Vandersteen 5a carbon vs 5a

more options for ya:

Treo CT with sub 3 = approx $11,500

Treo CT with 2 X sub 3 = $ 14,500

Treo CT $8,500

VLR Signature $3,250 + Soundanchors

VLR Signature + Sub 3 $ 6,250

VLR Signature + 2 x sub 3

regular VLR $1350 ......

3a signature.......

the list goes on !!!!!

The upgrade path is marginally workable with freight both ways, new drivers, crossovers, and the hand tuning each speaker gets in the anechoic chamber - extended to original owners only for a good reason.
good as the scanspeak drivers are, the cost to handbuild the carbon fiber and or CF/balsa drivers is high. satellite grade CF and 3 axis machines balsa are not free.
call it confirmation bias IF you like but the fancy German laser shows the balsa / CF drivers as pistonic and in phase in some cases an order of magnitude better than other top rated mid ranges.
only your ears and budget can discern value....

enjoy the music :-)

i owned the 5a for five years or so. A great speaker and certainly a hyper good value at the $9-12 K range you see them being sold at....
yes I have heard the 5a carbon as well and find it sublime.
I own 7 mk2 with the M7 amps as well.
the carbon fiber/ balsa drivers are so low in distortion they are something to be appreciated with time......listen for ten twelve hours at a stretch.....amazing fatigue free clear pure water like flow....I cannot describe it...

i am actually thinking of trading my Treo CT ( good as they are and they are good.better treble than my 5a ) for the birdseye maple 5a carbons Sunny has.....

you might hear some 5 a owners making a fuss about not being able to hear the difference....and yet singing Richards praises....
I am 200% sure he is right with the new drivers....