Jeff Rowlands Amp and Dac vs. VAC amp and DAC

I hope you will indulge me a bit here. I have heard the VAC Sigma 160iSE and the JR 625 upgrade both with the Aeris as the DAC. I am a bit nervous about tubes. This would be my first time with a tube amp. I do agree that the VAC is amazing. The JR is also good and it is a bit easier given it is plug and play and no tweaking, changing tubes, etc. is required -- so are tubes really difficult? Is the sound worth it? I agree that the VAC is fabulous but the JR is also very nice. Please say more on the topic if you can? 

Keep discussing guys- I have always wanted to demo both VAC & JR gear.

You said it yourself. If you want fabulous get the Vac. If you want very nice get the Rowland. Vac amps are pretty much plug and play
Alan

Thank you for saying that. I really appreciate the advice and experience of this forum. Yes, I have been told that the VAC will plug and play and then, of course, need servicing, but I also want to use it to watch/listen to films and even TV. That means, the tubes will be on more often than if I only used it for listening to music. Do any of you use a tube amp for film and TV? 

I suggest buy the one sounds best to you.   For a tube amp, VAC is relatively low maintenance.  Replace output tubes periodically and if one blows, replace along with a fuse.

Sigma 160iSE has only 4 output tubes so heat is probably not an issue and inexpensive to replace when worn.

If you're considering 625, definitely checkout VAC 170iq and 200iq.  You can roll KT88. KT120 and KT150, real time biasing and when an output tube blows, IQ system trips before blowing a fuse so just replace the bad tube.   I know an experience audiophile has 2 200IQs and found them a big improvement over previous models.

If I was in the market for tube amps in this price range, 2 200IQs will be HIGH on my list.

Aeris DAC can drive amps directly so only you can decide if a preamp is necessary.   I always prefer a preamp in the chain.

I have an all tube system so would go for VAC..  Summer is here and last night I rotate SS amp back in the system.   It sounds excellent but NO magic.   SQ will improve when the tube amp sound is no longer fresh in my mind ... happens every summer.  :-):-)