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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
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,295 posts
 
Dev,

If you've lived and breathed with both then I will certainly take your word for it.

mbl would not be the first tube unfriendly speaker I have heard of where someone found a way to make tubes work, usually by specifically finding a way to adapt the impedance load to the tube paradigm somehow.

It's true that if done right most anything can be adapted to work well with most anything else. The question will be how hard is it, how much will it cost, and what is the value proposition compared to the alternatives.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Mapman said:
I try to keep decent spare gear around in order to be able to listen if/when something has to go out for repair.
Couldn't agree more. I bought and learned to thoroughly respect Dan Wright's entry level pre-amp whilst the VAC was away; now I have a Lightspeed passive for same.

Dev-
Put my current VAC side by side with the Doshi and it's pretty apparent the VAC is superior.
My VAC Ren pre was neither Sig nor Mk2, but I did compare it head to head w a Doshi (not mine) and in that case, driving a Doshi Lectron amp, which now I also have, the Doshi won out. But as I said, I could have easily lived w the VAC, which at that time I was using to driving a Joule OTL amp. Maybe its as simple as the synergy of the pre/amp from the same builder. Or the chocolate vs. vanilla dichotomy. We are talking v. high quality products here and very personal decisions.
dev's avatar
dev
832 posts
 
Hi Swampwalker,

I just wanted to clarifi a couple of things, when I said "Put my current VAC side by side with the Doshi and it's pretty apparent the VAC is superior."

I was speaking directly in relation to the exterior over all fit and finish build quality.

Next when I briefly discussed my thoughts of comparison of Doshi vs VAC, the VAC was not paired up with any other VAC gear.

I fully agree these are all top notch pces and in the end it really is going to come down to what your preference is and that's okay but for me I'm sure happy I made the leap initially and decided blindly buy and try the VAC Sig. MK2a pre.

I was listening last night for some 8 hours and constantly amazed and that's without my new 450's, I just can't wait.

In the end for me it's all about listening to music so enjoy!

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,295 posts
 
"I was listening last night for some 8 hours"

Time one spends actually listening to (using) a system is perhaps the most telling metric of good sound of all.
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
In my VAC Sig MkIIa preamp, I finally settled on Telefunken 12au7 ribbed plates and Siemen e88cc w/ wide getter support post.

The Siemens are my FAVORITE by far. It's very fast, transparent, 3D, great extension, great dynamics ... I'm constantly amazed how 2 little tubes can totally transform a system. Have some Siemen Cca in transit now from a reputable dealer so can't wait. Also using HiFi-Tuning Supreme fuses.

I noticed ARC is replacing the 6550 with KT120 in all their amps. I wonder if VAC is migrating in the same direction. In most circumstances, it's a drop in replacement without mod if there's room. I wonder if it's true with current VAC amps ... so far only heard POSITIVE comments on the KT120.
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