2. speakers
  3. 1436625326

Vandersteen Treo vs 3A Sig as upgrade

I had my local dealer hook up a pair of Treos to demo them and left with a very mixed impression. I like the overall sound. They have a smoother, more refined and sophisticated midrange that the 3A Sigs can't match. I want that. But the bass was less defined and the top end was bright. The sibilance was very exaggerated - this was with CD. Is this the character of the Treo? Thanks!
wlutke
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
I have had a pair of Treo CT for two months.  I have been listening to Vandersteens for the last 30 years, starting with the original 2C, then model 3 to 3A to Signature.  The Treo CT is the same as the Quatro CT Wood minus the built in subwoofer system.  I went with the Treo CT as I already have two 2wq Vandy subwoofers.  If you haven't made a significant investment in subs. and crave deep, well-controlled, powerful bass then the Quatro would be a great way to go.

nrenter's avatar
nrenter
766 posts
 
After living with my Quatro CT's front he past 8 months, I can only find one downside - I may have purchased my last pair of speakers. 
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
@nrenter  You may have!  As I type this I am listening to Bobby Battle's "The Offering" on Mapleshade and I want to go upstairs to watch a particular show on TV but I keep finding excuses to stay and listen a little longer.  That may be one of the most meaningful tests of how much you love what your system is allowing you to hear and enjoy.

Lucky you, you are ahead of me by 6 months.  I'll have to try to catch up.

ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Interesting M.  Personally, I go with the Quatro all day long.  I"m really big on coherency and I also need matching subs in a system.  That's just me, but many do like the Treo better with the subs.  SUB...jective, right? lol
mr_m
1,900 posts
 

Take my opinion with a grain of salt. The dealer set the Treo CT's and the one 2Wq sub up meticulously. I gave him a few days notice for the demo. He played some incredible music cuts for me. Guess I got caught up in the moment. Even Richard Vandersteen said this was one of his better dealers and said he had a fine ear for different kinds of music. This was in Wisc. I now live in Arizona. I listened to the Quatro Wood Ct's at a Hifi Shop in San Diego. I listened with similar music and  while it sounded good, it didn't grab me like the Treo Ct. sub combo did. That store in Wisc. had to my ears what seemed to be almost magical. Some of the best sound I ever heard and I've heard some pretty fine systems over my 45 years as an audiophile. I previously mentioned that I own a pair of Treo Ct's, and couldn't be happier. After listening with a Vandy sub, I really like the way the sound opens up the stage and gives you that incredible sense of space and timbre, something you don't quite hear with the Treo's on their own. This is what the sub does for me, not just giving me a handful of hertz at the bottom end and more dynamics, although I still consider these aspects important to the music as well. In regards to the carbon tweeter, it also helps down into the mid-range where the vocal region resides. I have listened to the standard Treo at length, and the resolution of the carbon tweeter, to my ears, is well worth the extra grand. IMHO. Happy listening to all you new Vandersteen owners out there!




  

More to discover