Vandersteen 1C to 3A Signature


I currently own the 1Cs, paired with a Naim Nait 5i. I like the sound, have had these speakers for the better part of 15 years and I still love their presentation, the openness and sense of space they provide. They are fabulous to my ears.

Which isn’t to say they are perfect, they don’t like being played too loud (seem fragile, break up at higher volumes), and the bass isn’t as deep or (more importantly) as defined as it could be. Also I sometimes hear some lack of refinement in the tweeter (although at other times it sounds positively glorious, especially with horns and flutes).  So after refinishing the basement and adding a big TV with prewired surround sound I found a used Vandersteen center speaker, so I’m thinking of moving the 1C to the basement and getting a different (hopefully better) speaker for upstairs. I did a bit of research and it appears Spendor is supposed to be a good match for Naim, so I was able to borrow a pair of S8E to try out. You can tell the speaker can handle much more power and can play cleanly at those high levels, and the sound is nicely balanced throughout the frequency range, but they sound like boxes. The Vandy’s don’t. I think I’ve written off Spendor, Proac, Totem and the like, as the design looks similar.

I should probably stick with Vandersteen or similar sounding speakers. I have an opportunity to buy some 3A Signatures, but am afraid I will lose the lithe nature of the 1’s which I like, so I’m looking for opinions on this, and maybe for suggestions of other models that would sort of fit into the sound I’ve tried to describe. Thanks
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Showing 1 response by relayer101

Good advice from @oldaudiophile

The best advice anyone can give you on something like this is to spend some critical listening time to a variety of speakers, under conditions as controlled as you can get them (i.e. same or similar amp; etc.). More than just about anything else in audio, speakers are a very personal, subjective choice. Different ears like different sound signatures.

I can only speak to the original Treo that I have been completely happy with for a few years now and have no desire to look anywhere else. I am often surprised at just how good they sound as if it were the first time that I was listening to them. Some would say that at 85 dB sensitivity they would be hard to drive but I have them paired with a Class D power amp and they sound great at all volume levels with zero issue at all. Low and mid volume levels sound great and I can go as loud as my ears and body can handle and they sound great. 
Since you are already a Vandersteen fan you won't go wrong with any of your choices. They are all great speakers. Happy Listening!