Vandersteen 3a Signatures compared to Treo’s

@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.

@zimick I’m using Kimber Kable 8TC with banana plugs on both ends. They’re highly reviewed and recommended as one of the best neutral cables available. I’ve had them for a few years and in using them with a wide range of systems I have felt they simply worked without adding color or never have been a limitation. I have a couple of Audioquest’s pricier speaker cables but have found they weren’t neutral so stopped using them.

Bi-amping the Signature 3A really improved bass and lower mids in my experience. Then fine tuning the placement became easier and at the same time more significant.

I’ve used a number of ’Pro’ sound reinforcement and monitoring systems with the Speakon connecters that Benchmark offers with their Canare cables. While I think they have their benefits I question how much they matter when they’re only used on one end of the cable. I have planned on getting a set of the Benchmark cable to compare but I’d have to have them custom terminate them to spade lugs on one end or leave them bare for me to that myself. I’ll do that when I get the Vandersteen VLR CTs.

The purpose of the gas tight crimp is to prevent oxidation.

I should add that I clean the Banana plugs with an anti-oxidant, electronics contact cleaner every time I switch out amps and or speakers. That's every couple of weeks.
I use the contact cleaner on tube sockets too. Something about spending $1K to re-tube the Music Reference RM-9 compelled me to start that years ago.