EXPERIENCED VAC USERS—most bang for the buck


To those of you who have experience with the VAC line, which combination of components do you think would provide the best sound? The Phi 300.1a amp combined with the Renaissance MkIII preamp, or the Phi 200 amp with the Signature MkIIa preamp?

Beyond the obvious difference in amp power, we're more interested in the quality of sound. So is there more of an improvement in sound going up from one amp to the other, or going up from one preamp to the other?

We have a limit on the client's budget for whom we're providing the system (which is why we can't combine the 300.1a with the Sig MkIIa), and, most unfortunately, we're not in a position to be able to audition the differences ourselves prior to providing the system to our client. Thanks for any input.
liszt458

Showing 4 responses by liszt458

Zd542, anything we provide, we are either authorized to provide ourselves, or provide through an authorized dealer. Our clientele live overseas and have neither the time nor the inclination to spend one minute of their own time shopping for or auditioning gear. The equipment is typically for their 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th homes in America. Obviously, they are not typical audiophiles. They want to know they have top quality gear (and usually, that knowledge alone is sufficient) and in many cases, they may not ever even listen to it.

As designers, we provide this service as an accommodation to them at their request, so we want to provide the best combinations possible for them. We do the best we can in this regard, and NEVER take a possible customer away from other authorized dealers. These are customers who would never walk into a store, and usually do not speak English. In those rare cases where they themselves take an active interest in the sound of a system, we do then refer them to authorized dealers. Thank you for your concern.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. I see some of you have your own great VAC systems, so I appreciate all the insight.
Always fascinating to see the assumptions made by some when a simple question is asked regarding the opinions of experienced users. Swampwalker, thank you for the advice, but your "undercurrent" sensing skills are not as acute as you might think. I have spoken at length with Kevin already—my apologies for not informing you sooner—and the nature of our business relationship with him is not the topic of this thread. He is the true gentleman everyone describes and could not be more helpful or informative.
Great info! Thank you, Almarg, for the excellent points about gain. Swampwalker, no problem, and thanks for the link to those great quotes on assuming!

We're going the Phi200 route with the Sig MkIIa, as well as with the Renaissance MkIII for some smaller applications. Anyone care to offer their views on differences between those 2 preamps? Someone elsewhere on Audiogon mentioned they thought the Ren III was about 90% of the Sig MkIIa. It's always great to hear from actual users, along with Kevin's input, of course.