Old Vandersteen model 2 vs. newer model 2

Thanks for the input!  It would be impossible to put them that far out.  However, if I achieve an upgrade with sub-optimal placement, then it would still be a win.  In other words, I don't need best, just better to keep them.  The NHT's are designed to work up against the wall, so they will have that advantage.

I will be able to put them with about 12" of space to the wall in an 18' 5" long room.  I could stretch that to 13" which is 1/17 the room length.  I'm married to an excellent decorator who has been willing to make some compromises, but I'm concerned that she will not like these compared to my current NHT 2.9 speakers.  This may be an upgrade that I only get to enjoy for a few weeks.  

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.

Ozzy, Your comment got me thinking more that i have not thought this through at the system level.  I did not mention that back when I was trying to decide between the NHT 2.9s and Snell Es I discovered that creating an offset "linear array" with the Snells on a high shelf above the NHTs sounds the best.  They are both bi-amped, so I drive with 4 amps total.  Now that I think about it, this will probably mess with the imaging of of Vandersteens, unless i ditch the Snells.

Right now it sounds quite good despite the room, though imaging could be better, but maybe only in theory, not my room.

I would not be trading tne NHTs but would end up selling what ever speakers are 2nd best after testing.  The vandys are going to have to sound a lot better for me to win over my wife given the decorating downgrade.

The conclusion to this story is that I changed to plan B.  Plan A was bring the 2As  home and show to my wife (who is an amazing decorator) at which point she would probably reject them, but I would get at least a week of temporary listening.  Plan B was to show her what they look like before and score husband points, but with high risk of upfront rejection.  

Now I'm going to look for beat-up super-cheap 2 or 3 As to use in my basement where I am the sole decorator, but where I don't listen much.  When I find them I will also do some temporary main system listening.