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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
patrickdowns's avatar
patrickdowns
512 posts
 
I auditioned the Treo CT and the newest 2CE Signature III against each other for a long time, and chose the new 2CE to replace a 20 year old pair. At the time I was considering a like-new pair of Treo CTs (1 year old, $6000), and I still second-guess myself for not getting them. They don’t come up for sale often.

I think the newest 2CE is arguably a better speaker than the 3, and my dealer said the same thing. It’s certainly a better value. I would get the Treo CT instead of a pair of 3’s for sure.

Virtues of the 2CE Sig III:
* Price ... a superb value.
* Better bass extension than the Treo (though the bass the Treo has IS superb)
*Same mid-range drive as the Treo CT, iirc

Virtues of the Treo CT:
* Gorgeous speakers, and much better spouse acceptance factor esp. for a living room
* More solid cabinet, fewer resonances
* Carbon tweeter. My 63 year old ears couldn’t hear much difference between it and the 2CE, and the midrange of the two seemed equal. Said to be a better tweeter by "everyone" though.
* Can be placed closer to the wall without messing up the bass response

The salesman at my dealer owns a pair of 2CEs that he has paired with $20k of amp and preamp, and he says they just sung beautifully. With every improvement to the front end, the speakers rose to the occasion. When I was trying to choose, he warned me that the Treos might reveal deficiencies in my front end more than the 2CE’s did, which meant upgrading everything and I couldn’t do that. The other salesman there has Treo CTs to which he’s added a pair of subwoofers (the alternative could have been the Quatro CT), with an Audio Research front end and Chord Hugo TT2 DAC, and he says it’s magical. More $$ than I have!

I am in the process of investing about $10k in amp/preamp or integrated soon, and I think the 2CE’s will rise to the occasion. Of course, that’s pocket change for some of you! Maybe later I will switch to the Treo CT. Maybe.

Long-winded tale, taking it FWIW. Good luck.

bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,597 posts
 
@patrickdowns

Thanks for your opinion of the new III’s. Since they came out, and have received so many glowing reviews, I am really thinking about the new 2’s as a replacement for my older Sig’s. 

The 2CE Sigs do fit my space/room nicely, and I’m not sure I could do a lot better than the III’s for the money.
gdnrbob
4,445 posts
 
+1 on contacting John Rutan (audioconnection).
+2 on looking at the Treo's
I own the non-CT version (after owning the 3a sigs), and find them to be significantly better- sound wise.
@patrickdowns,
Nice Post!.
Bob
Post removed 
bondmanp
1,811 posts
 
I would suggest something, um, outside the box.  10 years ago, I decided to replace my 1Cs.  The 2Ces were a little too large, physically, for my room.  I ended up with a pair of Ohm Walsh 2000s, and 10 years later, I haven't regretted it for a minute.  Based on your room size, you might require the Walsh 3000 or 4000.  The drivers sit proud of the cabinet, no boxy sound here.  Quite capable in the bass, and you can crank them without any congestion or loss in sound quality.  They come with a 120 day return option, but you will the lose the shipping round trip if you return them.
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