VAC - one of these just showed up on here. How are these? There are no reviews or anything but VAC is known as great stuff. Anyone hear of this preamp?
VAC PHI 2.0 Preamp
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9c3gf-vac-phi-2-0-preamp-tube
Pass labs XA-160.8 monos - or - Mark Levinson 536 monos for Magico's
AtmaSphere is cool and not something even on my radar. Thanks VAC - one of these just showed up on here. How are these? There are no reviews or anything but VAC is known as great stuff. Anyone hear of this preamp? VAC PHI 2.0 Preamp https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9c3gf-vac-phi-2-0-preamp-tube |
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fsmithjack I own a VAC Signature MkIIse preamp with line and phono stage. I don't think it can get too much better from a sonic perspective....BUT (and a real big BUT), at this price level, we are deep into diminishing incremental returns territory. DIFFERENT sonic characteristics may be audible in comparison to other premium brands, but whether these differences are BETTER is purely a matter of subjective taste for varying sonic flavors. |
I did choose to listen to them both and then I purchased the Pass Labs 160.8 which I loved until I listened to the best amp I’ve ever heard. It absolutely blew mind and it let me sell both my preamp and mono blocks. I purchased the incredible Ypsilon Phaethon and I’ve not heard anything better including much more Ypsilon separates. I’ve never head a component thread the needle between tubes and SS. It’s sounds like neither and both. It’s an end of the road component. |