The VAC is a very good sounding amp, and if you already have NOS tubes, I would look elsewhere for the problem. The Wavac amps are better than the VAC, as your dealer suggests. The real issue is whether something else in your audio chain needs improvement before investing in a Wavac. I have no experience with your DAC, but as a rule, I do not like passive controllers. I don't know how you plan to bypass the volume control function on your ddev 3.0. If possible, borrow before you buy, and don't rule out an active tube preamp as a possibility.
VAC amps-grainy ?
gentlemen- i own the vac pa 35/35 triode tube amp w/killer n.o.s. tubes. a dealer of s.e.t. wavac amps told me that he felt vac's were grainy ?! i've never felt this or heard this before. i hold him of my idea of replacing the volume control function on my AA ddev3.0 dac. it can sound sligtly hard when really pushed. i'm going to replace it with the ft audio lw-1 passive line stage. my speakers are the smooth-sounding silverline sonatinas. i also have the smooth shunyata blk mamba&sidewinder powers cords. any comments on the source of this hardness in my system or the vac being "grainy". thanks mike [email protected]