I’ve heard the 170iq integrated several times. I’ve owned the 160i integrated for 4 years. I absolutely love it. It’s almost as quick and strong in the bass as a SS, not mushy or slow at all. It’s still warm and lovely. I came from a PrimaLuna Dialogue 7 mono blocks. They are a much “tubier” sound, of that warm, slow, magic. The VAC just seems to have way more power and control and much more detail, more intricate, and better at imaging and sound stage. So you loose a bit of classic tube warmth, but gain a lot more. I put my 160i for sale for about 4 months to buy the 170i, but the used offers I was getting were so low that the difference didn’t make sense. Kevin Hayes at VAC (of course) thinks it’s a really big upgrade. So if I were buying new, I wouldn’t hesitate. But it just doesn’t make sense to let my 160i go for less than 40% of a 170iq when the 160i is so fantastic. I haven’t heard them side by side. By the way, I have the fully balanced and MC phono optioned one and use Harbeth 40th Anniversary SHL5+.
