2. amps-preamps
  3. 1139772324

VAC Phi integrated or 1 preamp + 1 amplifier

I´m a little bored with so many cables(very expensives)and with two electronics for care, and I have one idea, as I can expend until around $25.000 for electronics,which of the followings solutions is better for you :

1.-Buy a great integrated as can be the VAC or other, not the ASR Emitter, I know it well and for his price money I can buy a lot of betters things.

2.-Buy a great preamplifier as Aestethix Callisto, VTL 7.5 or ARC ref3 with a oly good amplifier as ASL Hurricanes or Rogue Zeus

3.- Buy A medium quality preamp as Calypso, Herron or Modwright with good amp as the CAT JL2 signature, VTL 450; Viola or VAC Phi amps

4.-Boulder series 1000 preamp and amp

5.-Rogue preamp with theirs Zeus monoblocks

6.-VAC preamp with VAC amp

Well as you can see the TRUE question is great integrated or good preamp and amp. Thanks to all.
newly
ethannnn
45 posts
 
I recently switched to the Vac Phi Beta from costlier seperates and have been totally happy. The Beta strikes a perfect balance of musicality, neutrality and detail without being dry or analytical. It sounds great with stock tubes and has a full function remote including phono. When you add these features together plus the cost savings from interconnects and power cords, the Beta begins to show its value. The only concern left is, can your speakers can be driven by 110 watts?
tvad
9,467 posts
 
The only concern left is, can your speakers can be driven by 110 watts?
A friend and I were recently discussing this. My speakers are 89dB/1 watt/1 meter. Every doubling of the wattage adds 3dB to any speaker (from "The Complete Guide to High End Audio"). For example, 1 watt of power drives my speakers to 89dB measured at 1 meter from the drivers. 2 watts=92dB, 4 watts=95dB, 8 watts=98dB, 16 watts=101dB...and that's as loud as I can take it for more than 10 minutes.

My room is filled with live-level rock concert sound with 32 watts from my VAC Phi 110/110.
ethannnn
45 posts
 
My experience tells me this mathematical equation doesn't tell the whole story. It may be that speaker manufacturer's specs are incomplete or imprecise because speaker selection is that easy. In fact, I'd say most speakers would benefit from having more power.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Just reporting what's published, Ethannnn...

Of course, a speaker's resistance plays a part, too.

My limited experience at home with a Bryston 4B SST, Bryston 14B SST and VAC Phi 110/110 and VS VR4 Gen III HSE speakers (89dB/1 watt/1 meter, 6 ohm nominal load, dipping to 3 ohms @ 20hz) is that the 100wpc VAC drives the VR4s as well as the 600wpc Bryston 14B SST.
dennis_the_menace's avatar
dennis_the_menace
467 posts
 
i think dynamic peaks also play a role. you may be listening to 100db, but when the orchestra hits a forza, it's not just 100db, it's ++ so much more.

i still say 110 watts is plenty, because the VAC power supply can really back those watts up.
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