Spendor S8e or Vandersteen 3A-Sig or ?

I've owned the Spendor S8e and heard the Vandy, but not side by side.

First the Vandy 3A. It is a very good speaker but it did not send me to Nirvana. It does not have any major flaws but also seems to lack a rather indefinable magic that I look for in a speaker. I also know that Vandersteen has an avid following that feels they are incredible speakers.

The Spendor S8e is a more tightly focused speaker and has a relatively small sweet spot. However the midrange is wonderful and the speaker is very natural sounding. They have good bass and are reasonably efficient and not too hard to drive. Spendors are not a speaker for those who prefer a Kodachrome etch to their sound.

For full disclosure, I ended up selling the S8e and moved to the classic Spendor model SP1/2E. While the SP1/2E doesn't have the deeper bass of the S8e, I found the midrange yet another notch upwards. It is simply amazing and a stunning speaker for those who prefer a realistic and natural sound for acoustic instruments.

However, there is no substitute for listening for yourself. There are many who would make the opposite choice.

Incidentally, my room is not ideal.

Actually, that is a good argument for the Spendors. Their tight focus is one result of running a higher crossover point between an 8" mid/woofer and the tweeter. This makes them more directional in the mid-to-upper range of fundamentals where the ear is fairly sensitive.

While that gives them the small sweet spot, it also helps make them a bit more insensitive to room irregularities. I've got a room with a 7 foot opening immediately next to my right speaker with a small doorway and couch next to the left speaker. However, when you're positioned between the two speakers in that sweet spot, things just pop into focus with a very natural and easy 3-D quality.

In your case, if there is anyway to audition speakers in your own room before you buy, it'll be well worth it.