Vandersteen Model 2CE's: Should I upgrade?


I've owned these Vandersteen speakers since 1992 and they have sounded better and better as the rest of my system has improved.I've compared them to much more expensive B&W's and like mine better. I have a Bel Canto Evo 200.2 amp which is rated at 125 watts per channel and a Conrad Johnson PV12 tube preamp. I'm aware that the Model 2 has been improved since I bouhgt them and that there now is a Signature series. One dealer also told me that it would also sound better with a Vandersteen subwoofer. Is the sound that much better to justify these expenditures? What about upgrading to the Vandersteen Signature 3A? Is that a much better speaker and is worth making the jump?
mlkiz
I agree with the advice given by Bigtee.

I just helped a friend get into Vandersteen 3A's as his first high end speaker. He has lost a lot of sleep lately, staying up late into the night revisiting his music library.

The Vandersteen line is a speaker for music lovers, probably responsible for more people becoming "audiophiles" due it's value to price ratio.

Only you know if upgrading speakers is a necessity for your happiness. If it is, the advice given is where you should go, especially considering your long term satisfaction with the 2Ce.
What they said. I went from the 2ci to the 3Asig and it was a VERY satisfactory upgrade. And you could add 1 or 2 subs at a later date, and also recoup some of the $ via selling the 2ces.
Well, hell, I might as well jump on this train also -- particularly with such august company. I previously owned the Model 2Ci's, then went to the 2CE's, then to the Model 3A's, which I later had upgraded at the factory to the 3A Signatures. The 2CE Sig's are a fine speaker for the money, but the 3A / 3A Signatures are a substantial move up the performance ladder. I have helped my son move through the Vandersteen family of speakers, starting with the 1B's, and most recently to the 3A's. (I remember his girl friend's comment after we got the 3A's set up properly in their living room: she said she had no idea that such quality of music reproduction was possible in the home.)

For my money, the 3A / 3A Sig's are an astonishly good speaker, and I think they make a better long-term investment than going from the 2C to the 2CE Signature. If your budget will allow, give serious consideration to the 3A's or 3A Sig's -- you won't be disappointed.
I'd like to thank all of you for your insightful comments. Since it looks like I will be looking very seriously at the 3A Signatures, do you think that I would be able to power them with my Bel Canto EVO 200.2 or will I need something more powerful?
you can also get 2wq to add to your existing 2ce. you can even get a pair of subs that will bring your system far better than with 3A's. you will have benefits of bi-amplified active system that you can adjust to perfection.
overal vandersteens havn't had any major improvements over the past 10 years and sound basically the same.