I compared both speakers in my room using an Aesthetix Atlas, ARC REF 3 and a Grace M905 DAC using a Macmini running Pure Music. I am assuming you listened to the non CT version of the Treo in my comments. (I did find the CT version a little bright in later listening to that speaker in a dealership compared to the non CT version after both were set up properly.)
I did not find the Treo any brighter than the 3a Sig overall. The Treo has a little lighter balance which accounts for it sounding a little more open. The 3A Sig definitely has a better bottom and a bigger sound. I didn't come to the same conclusion about the Treo midrange. I thought the 3A Sig sounded every bit as smooth and refined, just not quite as open.
The 3a Sig has undergone some changes in the last year or so with the addition of the same midrange as the Treo (woven mid) and uses the same tweeter. The bass was tightened up also. The newer 3a Sigs do not sound the same as the previous model.
I ultimately bought the 3A Sig for it's better bass and bigger sound. I can live without the some what better attributes of the Treo being slightly more open.
Lastly, it has been my experience that dealers do not set the speakers up properly for demo. If they don't measure your ear height and sitting distance, there is NO way they are set up correctly. Vandersteen's certainly are not a sit and listen speaker!
I did not find the Treo any brighter than the 3a Sig overall. The Treo has a little lighter balance which accounts for it sounding a little more open. The 3A Sig definitely has a better bottom and a bigger sound. I didn't come to the same conclusion about the Treo midrange. I thought the 3A Sig sounded every bit as smooth and refined, just not quite as open.
The 3a Sig has undergone some changes in the last year or so with the addition of the same midrange as the Treo (woven mid) and uses the same tweeter. The bass was tightened up also. The newer 3a Sigs do not sound the same as the previous model.
I ultimately bought the 3A Sig for it's better bass and bigger sound. I can live without the some what better attributes of the Treo being slightly more open.
Lastly, it has been my experience that dealers do not set the speakers up properly for demo. If they don't measure your ear height and sitting distance, there is NO way they are set up correctly. Vandersteen's certainly are not a sit and listen speaker!