Winter Sleep System/Insulation

When you say northeast where exactly are your referring to? Adirondacks, White Mountains, New Jersey…?

Do not overlook a warm ground pad.
For me, a I need at least a 10 degree bag coupled with a jacket like the Volant for the Dacks and Catskills, when using an Exped 9 Downmat. I use a WM Antelope, down slippers and a DAS parka on such a mat and generally stay warm, but it can be a near thing at times.

I like my vireo, but whats winter for you?

I've been using a Vireo for about 8yrs now. Started with the 62" model with 2ozs overfill in Epic (20.7ozs total weight). Used that with my Dryloft Volant (and detatchable hood) with 2ozs overfill.
I have since switched to the the 68" model in Epic. FF made it with 10degree baffles and added 4ozs of down (23.2ozs total weight). I use the new one with a Hooded Helios.

Both systems work great in below freezing temps. The latest combo saved me 6ozs.

I have never used a quilt but plan to get one this summer. A quilt in the same weight as the Vireo will have about 2 more ounces of down fill.

I'll probably be spending most of my time in the Catskills with a couple trips to the Dacks and Whites.

I'm hoping to be able to take whatever combination I come up with to around 0 with a good pad, taken a little further with some kind of VB.

What temps are you experiencing where you need the Antelope with a DAS? I would think with WM's conservative temp ratings, the booties, and some kind of insulating legwear, that would take you well below 0. Are you a cold sleeper?

Although I spend more time in the Dacks, I've never had a below zero night in the Catskills and have gotten away with a 15 degree down bag coupled with the DAS, booties, and downmat. It has been -20 in the Dacks (the Whites are the same or colder), making the setup with the Antelope inadequate. Winter nights are long, and having some margin of error with your sleeping system is, for me, peace of mind and conducive to rejuvinative rest.
I forgot to mention that I use VBLs on my feet at night as well, and if the forecast is particularly chilly i also have military cold weather insulated pant liners. All of this with the Antelope is marginal for -20. I do not think that i sleep cold, though the way my resting body handles temperatures varies widely from day to day due to activity and what I have been eating.

The setups you mentioned might be fine to zero (with a good pad). I have used similar down jackets to the Volant combined with a 15 degree Helium down bag for down to zero (with booties, etc). For below zero, I'd still desire a warmer systems.

One thing to think about: more and more in the winter I have been moving constantly, and even with minimal layers that breathe well (baselayer under Schoeller Dryskin softshells) I end up a bit damp. My gloves and balaclava are almost always wet as well. Be sure to devise some way to dry out your "action suit", whether that be stuffing everything in waterproof bags and sleeping with them (vent the bags out of your sleeping system) or using synthetic clothing and sleeping bags. Conditions are so variable in the Northeast that you can't count on staying dry no matter how careful you are.

Of your setups, I would consider the Volant, booties, pants, VBL, and a 15 degree quilt or 20 degree bag for down to zero. You could add a synthetic overbag for even lower temps, though bulk begins to be an issue.
Have fun, the winters are great in the NE but they are getting bit crowded.

This was my first winter spending some nights in the woods. I used a zlite and Big agnus 2 1/2" air core pad. WM Antelope, VBL bag liner, and my base layers when i slept. The coldest I saw in both the ADK and Catskill Mtns was -10F ish. I think it was alittle bit colder one night in the Catskills but I didn't get to check the actually temp so -10F was a good estimation based on the NOAA prediction. I am going to change the system up alittle bit for next winter hopefully by getting VBL clothing instead of the bag liner. I really didn't like sleeping with the bag liner. It turned me silver for a week. The VBL clothes will also allow me to wear my down jacket and then an addition of some down pants for the colder nights. I am confident that I will be able to take that system to -20F. I think it is safe to say the coldest you will see in the Catskills is -10F, ADK is -20F (I did talk to some people that said they spent a clear nigth at -30F).

I think your ideas of layering down clothings with a sleeping bag or quilt are spot on. I used a summer bag under my Antelope one night this winter and it kept me warm until I tossed and turned too much and threw it off to the side. The most important thing I noticed with the layers is weight of the fabric in all the garmets. If something has a heavier fabric on it it will really start to compress the other garmets.

Another thing I don't like is down booties inside the sleeping bag. I didn't try them with VBL socks so that is why they were soaked the next morning and useless for the rest of the trip, but I didn't like the feeling before that. I really only like a pair of wool socks on my feet when I sleep, anything else seems to throw of my whole comfort level. That is just a personal thing though YMMV.