2. amps-preamps
  3. 1109994264

Any fellow VAC Phi 220 owners out there? Thoughts?

I am absolutely thrilled with my VAC Phi 220 monoblocks and was just wondering if any other Phi owners out here share my enthusiasm? These are the best sounding (by far) power amplifiers I have ever heard in my system, and I think one of the best amplifiers I have heard period.

The Phi 220s really do it all with my Vandy 5As, but the midrange and treble reproduction are a cut above any other amplifier I've had in my system. It is the first time I feel like I'm listening to pure music and not an audio system. It's emotional, engaging, and just sounds "right". The 5As simply disappear like never before and are extremely capable of revealing just how good the 220s are.

Sorry if I'm "over the top" with my comments on these, but VAC nailed it with these amps!

Vandertseen Model 5A- Bird's Eye Maple
VAC Phi 220 monoblock amplifiers
EMM Labs DCC2 DAC/preamp
EMM Labs CDSD- SACD/CD transport
Audioquest Sky 72V DBS XLR interconnects
Audioquest Kilimanjaro 72V shotgun biwire speaker cables
Silent Source AC power cords
Custom Power Cord Co. Model 11 Plus for 5A subs
BPT 3.5 Signature Plus balanced line conditioner
Critical Mass Systems platforms for EMM and BPT
Sistrum SP-101 platforms for VAC Phi 220s
fsarc
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Most of the gang in this thread has already joined the fun on a new thread that is helping me decide on my ultimate tubed balanced linestage: Vac Ren II, VAC Phi, Arc Ref 3, and the mighty Aesthetix Callisto are all in the running. If you wish to join, please visit us at
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1123254379&openfrom&1&4#1
See you there! Guido
fplanner2000
616 posts
 
Fsarc-

ANy contact info/website for Critical Mass Systems would be appreciated.
fsarc OP
148 posts
 
Here is some info for Critical Mass Systems. Joe Lavrencik is a great guy and has had some impressive CES showings with Joule-Electra, Elrod, and Vandersteen/Avalon. Steve Huntley at Great Northern Sound is also a big fan of Joe's work.

http://www.criticalmasssystems.com/index.html

http://cgim.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/manu.pl?criticalmasssys&1&showmanu&C&&&

http://www.criticalmasssystems.com/Gallery/gallery.html

This platform is the bird's eye piece Joe did for me. I have four of them.

You should also consider products from Gran Prix Audio and Silent Running Audio.
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thedubemaster
6 posts
 
To say the least I love my Phi 2.0 Controller and the Phi220. I have another amp which is hard to beat that being the CAT JL:-2 Signature Edition and there is still something magical with the VAC. The detail in the midrange and the subtlies using a killer cartridge and arm Like my Kuzma 4 Point and Da Vinci Virtu with the PP-1000 or the ZYX Universe II is hard to comprehend. You know that feeling that its like I am hearing my albums for the first time again happens every time the needle touches the vinyl for me. Absolutely electric! Don't see ever selling these. I actually have 2 Phi 2.0 Controllers I liked them so much. Silly me.
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