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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
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
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If I hadn't just done it, I probably wouldn't have believed such an improvement was possible with just a few little (but expensive :-)) tubes...
/*****/

Fplanner2010, Your 300.1 weren't broken ... you said if best yourself :-) I'm also a big fan of the BT CV-181-Z and rolling them in my DAC so imagine rolling a super CV-181-Z in your preamp. Tube rolling is just a vehicle that is available for an user to dial in the sound to their taste ... no right or wrong and bad or good but just personal preferences.

One of the reasons I decided on a VAC was it ONLY uses a MP of 12au7 and e88cc. These are very common tubes that I'm familiar with so it took little time in dialing in my sound.

Dev, funny your ask. One of my long time tube dealers found me a new MP of 60's Siemens CCa and just got them last Wed. But the system is sounding so good, I don't plan to tinker with it for a while. I finally settled with 60's Siemens wide getter support post E88CC and 50's Telefunken ribbed plate 12AU7 / ECC82

I agree with everyone just enjoy your 450 Statements and Preamp in stock form for a long long while. A Ferrari is a Ferrari whether it's riding on Pirellis or Michelins :-)
fplanner2010
283 posts
 
Knghifi - thanks for sharing above. Do I understand you to be saying the CV-181-Z can replace some tubes in my preamp? Which ones? I have the Ren Sig MkIIa. This is pure curiosity for when/if I decide to do a bit more "tweaking". Thank you again.

BTW - A Ferrari is a better handling Ferrari on Pirellis.YMMV.
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
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05-22-11: Fplanner2010
Knghifi - thanks for sharing above. Do I understand you to be saying the CV-181-Z can replace some tubes in my preamp? Which ones? I have the Ren Sig MkIIa. This is pure curiosity for when/if I decide to do a bit more "tweaking". Thank you again.
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NO, that's NOT what I meant. You cannot use CV-181-Z in your preamp. What I meant is I got my Ren Sig MKIIa to sound similiar to the CV-181-Z sonic characteristics that we both like.
fplanner2010
283 posts
 
OK - Now I understand :-). What tubes did you end up replacing and what with? thanks.
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Cables of the same brand I typically prefer using the balanced with the Phi 200 especially when using the amp in Mono mode, and cables of differing brands one simply has to compare - the results are unpredictable which (RCA/XLR) will be superior.

I reviewed the Phi 200 for Dagogo.com
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