Considering Vandersteen Treo

@zlone 

re: First, my amp only has a single pair of outputs for each channel, so a shotgun cable would be my best option, or two cables, one banana and one spades.

I get it. My old cables  for my 2CEs were true biwires with 4 separate terminated spade ends on the speaker end, and on the amp end they were merged 2 into 1, so I only had one pair of spades (pos/neg) for each channel at the amp binding post.

My new cables are true biwires, 2 separate much heavier, less flexible cables for each channel, At the amp end, one cable has spades, and the other bananas, and my binding posts accommodate both. So—easy to solve. I could not merge the two cables into one pair of spades. 

My next speakers, if I replace these (doubtful, unless I go to stand mount monitors), will hopefully not require biwires, but from a cost standpoint. 

@amtprod - Hoser. 

I know those Legacys (large and small) sound great with the right front end.

There are some speakers here which would be on my under-$10K short list if I was shopping, though I haven't heard many of them. Just based on reviews.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/recommended-components-fall-2025-edition-loudspeakers

• GoldenEar T66 (designed in USA, made in China...I avoid China-made gear). These have a powered woofer/s in each, kinda like the Vandersteens (Quatro CT, Kento, Seven)
• Canton
• Volti Razz
• DeVore
• Monitor Audio

I am glad I don't have to build a new system from scratch. Too many choices (given a generous budget, which I don't have!)

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@zlone 

I remembered this review of the QLN 3, and it made me very curious about them. Reviewer Dave McNair is a pro music rescoring engineer, iirc, and really liked them. He knows his stuff. FWIW

https://pt.audio/2020/05/15/qln-prestige-three-loudspeaker-review/
 

Many helpful and enjoyable to read perspectives. One of the few things I have learned is that equipment and room will change how we percieve a speaker.  Tired various speakers in the house (over the years) and recently ended with Treo CT's.  Initally heard these at an audio store and was not impressed.  Then on another visit when they were connected to a differnet amp (well respected names and more expensive) they peaked my interest. Then another time when powered by Prima Luna EVO 400 tubes - I was sold (and my wife when she saw the natural cherry finish). Are they the best? No, however with difficult living room acoustics, close walls, limited size, and needing to blend with furniture - they are wonderful.  

@willow7 - Congratulations! Sounds like our thought process was similar. There is no "perfect" speaker that is best, for a budget most of us mere mortals have. I have heard from trusted sources who have heard $500K to 1 million dollar systems in custom listening rooms, and they said the experience was nearly life-altering. Truly extraordinary. I don’t doubt it, but doubt I could ever afford it. I fantasize more about having $100K to spend, but with 68 year old ears, that's probably not wise! Oy. Meanwhile, I am very content with what I have, and I will try to keep refining it. Cheers.