Vandersteen 3a Signatures compared to Treo’s

Yes the Kento has an even better cabinet, new bass drivers in a balanced force configuration ( opposition) AND model 7 midrange w CF skins on the patented balsa core. IF I upgrade the Treo it would be to Kento. I have heard them paired w VPI, Lyra Delos, McIntosh pre and Vandys M5 amp - outstanding soundstage and clarity in Harrow and the Harvest

fortunate friend You have Doug !!!

best to you !! Enjoy the music

jim

The great story regarding this friend is that he is making up for lost time. He had a truly junk bottom scraping ( he would concur) cheap stereo for about 40 years as he worked in tech sector in CA. Retired, left the insanity and took a bit of bankroll to in one move put together a dream system.  Good on him. 

Well he is whacking it big time !!!! No bank accounts behind the pearly gates, or so I imagine 

@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