In the fall I leave for Florida for the Winter, but return home for the holidays, so I can pick them up in Sarasota and bring them back home with me to enjoy over the holidays. So I can ship them there just before i leave and bring them back with me. I am also saving up for the upgrades which aren't cheap.
Can a Amp be "timeless" and compete with todays amps?
I’ve been into hi resolution audio for 20+ years, well longer than that but acquired high quality gear about that time. I veered off into other interests for 15 years but still had my system sitting idle in it’s dedicated room. I became interested in it again 6 months ago and began to update it. I still have my Rega Planar 25 table and a Dragon phono stage. I retained my CEC TL1 transport, but replaced my DAC with a Dinafrips Venus II, I also have the Hermes DDC which I feed my CEC into as well as my Cambridge Streamer. I sold my Genesis V speakers because they were having an issue with the left channel bass and since they were out of business I had no way to fix them, it was over my head. I found someone that wanted them and was willing to repair them himself. (he is very happy with them) I replaced them with some Goldenear Triton 1.r’s which I love. So here is the nostalgia part. I still have my VAC Cla 1 Mk II pre amp and my VAC Renaissance 70/70 Mk II amp. I feel they still hold up well sonically, so my thoughts are to send them both to VAC for the Mk III updates this fall of 2022, which includes replacing any necessary parts and "voicing" them back to new as intended when they were first made. I really believe these pieces are worthy of the restoration, are newer pieces today really going to make much headway? I cannot afford to replace these items with "like" items as I am retired and the discretionary income isn’t there anymore. I just feel like they are still really good and offer a very high quality sound. I mean 8- 300 B tubes can’t be all that bad can they? I’ve voiced the pre amp with with Telefunken 12AX7’s and I have a small stash of them. Tube sound is still great right?
Showing 5 responses by fthompson251
I really appreciate all this insight, just to be clear the updates are done at the VAC factory, with their specified parts and the final release of the amp and pre amp's voicing is given by Kevin Hayes himself before it is returned. This is not some hot rod job, but a certified update. I think I am on the right path. Great feedback! |
@elliottbnewcombjr I still have the Golden Dragon 6sn7's and I have back up complete set of tubes for the amp (8-300 Bs and 4 6SN7 Golden Dragons), they came with it when I bought it, but I bought all new tubes for it when I got it to start out with "freshies". It was used but gently with little time on it as I remember. I am looking into some Tung Sol USA black base but trying to predict a sound signature of a tub cab be tedious. |
I will point you to this, the Amp I have is zero feedback design. RENAISSANCE SEVENTY/SEVENTY Mk. III Dual Mono Zero Feedback All Triode Power Amplifier FWIW. Attached is the PDF manual. @retiredfarmer Yes, the Mk III updates were in essence the last version of this amp and preamp, so it is improved upon in their design, their finest version of them if you will. |
@arcticdeth They are going directly back to Kevin Hayes at VAC in Sarasota FL. Where they were built. |