VAC Signature MKIIa pre-amp

Thx everyone;

Teajay nice chatting with you, congrats on your new pre-amp.

Rtn1, what specific Nos tubes are you referring to and what will the sonic benefits be?

Goldeneraguy, no I actually have not been to Jeff's place nor done any business. I actually lucked out buying the table locally because the person was moving to a Micro S 5000. I have heard a Tron but not the Siren which is suppose to be a marvelous pce., I did hear a Tron Seven phono paired up with a TW AC table in someones set-up and it was very nice, unfortunately the set-up was not full range so for me there was allot of missing information. Tron and other phono's will be on my list to compare to the VAC's but that will down the road. I'm kinda slow when it comes to this as I like to take my time and really get use the specific pce, I will want to have lots of hours prior on it but once I have done this placing something else with my set-up is pretty easy to analyze whats actually going on and if I prefer it.
It's nice because the VAC offers RCA connection along with XLR "TRUE BALANCED" for external phono hook-ups. The Audia Flight Phono will be hooked-up in balanced con-fig. I have it is suppose to be very nice and will certainly provide a different take being solid state, I have my eye on the new Boulder which is also solid state. Goldeneraguy you won't be disappointed, if you have a chance to get one into your set-up I would recommend to do so, if you refer back to my threads you will not read anywhere where I was so impressed with any pre I had right out of the box, this says allot. It's totally different than anything I have had had in my set-up but in a positive way. If you read one of my recent threads regarding the REF3 v/s the Ref5 "I was looking a buying one along with the REF 2 PHONO" you will read I was under fire after my comments but I like to say it the way it is, and that was how I felt and others feel the same way.

Knghifi, congrats. I goota say the Bryston's I have are sure winners and totally took me off guard and surprised the heck out of me, never thought I would have such driving my speakers. My MBL's seem to really like them, the VAC seems to be great match also, as you can see I'm all balanced XLR connection.

Hi Rtn1,

first thing that comes to mind is that the veil has been lifted from my system, I knew there was a bit present due to placing other world class pre-amps within my set-up but never really knew to the extent until placing this VAC in my set-up. My MBL 6010d did not even capture this, comparing the ARC REF3 to the MBL there were differences mainly floor noise, bass but in the end over all I still prefered the Ref3. When I got the Ref5 well you can refer to my thread about that.

Here is how I can sum it up, it's like going for a drive and you go down into a valley where it's really foggy and then you drive out of that same valley and it's sunny with perfectly clear blue sky, what a feeling!

Over all the sonics in my system have been greatly improved, my MBL's are lovin it. Highly recommend if there's a way to get one to demo in your own set-up, I wasn't fortuanate enough to be able to do such but in the end it all worked out, MBL and Ref3 both sold recently.

One area that does bother me a bit is the volume remote and how it works, not as smooth as others I have had along with you have no clue of what the volume setting actually is but that being said I'm very happy that I pulled the trigger and got one.

I have had allot of top notch world contenders over the years and by far this is my favorite in my set-up. Fit and finish is top notch, nice to look at.

I also got mine with the phono installed because I was wanting to exspeariment with a table set-up, too early to really comment but so far no complaints. I actually prefer my vinyl set-up over my RedBook sonic wise by a far margin and it's still only in the break-in stage, really can't believe the differences.

Artylandy, if you read some of my past threads you will gather allot of info. of what I have been up to, searching for the ultimate pces to mate up with my MBL's. It's been a journy and I would have never thought that I would have ended up with the amps I have but they just work. I have had all the MBL pces you refer to along with their top amps etc. but in the end it really comes down to your own preference, mine was not having them paired up. The VAC amps you mentioned really interest me also but they are costly, not being able to demo first without any commitment, well you know the risk never mind the cost layout. Don't know how much heat they really throw off either, if I could live with them or not. I owned CAT JL3 Sig. MK2 tube mono blocks prior, if these VAC's throw off the same heat I would be okay with it.

Another tube amp that comes to thought is the Destiny 350 mono's from Joule.

Update, haven't hit the 400 mark as of yet on the line stage but getting there, I'm at 280 hours and really enjoying.

I have 95 hours now on the phono and really enjoying my vinyl journey, haven't played my RedBook since.

I read 400 hours for the line stage to really open up, is there much of a difference sonic wise from where I'm currently at? if so what is the difference.

The phono stage I haven't been able to find any comments from other users, how many hours for this and sonic wise?

Is there an ultimate cart to use with this phono, possible match made in heaven? I'll have to contact Kevin and ask. Was at a freinds and really liked his Lyra Olympos cart paired up with a Schroder Reference and TW AC3, might be my next cart but in no hurry. My arm is the Phantom MKII