Vandersteen 3a Signatures compared to Treo’s

@patrickdowns 

If your Audio Alchemy is not truly balanced but just a single ended design with a pair of XLR outputs, as it appears, then you are not really gaining anything by swapping to a balanced amp other than a cable change.  You also have the option of having Klaus swap the guts of your Kismet amp to a Stratos case which does have "balanced" inputs.  

I have owned them both matched with a pair of 2WQ's and I preferred the 3A Sigs also. The Treo's have a different character to my ears than the 3A and 2CE Sigs.

If you liked the sound signature of your McCormick and now Odyssey you will find the Benchmark to be completely different.  I owned three different Vandersteen models from 1998 to 2015 with the last being Treo CT's.  Went through quite a few brands of amps and to me found the Odyssey's and Belles to be the best match to my ears.  

Not surprised that Klaus is not in favor of building fully balanced amps as it would double the cost but he has offered the XLR inputs on the Stratos case for over 20 years for people that want to have the option of both.  I  suspect that if you just tell him that's what you want to do he will give in and do it.  Much of Klaus' outlook comes from his mentor, Rolf, of Symphonic Line.