Vandersteen 2ce upgrade?

I'm a 3A owner. Provided you still prefer Vandy sound, I agree that a pair of used 3A's should be available in your budget (maybe tough to find 3A sigs at that price) and they would greatly enhance your sound over 2ce's. The low end response is phenominal for orchestral listening. I don't find mine to be heavy or boomy at all. They respond well to placement, and the rear firing coupler seems to like to be close to the wall...a definite plus for practicality as they are huge and heavy. However, they do like power; I drive mine with 200wpc and wouldn't recommend any less than 125wpc capability.

I have owned both 2c and 2ce and liked both. They can sound a little "heavy" depending on amp, cables and placement. If you're using tubes, you need a very revealing, somewhat forward sounding speaker cable to work synergistically.
Finding anything new for $1500 to beat them may be difficult, especially if you're driving them with tubes.
Used: I would suggest auditioning Spendor SP-1, Proac Response 1.5 or possibly Vienna Acoustic Mozart. A planar speaker like Magnapan, Quad or Eminent Tech will give you a different sound, if they work in your room and budget.

My nirvana was found at Magnepan. Moved up from vandersteen 1Bs to 2CEs then discovered the magic of planar speakers. Admittedly not for everyone but you should at least try them, they really are amazing,

My thoughts are to go to a more "open" sound. Planars are teasing me as well as a migration to the low watt amps and highly effecient speakers. Remarkable how creative one can be with this!!! I'll audition the Vandersteen 3A and take the next step. John

The type of music you specified doesen't require a lot of slam factor.There are a number of good moniotr speakers like the B&W 805,Joseph 7's,(expensively) the RedRose monitor. which would give you great imaging trading off a big sound stage for it.But if want your cake and to eat it to I would suggest the Magnepan 1.6($1600)A bit bass shy but can fit in the room and aren't as demanding with set up as the 3.5/3.6 which if you can afford price and space are probably the best value speakers out there for the dough.Not wife freindly due to hight and having to bring them out in room.But great imaging if set up in a big enough room properly and sound stage and mid range kings.You would want to pump as much juice into them as possible.All this recomendation from somebody using tweaky sensitive horn loaded speakers.But what they share is mids and highs that beat most piston speakers out there.