply because they sonically reveal so much initially, and, at first, this may seem disconcerting, but after a short time they pull you deep into the music with a natural and detailed sound. Their presentation begins at the plane of the speakers and moves back into a deep soundstage. The Paradigms, on the other hand, present forward of the speaker plane, and tend to push the music toward you. The Paradigms present; the Vandersteens invite. These are very different sonic experiences, but for me the invitation aspect of the Vandersteens, coupled to the fact that they are not degrading timbral accuracy, makes them my choice.
I owned the original Studio 100s back in 1997 for about a year powered by Parasound and then Bryston electronics. They were my first high end speaker. I now have the Vandersteen 2Ce Sigs and have been thoroughly enjoying them for about a year. IMO there is no comparison for accuracy of timbre and timing; the Vandersteens are truly superior in this regard as well as in the areas of extension and especially imaging. It takes awhile at first to get used to them simply because they sonically reveal so much initially, and, at first, this may seem disconcerting, but after a short time they pull you deep into the music with a natural and detailed sound. Their presentation begins at the plane of the speakers and moves back into a deep soundstage. The Paradigms, on the other hand, present forward of the speaker plane, and tend to push the music toward you. The Paradigms present; the Vandersteens invite. These are very different sonic experiences, but for me the invitation aspect of the Vandersteens, coupled to the fact that they are not degrading timbral accuracy, makes them my choice.