I've owned a VAC Avatar integrated for about a year and a half. Very good sounding w/ stock tubes; NOS tubes can take it to a different level. Plenty of gain/power for most speakers of 87-88 db or greater. With NOS tubes and good ancillary equipment, the VAC in triode has a SEt-like midrange but w/ real authority in the bass dept. Can be taken even further w/ the SE upgrade. While soundstaging isn't my highest priority in itself (soundstaging, resolution, tonal correctness, dynamic contrasts, "PRAT" etc., to me, are all simply part of trying to create the "live" sound) , the Avatar and my Reference 3As can virtually disappear in my room w/ good analog or digital equipment and material. Now that I've begun to get serious w/ my source equipment/cables/tubes etc., I'm amazed each night at how much better all of my LPs & CDs sound. Of course, I'm really reviewing at this point my system as a whole, but the VAC certainly is an integral part of the system. I've owned or listened to a lot of other gear, SS and tube, and the only amps I would have a desire to upgrade to are the VAC Ren. series or Art Audio SET amps. Hope this helps.
BTW, I noticed that my local dealer is selling his demo Avatar at a good price on Audiogon, if you're interested.
