Why Not More Conversation about VAC?

A question for those who run a VAC amp with VAC preamp. Which is a better connection between pre and amp, balanced or unbalanced? And any particular recommendations on interconnect between VAC pre and amp? Thx in advance for advice.

Hi Knghifi,

did you get your other tubes that you were waiting for.

What have you settled for in your pre.

Thanks for sharing.

I have found in the past when changing tubes in other gear the outcome has allot to do with the rest of my set-up, every set-up being different in one way or another so the out come not always being the same.

Personally when I heard the Sig. MK2a paired up with the Statement 450 mono blocks there was nothing at that point that I wanted to change, I liked how Kevin voiced them.

That being said I'm open minded so down the road tube rolling is most defiantly an option, fairly in expensive way to change the flavour specially when we are talking in relation to the pre-amp, time will tell.

Podeschi, I don't own a VAC preamp, just a VAC amp (the Phi 200). I agree with most reviewers that the VAC Phi 200, even though fully balanced, sounds better with single-ended than balanced interconnects. I have done some extensive auditioning of cables and can recommend Crimson Music Links cables. At $320 for a 1 meter pair, they are a real find, better than anything else I tried, which included cables that cost up to $1100. The US distributor in Austin allows an extended demo of the cables. WyWires were also quite good for the money, especially if you want subterranean and very textured bass, but the Crimsons edged them out in my setup for overall openness.

If money is no object, I would give Tara Labs' high-end cables a try, although they cost almost as much as VAC components.

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If I hadn't just done it, I probably wouldn't have believed such an improvement was possible with just a few little (but expensive :-)) tubes...
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Fplanner2010, Your 300.1 weren't broken ... you said if best yourself :-) I'm also a big fan of the BT CV-181-Z and rolling them in my DAC so imagine rolling a super CV-181-Z in your preamp. Tube rolling is just a vehicle that is available for an user to dial in the sound to their taste ... no right or wrong and bad or good but just personal preferences.

One of the reasons I decided on a VAC was it ONLY uses a MP of 12au7 and e88cc. These are very common tubes that I'm familiar with so it took little time in dialing in my sound.

Dev, funny your ask. One of my long time tube dealers found me a new MP of 60's Siemens CCa and just got them last Wed. But the system is sounding so good, I don't plan to tinker with it for a while. I finally settled with 60's Siemens wide getter support post E88CC and 50's Telefunken ribbed plate 12AU7 / ECC82

I agree with everyone just enjoy your 450 Statements and Preamp in stock form for a long long while. A Ferrari is a Ferrari whether it's riding on Pirellis or Michelins :-)

Knghifi - thanks for sharing above. Do I understand you to be saying the CV-181-Z can replace some tubes in my preamp? Which ones? I have the Ren Sig MkIIa. This is pure curiosity for when/if I decide to do a bit more "tweaking". Thank you again.

BTW - A Ferrari is a better handling Ferrari on Pirellis.YMMV.