I presume you are looking at a Standard Pre since a few ones are available right now. I had an LE model for the last 9 months. While shopping, I had a chance to listen to a VTL 5.5, an Aesthetyx Calypso, a CJ Premier 10 and a CJ Premier 17. All of them were equally fine units (depending of your musical taste) in about the same price range (on the used market). I finally chose the VAC because of its overall sonic presentation and value/price ratio with a phono stage, which was an advantage over the other units.
A technician had a look at it recently, by curiosity because he heard about the brand but never seen one before, so he asked me if he could look at it. He was very surprised at the quality put into the fabrication of the preamp. He told me I had a "point to point" preamp (go figure what it means but from what I understand, more handcraft is involved with individual connections instead of boards)which is a sign of much higher quality. Supposedly very rare especially at this price point.
Now, it is a very transparent player with a forward presentation. Imaging is its stronghold but it is not as involving as other units, unless you experiment with some tube rolling. After following "Joe's tube lore" recommendations, I finally tuned it to my taste and came to fully enjoy it. But it has to be carefully matched with the other components.
Strangely, I recently replaced it by a CJ Premier 16 MK II that suddenly appeared at a price nobody could have a second thinking (recession sometimes has some advantages !). Totally different sounding machine with a tremendous reputation backing it ! I will say this, in my system, the VAC doesn't give an inch in the imaging and is more transparent than the Pr 16. The 16 is richer in the mid bass and generally mellower in its overall presentation. For the moment, there is no way I'm selling the VAC at the price they're going right now. I'll find another use for it !
It Canada, VAC is a not known. I did a lot of research on the net, on Audiogon and the rest and could not find a lot of reviews or comments about the unit. I think this has to be taken into account about its resale value. But for the long term investor, nobody can go wrong with VAC !
A technician had a look at it recently, by curiosity because he heard about the brand but never seen one before, so he asked me if he could look at it. He was very surprised at the quality put into the fabrication of the preamp. He told me I had a "point to point" preamp (go figure what it means but from what I understand, more handcraft is involved with individual connections instead of boards)which is a sign of much higher quality. Supposedly very rare especially at this price point.
Now, it is a very transparent player with a forward presentation. Imaging is its stronghold but it is not as involving as other units, unless you experiment with some tube rolling. After following "Joe's tube lore" recommendations, I finally tuned it to my taste and came to fully enjoy it. But it has to be carefully matched with the other components.
Strangely, I recently replaced it by a CJ Premier 16 MK II that suddenly appeared at a price nobody could have a second thinking (recession sometimes has some advantages !). Totally different sounding machine with a tremendous reputation backing it ! I will say this, in my system, the VAC doesn't give an inch in the imaging and is more transparent than the Pr 16. The 16 is richer in the mid bass and generally mellower in its overall presentation. For the moment, there is no way I'm selling the VAC at the price they're going right now. I'll find another use for it !
It Canada, VAC is a not known. I did a lot of research on the net, on Audiogon and the rest and could not find a lot of reviews or comments about the unit. I think this has to be taken into account about its resale value. But for the long term investor, nobody can go wrong with VAC !