Any info on the new Audio Research VS115 tube amp?

'I'm curious about the sound and if owners are still happy with this amp.I have only 20 hours on them, mated with LS26 and PH5/vdH the Condor cartridge.When I first installed the amp compared to my old VS55 the sonic character is ARC and the sound was superb (very close to REF110) with controlled, detailed bass.Mids are very smooth. Focus is not so good but its only 20 hours.
Thanks for your input./'

Basile, my experience is similar to yours. I have not had time to listen much due to family and work responsibilities. However, when the system is turned on, magic appears and everyone stops to listen. In my mind, when busy people stop what they are doing to listen, the music has made an impression with its interruption.

I believe the VS115 is an exemplary amp in the right setting with the right speakers.

I have just bought a VS115 with LS17. This is an addition to my Jeff Rowland Concentra Integrate MK2. My speakers are Sonus Faber Guaneri Homage (the original one). My CD player is Audio Resolution modified by Great Northern Sound.

Without running in the new pre and power amps, I noticed some significant improvements in the sound qualities, deeper depth, wider stage, clarity, transparency, tighter bass, and most important a very neural sound allowing hours and hours of un-fatigue listening. I am listening with a big smile :)

I have a question regarding the bias adjustment. There are 8 x 6650C tubes, and there are 8 pairs bias checking ports (4 of them for V1, V5, V2 & V6 are marked 'Set V# 65mA', and 4 of them for V3, V8, V4 & V7 are marked 'Check V# 57mA-73mA' where # is the corresponding valve number) at the back. But there are only 4 bias adjusting holes at the top of the cover. So how does the bias adjusting work? When I am adjusting the bias, which bias testing pair should I be using? FYI, there are bias adjusting holes between V7 & V5, V3 & V1, V4 & V2, and V6 & V8.

Normally, I expect to have one bias adjusting hole for each pair of bias testing port. Maybe VS115 bias adjustment is for a matched pair?

Your advise is appreciated

[Hi, at 20 hours I checked the Bias and every thing was ok all tubes 065 mV. After 45 hours I measured again.
The V2 had 067 mV and V4 was at 064. All other tubes were at 064-065. I adjusted the V2 back to 064-065 and I measured then on V4 only 059 mV
After 2 hours I measured again 066 on V2 and 062 on V4.
On first use the VS115 matched with LS26 was very close to REF110. Then after 10 hours – it exhibited a darkish character, without the tubey warmth, dry and mechanical sound. After roughly 55 hours things began to change and soundstage opened up, detailed and smooth.But i think i have to wait for ca. 150 hours to break in for full improvement. The sound of LS26 also evolved during the break-in period and i heard no further changes after 160 hours/]

Hi Basile,

So, you can only adjust 4 of the 8 tubes. In fact, I adjusted V1 to be 65mV but V3 then measures at 77mV. Do I then tune down V1 so that V3 falls within the advertised range of 57mV and 73mV?

Anyway, I found out that my VS115's right channel is causing my speaker to crackle (noises within the hiss), quite noticeable even during the day time. I even swap all tubes between right and left channels. The crackling still comes from the right channel. So probably not faulty and bad tubes. I tried all sort, changing power cable, use different sockets in my house. With my Jeff Rowland, no crackling just very low hiss.

Anyway, it is going back to the dealer, a 5 hours round trip though.