VAC preamps - too expensive?

op is frustrated with quest for for great sound/functionality in an overpriced market.

Highend stereo preamp manufs could careless about ht users and its a losing strategy. Dealers are sooooo frustrated with functionality limitations.

the world is changing and is demanding easier integration of stereo and ht systems. Its not that hard.
Stand up for change. Make more money!! See the light.

@jjss49 
I get kinda the same vibe - it's a weird thread where OP complains about VAC pricing & features, then pretends to contemplate buying one, then goes back to complaining lol. Yes, we get that OP wishes it had remote input switching - I prefer not to pay for that. Sure we wish it magically cost under $10K, but that's not feasible with its material quality, craftsmanship, service/support, and being made in USA. 

VAC customers buy it for the purity of sound. Period. We believe Kevin is a voicing genius. I'm still surprised it even has an HT bypass. Half of my comments on audiophiles' high-end 2ch systems are "get that TV out of there" lol

VAC has a big button on front of VAC for ht bypass. Why?  No one else does this, yet they arent interested in ht users.

very strange.  Why dont you want input selection functionality? Is it all about SQ?  Maybe family wants convenience of not dealing with a very complex rack of components all the time, they are lazy like most of us.

You should buy something else instead of whining.

If that is not apparent to you it is to me.

vac makes great gear, has for decades, kevin hayes is a brilliant designer, a perfectionist (and a very nice, stand up person too) - i still own a set of his 4-chassis pa90c amps, which was one of the very small handful of original tip-top rated amps by harry pearson at the outset of the absolute sound ... that amp put the kevin and his company on the map, and the rest is history

vac prices are very high (always been), but there is clearly a market, of well heeled aficianados who value the outstanding performance, looks, engineering and build quality, and are willing to pay for it

if the price is too high for you, don’t complain and make a stink, just buy something cheaper, that fits your budget and sensibilities -- no shortage of very good performing tube gear out there priced at more ’affordable’ levels - rogue, quicksilver, primaluna, jolida, raven, dsachs and so on...

’why are porsches and mclarens soooo damned expensive, folks who make them are just arrogant jerks... i hate them...’ 😠😠😠