Old Vandersteen model 2 vs. newer model 2

May I also ask if you model 2 owners experience the magical imaging only in the listening sweetspot, or is it, perhaps to a lesser degree, also throughout the room?  This is an important question, because I do not have a listening room, but an open concept house with a large living area, and my listening sweet spot is in front of a fireplace where there can be no furniture.  Also, this room is asymmetrical in that one side of the room functions as a hall, so that one speaker is placed in a corner and the other 4 feet from a wall which is not a corner.

My business has been hit hard by COVID, so I can't afford the difference to more expensive Treos.  

I too have a system in my office where I have a pair of Alons that are well placed and I listen there quite a bit and love it.

I've never been a 'sweet spot' lover. I want a speaker that provides good depth and imaging over a wide field. All the Vandy's I've owned have provided the aforementioned traits (also owned the 3a sigs).

Having an unbalance listening room will require a bit of adjusting in placement as well as angling in/out, but it is doable. Adding some Vandy subs would be one of the first things I would do, when finances improve.

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listening sweetspot, or is it, perhaps to a lesser degree, also throughout the room?  This is an important question, because I do not have a listening room, but an open concept house with a large living area, and my listening sweet spot is in front of a fireplace where there can be no furniture.  Also, this room is asymmetrical in that one side of the room functions as a hall, so that one speaker is placed in a corner and the other 4 feet from a wall which is not a corner.

The rentals were mostly square, the condo for 3 years was assymetric, the house for 10 years was symmetric, the house for 20 was symmetric, then new rental is assymetric, and the new house they are going to is assymetric.

They always seemed pretty good.

My business has been hit hard by COVID, so I can't afford the difference to more expensive Treos.  

If one is on a budget… then I would suggest searching for a used set of 2s and a 2w sub.
There would be little to be bashful about once the sounds starts coming out.

I tried an in store listen to some newer Treos and Kentos… they were good. And easier on the decorating front.

I have the 2CE Sig II speakers and yes they do sound better when out into the room and away from side walls. I added stereo Rythmik subs and that really increased the bottom end (but they were already very good). IMO the 2CEs are the best bargain for high fidelity that Vandersteen offers. They really start to go up in price after the 2CE. To me the Treos, Quattros and up... are too expensive but they do sound very good. There are just too many other speaker brands and designs that one could choose from at the higher price points.

I’m not convinced that an older pair of 2cs will be an upgrade over the NHT 2.9s. You might wish you hadn’t done that.

Edit:

After reading the description of your living room, I strongly suggest a nice pair of headphones......