Why Not More Conversation about VAC?


As I browse Audiogon's posts...I'm constantly amazed at the lack of attention, questions, remarks about VAC, (Valve Amplification Company).
First and foremost, I'm thinking that most if not all of us are music lovers--and I'm not aware, subjectively, of course, of more, just out and out, musical sounding electronics. And, I don't mean that in a perjorative, 'colored' sense...I mean that in the most flattering sense.
The lack of comments may mean nothing, but it just strikes me as 'absent' from good discussions.
Second, and beyond the stellar sound, if you want great gear, and a great person to buy it from, who better in terms of accommodation, knowledge and service than Kevin Hayes. Like the Bobster (Palkovic) his reputation for building first rate stuff and then backing it to the hilt is unsurpassed.

Kevin is also a great guy AND music lover of the first order...a friend too, but I'm not shilling here, just seriously wondering why VAC isn't further up the discussion ladder.

Kinda like reading Motor Trend Magazine, in which they 'Test Drive' a Mustang in EVERY ISSUE!!!

Just wondering.

Larry
lrsky

Showing 2 responses by elizabeth

I bought a used VAC Standard here last year.
It is being used as a lowly (but important by my standards) as a glorified tube buffer between my DAC and Bryston BP-26.
I have opened it up and can say it is a nice hand wired (point to point wiring on a board) tube preamp with a separate power supply.
It is IMO not worth the retail money it sold for.
(Especially compared to the current swarm off low cost Chinese tube stuff coming in.

The reason i was able to buy it was the person i got it from bought it, and it was damaged in transit to him from the prior owner. So the person i bought it from sent it to VAC to be repaired and some upgrades.
The wait for his preamp became too long? and he found a preamp he liked in the meantime. So when he finally got the VAC Standard back, he liked his 'newer' preamp more, and thus sold the VAC Standard, to me for $1,500.
I like it as it makes the digital 'tolerable'.
So this tepid review/history is all i have on VAC.
I would buy it again at the price i paid. It does have a nice sound. (not as transparent as my Audio Research Sp-15, nor the Bryston BP-26.
Justlisten: Thanks for the preamp!! I love it in my system to be able to tolerate CD sound and not go bonkers!!
It is just the right tool for the job.
Thanks again for a nice bit of kit I will use for many years.