Why Not More Conversation about VAC?

I have owned and sold a VAC Ren (not Sig) full function pre and now have a VAC Ren 30/30 MkII amp. The pre was excellent, has fantastic looks and build quality, it's extremely versatile and has the best remote I have ever come across. It sounded fantastic (l.s. and phono). I sold it when I went to a l.o. mc and I wanted to get into an active gain stage instead of the internal step up in the VAC. My Doshi Alaap is better, but not significantly better. I could have lived with the VAC, happily ever after. I did have to send it back once for repair and to have the internal loading resistor swapped out. The repair took a while, but it was sent in just before XMAS and then of course Kevin is out at CES right after. I would say that in terms of speed of service its about what you could expect from an artisan/boutique operation. The work was done well, it was not cheap and it took a bit of time.
The amp is fantastic; I bought it used here on the 'Gon and had a couple of concerns when it arrived. I emailed Kevin late one night and got back a detailed response first thing the next morning. Over the course of the next day or 2, we exchanged 3 or 4 emails; he was never anything but helpful, gracious and generous with his time. So I would say his products are expensive and provide a level of build quality and sound quality commensurate with the price. As far as comparing the Ren series of products to the moderate priced tube gear from China- well all I can say is we are not talking apples and oranges, we are talking apples and extra-terrestrials. Also, try getting some good diagnostic advice from PrimaLuna or Consonance on a piece you bought used. And then there are the QC and dealer/customer support issues. Search Trelja's threads; it'll curl your hair!

"we are not talking apples and oranges, we are talking apples and extra-terrestrials"

That's a good one! Gotta remember that!

If you are going to make a major investment, customer support and service should be part of the value proposition.

I know many smaller companies are challenged to turn things around quickly, which does matter.

I always think about things like how to get service if needed and total cost of ownership when considering any major purchase.

Plus. I try to keep decent spare gear around in order to be able to listen if/when something has to go out for repair.

Mapman...

"Maybe there are others that can match teh sound quality taking a more budget oriented approach? It would surprise me if that were not the case, but I am not educated enough in this area to know if such an amp actually exists or not."

The old saying, there's no such thing as a free lunch applies. How COULD/WOULD they make something as good, using cheaper parts and not handwiring...that's counterintuitive to me.

Agree with just about everything you've said here though.

Good Listening.

Larry

Mapman,

I'm not about to get into debates but I owned the the MBL 6010D pre-amp at the same time I owned the ARC REF3, both are gone and replaced by the VAC Sig. MK2a and I have never looked back.

At the same time I owned the mentioned pre's above I had the 9008 mono's and 9011's mono's and no way do they come close in over all comparison to the 450's other wise one or the other would still be in my set-up.

In relation to MBL product my two favourite pces are the 101E speakers and 1621a transport.

Discussions are great but in the end I have owned and lived with my gear for a long time and they are dialed in so I'm writing my thought's from first hand exsperience not going to showrooms and or shows and listening, big difference.

I agree with you that there are allot of things going on but this is with any set-up but I will say I finaly have found amps that just do it for me and it's a great feeling but then again it's just not the amps but paired up with the VAC pre I currently have.

I'm really looking forward to getting them.

Hi Swampwalker,

I actually had a Doshi pre and compared it to my current VAC Sig. MK2a w/phono and prefered the VAC. I was using a TW Acustic Raven AC3 with a Graham Phantom MK2 arm and XV-1s latest version cart for vinyl front end.

When I looked at the Doshi build quality exterior, not going inside and how costly it is had me scratching my head wondering why, there's allot of room for improvement.

Put my current VAC side by side with the Doshi and it's pretty apparent the VAC is superior.

As we both know there are always going to be differences along with preferences and that's okay.

Mapman,

I agree service is very important and one of the reason's I ran very quickly when it came to the CAT product and lack of. My only hope is that is if I ever have any issues with my VAC product it will be taken care of efficiently, I am buying through a long time dealer so one would think that should assist and I have dealt with this dealer for many years.