VAC Owners:Outboard Phono Stage?

Whart- thanks, it's really all about the hobby for me. Music makes me smile, cry (yup), and shout what I consider "happy profanities" from my listening chair when my system surprises me.

Hifimaniac- not only did we have a similar experience, we have a bunch of the same gear! Same preamp, amp, record cleaning machine and Ortofon cartridge. I'm hoping NOT to hear the Statement Amps for a while, you understand why...

As for tube rolling and power cords, knghifi, I'm with you dude. How many hours did you wait? I usually figure about 100 or so for tube amps and preamps. My amp is fully cooked, but I only have 7 hours on the Signature2a.

What tubes have you Sig owners had best success with? How about fuses? Power cords? A special call out to any Sig owners who, like hifimaniac, are also loving life with a VAC Phi 200 or two.

Please also indicate where the tubes ended up. I'm especially interested in rolling results you've had in the phono stage.

Wow. I just experienced something amazing... As I am writing this, my wife came in to kiss me goodnight and said with a smile "it sounds great babe... It's the kind of sound that makes me want to listen to tracks over and over again!" I stared at her dumbfounded, she's never said anything like that before. I told her I will turn down the volume so she could sleep and she says "no, this is fine, keep it at this level."

Next to "I do," I've never been more surprised at what's come out of her mouth (and my fortune in this life).

@alonski sorry to revive an older thread but this is great stuff! I'm on a similar gear trajectory as yourself. How are you enjoying your VAC gear a few years later?

No worries robd2, glad you have discovered the VAC magic.My VAC gear just keeps getting better the more I use it. My latest OMG moment was after I replaced all 16 tubes in the Phi200 mono blocks with Black Treasures from Grant Fidelity. The tubes are not cheap, but a worthwhile upgrade. The sound is stunning, rich and detailed... but most of all, real and natural sounding. The system has disappeared. Dave Brubeck has arrived.

Love to hear that @alonski !  I'm close to ordering a Signiture SE preamp but can't decide if I want to get the internal phono vs buying an outboard. I'm able to in home demo the SE preamp but it doesn't have the phono. I have heard the Ren MKV preamp with phono. The line stage was great but I didn't like the phono on my system. Thoughts? My current cart is the LO MC Sumiko Blackbird.

I have the Renaissance Mk 1 with phono.  I always thought the phono stage was bland and lacking dynamic expression.  Initially, I was using mm cartridges.  Then went to high output moving coil cartridge always using the mm input.  I went through a couple of outboard units, Musical Surroundings, and a Vacuum State Jlti which I preferred over the VAC phono.
A year or so ago I decided to give the VAC another chance.  I found that a lot of break in time was required.  As a guess around 60 to 70 hours at which point I preferred it to the Jlti.  Then I went to a low output cartridge and the whole process with the moving coil input needed to repeated.
I still swap in the Jlti every so often but overall I would rate the VAC phono as being very good.
So, if the line stage you auditioned did not have the phono stage broken in, you did not hear its full capability.
Buy the phono stage within your preamp.  I don't think you will be ultimately disappointed.  It is likely you will be less than satisfied at first.
Btw I am using VAC supplied tubes.