Vandersteen 3a Signatures compared to Treo’s

@zimick Have you considered buying another Benchmark amp and bi-amping the Signature 3As ?

Way back when Richard first updated the 3As to ’Signature’ I sent mine in for the update and in the process had a conversation with Richard about bi-wiring / bi-amping. As I recall he recommended 100 hours to break in the new components from the update. So I did that and then enjoyed them for another 100 hours or more before I went to bi-amping. It was a HUGE improvement !

Back then I ran a pair of Counterpoint SA-220s vertically bi-amping. I’ll never forget how much I loved that sound !

I have the Threshold Stasis 3, a Pathos Acoustic, the SA-220, some Quicksilver monos and a Music Reference RM-9 here but I’m listening to the full Benchmark system (DAC3B, HPA4 and AHB2) right now.

They all have their own special sound, not a bad amp in the bunch for the Vandersteens but if you like your Benchmark adding a second one is highly recommended !

I’m waiting for the air to clear, literally, before I drive down to Sunny’s and buy a pair of the Vandersteen VLR CT. I’m in too small a space for the 3s but I imagine the VLR CTs are pretty special.

glissando, I have, fleetingly, thought about bi amping but had no reference or experience with it to give it serious thought.
But... now it’s on my radar I’ll look into it.
It is so hard to find the “ right” upgrade that reveals the biggest improvement in a balance with expenditure!
Input from folks like you really help as you have experience with very similar setups/ equipment.
I am happy with my sound now and tend to settle into a setup for awhile... not much of a tweak chaser but did the switch to benchmark stuff last year the same time I did latest upgrades to 3a’s. All big gains for me and now I wonder if there is an obtainable step up that is pretty straightforward.
Bi amping could be good.
Question- I currently have the benchmark speaker wires as it was an easy way to go at the time. What wires do you use? Or recommend? It sounds like with your different amp that you are more of an experimenter than I am so might have some valued opinion.
The audioquest rocket 44/88 have been recommended to me by a Vandersteen dealer....
thank you for the input!
Z

@zimick I’m using Kimber Kable 8TC with banana plugs on both ends. They’re highly reviewed and recommended as one of the best neutral cables available. I’ve had them for a few years and in using them with a wide range of systems I have felt they simply worked without adding color or never have been a limitation. I have a couple of Audioquest’s pricier speaker cables but have found they weren’t neutral so stopped using them.

Bi-amping the Signature 3A really improved bass and lower mids in my experience. Then fine tuning the placement became easier and at the same time more significant.

I’ve used a number of ’Pro’ sound reinforcement and monitoring systems with the Speakon connecters that Benchmark offers with their Canare cables. While I think they have their benefits I question how much they matter when they’re only used on one end of the cable. I have planned on getting a set of the Benchmark cable to compare but I’d have to have them custom terminate them to spade lugs on one end or leave them bare for me to that myself. I’ll do that when I get the Vandersteen VLR CTs.

Glissando,
I will look into the kimber kable’s 
I do have the speakons with spades on other end with the benchmark cables.
Will let you know if I get cables and bi amp.
huge thanks for the help.
cheers
Z

A gas tight spade is best, see Vandersteen model 7

i am running a shotgun bi-wire TC-12 on the TREO CT ( Kimber makes the spademaster but you have to tweak to fit Vandersteen ) and I run the silver Audioquest ( essentially Wild Blue Yonder ) with the 7’s.

the Kimber is good wire at a reasonable $$$