VAC Standard limited edition preamp

I had a VAC Standard LE about 5 years ago and it was my introduction to VAC. I now have a VAC Phi 2.0 preamp and 2 VAC Phi 300.1 amplifiers. You can guess my opinion of VAC gear pretty easily at this point.

If you have any concerns about reliability or other issues, I would call up Kevin H. at VAC, explain your concerns and see what he says. My guess is that he'll say to listen first and call him if any problems. Their gear is bulletproof.

I like Aesthetix in that price range.

You guys are quite late on my original post.

I got both the VAC Standard and a Premier 16LS2 later that was hanging around at a nearby audioboutique. The price was so riculous that I could not leave it there. Two different sounding machine, each one with different strenghts at a point I could'nt part with either one of them. The VAC is particularly very adaptable to tube rolling and I have a lot of fun trying all sorts of combination.

"Two different sounding machine, each one with different strenghts at a point I could'nt part with either one of them"

Andy, can you articulate some of those differences? I own cj gear; I'd like to try VAC but haven't had the opportunity.

I've realized nice gains by rolling the small tubes on my cj amps and preamps.

Of course :

VAC Standard LE : Transparent, high resolution, sweet and vibrant, deep soundstage with several layers, dynamic. Will sound forward on voices, acoustics with most tubes. Can be corrected with proper rolling but will still sound forward. Low and high frequencies tight and precise. Mids are more sweet than rich. Might necessitate more tube rolling to adapt to your taste. Very susceptible to rolling. 2X 12AX7 (5751), 2 X 12 AU7. Quite a bargain at the price with phono, supposedly excellent.

Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS2 : Warm, rich sounding with very low noise floor. Deep and full bass. Richest and warmest midrange you can get. Soudstage very wide, less deep and precise than the VAC. Highs slightly rolled off for a more relaxing presentation. Big sounding unit. Quite unique type of sound. Piece of collection.

My music tastes are numerous.

For heavy classical symphonies and rock, techno,acoustic instruments, definitely the VAC. For soft jazz, ambient, world music, female singers and more relaxed listenings, the CJ. Less susceptible to tube rolling. 6 X 6922. I'm actually trying Siemens 7308 in it. Increased dynamics and deeper soundstage.