Knghifi, the Phi Beta units Kevin Hayes designed and built over ten years ago suffered from a military spec component that failed in many units within a year and half and for me this was very disappointing and it did cause me to lose valuable listening time and then eventually move away from VAC. When it worked back then, I loved it and it surpassed anything I had ever known. Based on the long history and what others had claimed, I purchased a ARC LS25 pre-amp, a LS-9 SS pre amp, a PH-7 and then an REF-5 in the ARC line to try it's flavor. In my mind, they were okay, but more to the boring side; the REF-5 had a big sound stage and was detailed, but it lacked body and bloom on the notes and musicality. It sounded more like a solid state than a tube pre-amp; sounding a little lean. I spoke with Kevin years later and he told me the issues with the Phi Beta were caused by that capacitor or whatever it was. After speaking with owners of his newer line and the lack of issues, I went back to VAC and couldn't be happier. For me, the VAC gear has a huge sound stage, depth of sound stage, inner detail and bloom on the notes and incredible bass extension for a tube preamp. The phono option destroyed my ARC PH-7! There is an ease and pace to the music with VAC that is very inviting and engaging. It isn't syrupy or overly colored like many tube manufacturers; just musical. ARC has die hard fans like MacIntosh; they exhibit cult like tendencies in their defense of ARC. If you and the others are happy, great. I find ARC equipment boring and sterile sounding; lots of detail, no musicality. I admire Kevin Hayes for admitting the issues with the Phi Beta, taking care of the units with problems and then redesigning his equipment. One thing I also respect about VAC is they don't have a new model every six or 12 months. Kevin takes his time and makes sure the newer design truly is a notch above his current offerings. As far as the continuation of the line if Kevin leaves, I am not sure. He has talented people around him that can surely service what's out there and maybe design and continue the quality after Kevin leaves. ARC lost their genius and they still seem to be designing and developing new models! I suspect VAC will make arrangements to do the same. As far as dealers in every city, there are many high end manufacturers that don't have dealers in every city and do quite well.
