As someone with vast VAC Ren experience, I sold them since these amplifiers came out, I agree with with Dearing,
the newer amplifiers were not magical even though the build quality and fit and finish were way better.
The Ren series had some small issues in extreme treble extension, but over all these are the best amplifiers VAC has ever made.
As per networked cables I have found that Transparent Cables were far better than non networked cables of the day today's cabling is vastly better.