vac or art audio

Hi Kellyann! To continue with my previous comments, the VTL Tiny Triodes are great for the money, but not a full range amp. They offer the wonderful triode soundstage and midrange, but don't have much bass. If you read the reviews on the VTLs in The Absolute Sound and Wes Phillips page from Soundstage, you will see that these amps work well above 60 hz in bass, and really well above 80 hz. The Tiny Triodes were reviewed with speakers that are not full range. Your speakers go considerably lower, and my guess is you would eventually wish for more than the tiny triodes could deliver. The VAC and the Diavolo should both work well with your speakers. The Diavolo is cheaper on the used market (about 3 grand), where as a 30/30 Mk 3 will set you back at least $3750. Another consideration is tube cost. To replace the VAC tubes is expensive if you want good ones. Four Western Electric 300bs will cost you $1200. or more. The two VV32b tubes run about $450. without a discount. I picked up some for $150 a pair. In short (too late!), yes, either the VAC or the Diavolo is worth the money over the VTL Tiny Triodes.

Be careful with the Art Audio Diavolo vs. Jota. Similar sound, maybe, but not the same. The Diavolo is more harmonically full and musically appealing. I love it! But the Jota has that extra power increment, if you have to have it.

After 6 years of the vac 30-30 and many changes of tubes and 2-3 weeks of trying to audition the art audio amps I can tell you that I never got more than a few hours of listening before I would call the dealer to do a recall on the diavalo,enough was enough,now the bad news on the vac is that you MUST replace the 6sn7 tubes with n.o.s brimar,sylvania,mullard or the 5692 r.c.a.red base.THEN you call welborne labs and tell Ron that you need a matched quad of the kr 300b.At this point you can sit back and laugh at all tube amp owners, there is nothing better

I'll chime in here and support VAC. I've got a Renaisance 70/70 MKII and it's the last amp I will own. I've had it several years and every time I go to any Audio Salon to listen to newer and better stuff I always prefer the sound I am getting at home regardless of their system cost or innovation. Good tubes are better. I can play with tubes to change it's sound if I prefer and it's built like an army tank, maybe better!