there have been suggestions that recent vandersteen products are playing with brighter treble than ever... this due to richard v still personally voicing his speakers, and as with most of us, his hearing as he ages is becoming less sensitive to treble
i don't know if this underlying reason is true (many other proven, respected companies feel compelled to produce new products that are more lively in the treble, even stalwarts like harbeth, conrad johnson, spendor etc etc are doing this), but i am not surprised to understand the resultant sonic shift in the newer vandersteen products
i personally still have a set of vandy 3a sigs -- they are still in production but they were introduced in 2006... thus older voicing. they are very balanced top to bottom imho... and there are controls to be able to mildly adjust the treble and mid response...