YMMV, of course, but Vandersteen 1Cs were my first real hi-fi speakers. While they sounded good at the dealer, they never really worked in my home. I added subwoofers, replaced my amp, preamp (with a tubed preamp), wires and digital front end. I got improvements along the way, but I never had it where I wanted to just sit and listen. There was always as sense of strain, of congestion, at high volumes, and too much grit in the upper-mid/lower-treble range. About seven years ago I upgraded to Ohm Walsh 2000s and have never looked back. I now look forward to long, fatugue-free listening sessions.
My take away from this is always, ALWAYS, insist on a home audition for any speakers you are considering. Hear how they sound in your home, with your gear, with your music, and without a dealer hovering behind you telling you how great the sound is. Hearing how they sound at the shop is of very limited value.
Audio Conection is a wonderful dealer. But, if you are in NJ, let me add a few B&M stores in NJ worth checking out:
Care Audio in Edison
The Art of Sound in Lambertville
Distinctive Stereo in River Vale
Audio Video Synergy in Clinton
Bravo Audio/Video in Bernardsville
And if you are in NJ, I would invite you to check out the New Jersey Audio Society. Joining this club will give you a chance to hear all sorts of gear, and speakers, at all price levels, at retailers and in people's homes. www.njaudiosociety.com