While Vandersteens can be finicky to setup, the payoff is great for both Model 2C and 3A. I have owned both, non-sig models, and still have the 3A’s. Mine started off as 3’s and the original owner I bought them from, sent back to Vandersteen at some point for the "A" update, which means they don’t need any crossover work at this time. I’d say for a grand, I can’t buy a better speaker. A different speaker, yes, but for most of my music, I love the way Vandersteen’s sound.
I will say that I didn’t love my 2C’s until I went mono bridge. I won’t turn back now. The control having an amp drive each speaker is critical IMHO to getting the most out of them, and as far as bass, there is no need for a sub. My system has not changed going from the 2C to 3A and while I think the 2C was perfectly fine, I had to try out the 3A when they popped up for sale at a price I could afford. I have the Sound Anchors, which one poster mentioned get in the way of proper positioning. I disagree. You never want these speakers closer to a wall than what the stand will allow. Once you get used to maneuvering the speakers on the cones it’s pretty easy. I like the stands and wouldn’t use with the stock stands, which I have in a closet.
I don’t have the kind of system of the typical Audiogon member. I have what I can afford, which took me years to build up to. My main source is all Sansui Definition Series (TU-9900, CA-2000, BA-3000), but I drive the Vandersteens with two Parasound HCA-1500 (630 wpc mono, 8 ohm). Because they are THX certified, I get clean sound. When I was using just one, the speakers were ok, but not great.
Room size and shape is a big thing. In your open space the 3’s may be better simply from a size factor. My space is an 11 x 13 room with vaulted 11’ ceiling and open closet at the opposite end which gives me another 2.5’ of depth, as it’s most of the width of the room. I have my system on the short width (11’) which is all I can do since my office is in the room. We just moved from a house where I had a smaller room ... and I still got great sound out of the 3A’s ... however, now, I have bare walls, vaulted ceiling and the need for building acoustic diffusers on the back wall between the speakers and one side wall. The other wall is a large window with cloth blind. My environment is different than yours, and I’m guessing other posters have enough differences in system and space where it’s possible none of our situations match yours.
bstatmeister, if you are around central Oregon, you can check mine out.
