AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Audio & Video > Pre-Amps & Amplifiers

Pre-Amps & Amplifiers All Brands Welcome

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #21  
Old 11-03-2017, 10:22 PM
robd2 robd2 is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 220
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by vintage_tube View Post
Owned a VAC Statement Mk IIa w/phono -- great build quality, point-to-point wiring -- just a piece of art under the covers. Just didn't have the synergy with the MC2301's I had hoped for.
Bob did you own a Statement or Signiture? Also interested to hear your thoughts of the built in phono.

Thanks again,
Rob
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 01-08-2018, 05:28 PM
Dave500 Dave500 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by robd2 View Post
Bob did you own a Statement or Signiture? Also interested to hear your thoughts of the built in phono.

Thanks again,
Rob
I have a pair of VAC PA-45, monoblocks with separate power supplies. Beautifully finished in piano black, uses (2) EL-34 or KT-77. Well built, excellent sound with good imaging and soundstage. Speakers are highly modified Klipschorns. Recently replaced the VAC's with McIntosh MC-225 (restored).
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 01-09-2018, 02:57 PM
mulveling mulveling is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 589
Default

An addendum to my prior post, where I detailed my decision to stick with a Rogue Ares Magnum vs. the new(ish) VAC Renaissance phono stage. During that initial audition, I was feeding phono stage into a Rogue Hera II line stage, and then into Rogue Apollo amps (i.e. an all Rogue Audio reference system). The Ares & Hera combination, being from the same maker, had a nice tonal balance with a satisfying amount of "grunt" down low. The VAC phono, in place of Ares, seemed to give up some bass impact & extension, which was my main reason for not buying it at that time.

Not long after, I started implementing some significant system upgrades: speakers, power conditioning, rack, turntable. At this point I realized that the Hera's high noise floor was killing me; it was swamping out the blackness that the rest of my gear SHOULD have achieved. So I bought an ARC Ref 6, and boy was it DEAD quiet compared to the Hera! Unfortunately, I lost a lot of the midbass "grunt" and impact down low, with the result being I now had much blacker backgrounds to go with better refinement and transparency, but at the expense of a slightly thinner/harder sound. After some nasty, frustrating back & forth on these line stages, including an attempted sale of the ARC, the Ref 6 finally won out in the end (the ARC remote control was also a HUGE plus there).

So forward a few months, and I decide to give the VAC phono a 2nd try. It's a BIG reversal of the 1st time; now it's the VAC that sounds fuller and has much better bass impact compared to the Ares. The slight background hum from the Ares is gone with the VAC. And midrange magic is off-the-charts good. All I can figure is that the VAC & ARC work great together, and the Rogue & Rogue work great together, but not so much for the other combinations. Looking inside the Ares, I'm wondering if its 0.47uF Mundorf output caps are slightly undersized to work optimally with all preamps. Fortunately, everything seems happy into the Rogue Apollo monoblocks (now "Dark" upgraded).

So now I'm a big believer in the VAC phono stages again (I also loved the built-in phono on a Renaissance III preamp I had years ago). I placed an order for the "Special Edition", which has parts upgrades that should make it a bit more detailed and neutral vs. the unit I'm auditioning. The standard edition seems slightly on the warm side of neutral, but of course it's still lovely.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 01-09-2018, 08:36 PM
robd2 robd2 is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 220
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mulveling View Post
So now I'm a big believer in the VAC phono stages again (I also loved the built-in phono on a Renaissance III preamp I had years ago). I placed an order for the "Special Edition", which has parts upgrades that should make it a bit more detailed and neutral vs. the unit I'm auditioning. The standard edition seems slightly on the warm side of neutral, but of course it's still lovely.
Great info! I've also recently become a VAC convert, I picked up a Signiture SE line stage with built in phono a few weeks ago. Have you had an opportunity to listen to any of the newer VAC line stages? They are all VERY interesting pieces.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 01-09-2018, 08:48 PM
NZ421291 NZ421291 is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 652
Default

Only listened to the VAC 80/80 amp many years ago- I thought is sounded great!
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 01-09-2018, 09:59 PM
mulveling mulveling is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 589
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by robd2 View Post
Great info! I've also recently become a VAC convert, I picked up a Signiture SE line stage with built in phono a few weeks ago. Have you had an opportunity to listen to any of the newer VAC line stages? They are all VERY interesting pieces.
I'll be giving at least the Renaissance V preamp a try in my system soon. I think it'll sound great, but man it's going to have to really blow me away for me to give up the Ref 6's amazing controls! Might give the Signature IIa a crack too. But the Ref 6 is really singing now with the Renaissance Phono.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 01-09-2018, 10:52 PM
robd2 robd2 is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 220
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mulveling View Post
I'll be giving at least the Renaissance V preamp a try in my system soon. I think it'll sound great, but man it's going to have to really blow me away for me to give up the Ref 6's amazing controls! Might give the Signature IIa a crack too. But the Ref 6 is really singing now with the Renaissance Phono.
I'm very excited to hear how the VACs compare to your Ref 6. I spent 3 months bringing home all sorts of preamps for demo as part of my upgrade search including the entire McIntosh lineup and even the famous Luxman 900u 2 times. The only preamp I wasn't able to bring home was the Ref 6 so I'm very interested to hear your thoughts.

I was very impressed with the Renaissance V preamp and probably would have bought it, but I needed a second output for a sub hookup (long story) which took me down the Signiture road. In its price point I don't think you can do better than the V unless you don't like the looks. It seems to be detailed where you need it to be and warm when called for. Also none of this 500+ hours breakin. No more than a few hours on the line stage is needed. The phono does take about a day to come around. I think this is the SUT architecture.

Last edited by robd2; 01-09-2018 at 10:54 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 01-10-2018, 12:29 AM
mulveling mulveling is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 589
Default

Awesome, you’re making me excited to hear the V! Fortunately I have a burned-in outboard SUT on hand (yep it took around 20 hours to fully open up from new) and an MC burn-in CD is on the way to ease that issue in the Renaissance SE phono stage (no way I’m burning wasted hours on my Koetsu or Shelter). I’m definitely not a fan of the burn-in process, and quickly lose patience if it doesn’t sound great after 30 hours.

I know the Ref 6 has a terrible rep for long burn in; I bought it used (my dealer doesn’t carry ARC anyways) and it came with 500 hours on it (now around 750).

Last edited by mulveling; 01-10-2018 at 12:32 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 10-03-2019, 10:51 AM
audiofound audiofound is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 66
Default

I know this is an old thread but there is very little info out there on Vac gear. I'm about to audition a VAC 170i integrated and was wondering if anyone here has heard one?
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 10-03-2019, 02:44 PM
Masterlu's Avatar
Masterlu Masterlu is online now
AA Founder, Legend AV Owner



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South FL & Cape Cod MA
Posts: 78,485
Default

audiofound... Welcome to AA!
__________________
Ivan
FLORIDA
MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES
CAPE COD

MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES

Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:46 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video