I have a couple quite longstanding audiophile friends who feel the opposite, that ARC is superior to VAC for performance, value and engineering. Both are definitely top shelf brands with very very high prices but both my friends swear by ARC and say their experiences with VAC are mixed. These are certainly very successful brands of tube equipment, and each has their strong followings, so I guess the responses here not surprising.
VAC preamps - too expensive?
VAC makes great products so i hear. The Linestage Master lists for $28k and next one down is Signature, for $22k. Add $12k for a phonostage.
anybody have experience with these units?
its a marketing strategy. Yeah the $22k Signature is very nice but for just $6k more u get a much better unit. Might as well get the Master. Pretty clever. Oh and they offer a line stage called the Statement for $80k and it comes with chrome and a skylight so u can view whats inside. The Master has most of what the $80k Statement has (no skylight) so i guess the $28k Master seems a great deal. Pretty clever.
anybody have experience with these units?
its a marketing strategy. Yeah the $22k Signature is very nice but for just $6k more u get a much better unit. Might as well get the Master. Pretty clever. Oh and they offer a line stage called the Statement for $80k and it comes with chrome and a skylight so u can view whats inside. The Master has most of what the $80k Statement has (no skylight) so i guess the $28k Master seems a great deal. Pretty clever.