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Why Not More Conversation about VAC?

As I browse Audiogon's posts...I'm constantly amazed at the lack of attention, questions, remarks about VAC, (Valve Amplification Company).
First and foremost, I'm thinking that most if not all of us are music lovers--and I'm not aware, subjectively, of course, of more, just out and out, musical sounding electronics. And, I don't mean that in a perjorative, 'colored' sense...I mean that in the most flattering sense.
The lack of comments may mean nothing, but it just strikes me as 'absent' from good discussions.
Second, and beyond the stellar sound, if you want great gear, and a great person to buy it from, who better in terms of accommodation, knowledge and service than Kevin Hayes. Like the Bobster (Palkovic) his reputation for building first rate stuff and then backing it to the hilt is unsurpassed.

Kevin is also a great guy AND music lover of the first order...a friend too, but I'm not shilling here, just seriously wondering why VAC isn't further up the discussion ladder.

Kinda like reading Motor Trend Magazine, in which they 'Test Drive' a Mustang in EVERY ISSUE!!!

Just wondering.

Larry
lrsky
lrsky OP
1,118 posts
 
Elizabeth,

"It is IMO not worth the retail money it sold for.
(Especially compared to the current swarm off low cost Chinese tube stuff coming in."

Which brands and models are you saying that sound equal to or greater than VAC in performance, for less money?

Just wonderin'

Good listening,

Larry
dearing
48 posts
 
I don't agree that there is a lack of discussion about VAC in the on-line forums - there are not as many threads as there are for brands such as Audio Research, but there seems to be a relatively steady flow. And the threads seem to be overwhelmingly positive, very much along the lines of Lrsky's thread here.

An aside about Elizabeth's experience with the Standard preamp: a friend and I test-drove that preamp at some length in his system about then years ago - we both found it to be nothing special and he didn't buy it. Afterwards, however, we both had occasion to sample the Renaissance amps and preamps - that stuff, in contrast, was REALLY good.
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
One more point Larry, I never got the impression that VAC was not considered highly regarded tube gear. So far as value is concerned, I can't comment from an experience standpoint but I've never read where VAC has been considered on the cutting edge of price/performance, just great sounding musical tube gear very well designed and built. If not mistaken Kevin is an EE, correct? Not all tube manufacturers are and often this is reflected in poor design that have inherent flaws. I can't recall anything bad although there have been users that have moved on, nothing unusual about that in this hobby.
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
I agree Larry, that VAC does not come up in discussion here often these days. It used to. Kind of like "the flavor of the month" phenomenon that we see here. I've always wanted one of their preamps but they were typically out of reach monetarily.
lrsky OP
1,118 posts
 
This topic was probably a non starter.
I was just thinking about Kevin the other day and kinda did a quick look at the preamp/amp topics, didn't see any VAC threads and I began wondering why.
Tubegroover, I too have always considered VAC and certainly Kevin in the province of HIGH END AUDIO...I owned an Avatar Integrated a few years ago and had some of my more musical experiences with that piece....it's really, really good.

Elizabeth makes an interesting comment about it not being worth the money with the Chinese gear that has come to our shores. I asked, "Which Brands and Models do you think sound better."

CJ has a sound which I like, Audio Research too--though some of the older cj sounded so musical...but the VAC is just really special--Kevin's ideas of what music sounds like, is similar to mine I suppose..but I love it.

Good listening,
Larry
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