2. speakers
  3. 1106149232

VAC Phi 70 good match for Vandersteen 5As?

While I love my McCormack DNA--500, I 'm thinking of making the move (1st time!!!) to tubes and have the VAC Phi 70 on my mind. I'm not sure if the output power of the Phi 70 is enough for the 5As. Opinions? Room size is 22 x 17.
I could also go with the Phi 110/110 stereo or Phi 220 monos. How will the 300B tubes in the Phi 70 compare to the KT88s in the Phi 110/220.

I didn't hear it my system, but I absolutely fell in love with the VAC Phi Beta Integrated. I don't need the integrated as I have the EMM DCC2 as my preamp already.

Thanks
fsarc
billleebens
9 posts
 
One of the speakers used by VAC is the Thiel CS 3.6--and they are even less efficient than the Vandersteens, IIRC. The Phi 70would probably work fine with the 5s--call Kevin Hayes @ VAC and talk to him personally:(941) 952-9695. He'll be glad to help.

Cheers, Bill
Post removed 
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
If at all possible, audition the VAC before you sell your McCormack. I know from personal conversations with Richard Vandersteen that he thinks very highly of the McCormack amps, and has used them over the years with his various speaker models.

Because the 5A's have an excellent built-in powered sub, lower-powered tube amps can be an excellent match for the 5A's (and the Model 5). The DNA-500 is a superb amp, and may in some respects be better suited to the 5A's than the VAC, but the only way to be sure is to do an A-B listening test in your own system.
More to discover