Vandersteen 1C to 3A Signature


I currently own the 1Cs, paired with a Naim Nait 5i. I like the sound, have had these speakers for the better part of 15 years and I still love their presentation, the openness and sense of space they provide. They are fabulous to my ears.

Which isn’t to say they are perfect, they don’t like being played too loud (seem fragile, break up at higher volumes), and the bass isn’t as deep or (more importantly) as defined as it could be. Also I sometimes hear some lack of refinement in the tweeter (although at other times it sounds positively glorious, especially with horns and flutes).  So after refinishing the basement and adding a big TV with prewired surround sound I found a used Vandersteen center speaker, so I’m thinking of moving the 1C to the basement and getting a different (hopefully better) speaker for upstairs. I did a bit of research and it appears Spendor is supposed to be a good match for Naim, so I was able to borrow a pair of S8E to try out. You can tell the speaker can handle much more power and can play cleanly at those high levels, and the sound is nicely balanced throughout the frequency range, but they sound like boxes. The Vandy’s don’t. I think I’ve written off Spendor, Proac, Totem and the like, as the design looks similar.

I should probably stick with Vandersteen or similar sounding speakers. I have an opportunity to buy some 3A Signatures, but am afraid I will lose the lithe nature of the 1’s which I like, so I’m looking for opinions on this, and maybe for suggestions of other models that would sort of fit into the sound I’ve tried to describe. Thanks
128x128phaco
If you want to move up the Vandersteen line the model 2ce would be my recommendation. Many moons ago I replaced the 2ce with the 3a and in my listening room I preferred the 2ce . Placement is very critical with Vandersteens and I could never get the larger 3a to sing! 
https://www.vandersteen.com/products/model-2ce-signature-iii
Treo will suit you much better. Find an owner who is upgrading to the carbon tweeter. One of my systems is built around the Treo, the other 7’s. There is a lot of development and engineering from the 7 in the Treo.
loved my 3a-Sig, Brother still has them but they iMO need an amp w grunt and drive, the box w sound anchors is not small.
see treo system
https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/7100

consider joining the Vandy owners forum 

enjoy the music !

jim

IF going new and visiting a Vandy dealer the advice you got about considering the latest version of the 2 is excellent! Lots of refinement poured into that best seller over the years - made in USA since 1977
Excellent advice thus far. I moved from my 1C’s to 2CE Sigs in a matter of a month (got very lucky with someone selling his 2’s for a very very fair price), seriously, as I fell in love with the 1’s sound and wanted more. You would not loose anything moving up, IMO, only gain more of what you already like about the 1’s.

The 3’s should work nicely for you if the price is right, but as Jim @tomic601 stated, the new 2 model III’s sound to be an incredible solution as well, as would be the Treo’s, but I would assume a larger investment.

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. BTW, I still have the 1’s as ‘rear’ speakers in my HT set-up, and comforted in that they are solid back-up speakers as well. I had to do that while getting one of my acoustic couplers repaired. Was nice to have them at the time, but could not wait to get the 2CE Sigs back in operation. Big difference.
I would call John Rutan at the Audio Connection in NJ he's a dealer but also a great guy I'm sure he can answer all your questions.