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VAC Ren II, VAC Phi, or ARC Ref 3?

Finally, the two cold solder joints in one of my Rowland 7M amplifiers have been fixed. Just a simple 2 minutes soldering job at home, thanks to a kind live phone consult by Jeff himself. Now the system is back purring like a kitten.
Great say you, but. . . the problem is that now I have fallen totally prey to Upgraditis Furiosa, the most pernicious and 'wife threatening' form of Audiophilia Nervosa.
I listen mostly to classical--lots of chamber, vocal, Early Music, Baroque, Romantic, some large orchestra, lots of cello and other strings--on a system that I have lovingly put together over the last 20 years: EAD T1000, AT&T glass C-core glass wire, EAD D7000 Mk. 3, AudioQuest Quartz RCA, Audio Research LS2B, Gutwire XLR, Jeff Rowland 7M monoblocks, Cardas Golden Ref PCs on 7M, Cardas Golden Ref speakerwires, MagnePan 3A speakers.
The sound is sweet, lush, with a large if slightly unfocused soundstage, sometimes slightly veiled, somewhat soft at the bottom, can sound glorious in the midrange, good if not spectacular at the top. Much better at small ensembles than at full orchestra, where the sound stage can collapse and full strings and brass often display signs of brittleness and two-dimensionality. But, so much for self-criticism. Now what to do?
I intend to migrate towards a fully balanced system, with redbook and SACD capability and a tube linestage. I will start upgrading at the source and linestage points. The source will be an Esoteric X-01 or an upcoming APL NWO-1. But in this thread I'd like to discuss options for a new linestage. My requirements are an open and detailed, sweet sound, accurate with minimal coloration, with very good but not necessarily overwhelming macro-dynamics, an excellent three-dimensional and accurate soundstage, superior microdynamics and subtle nuance. The linestage must sound great out of the box--after breakin of course: not only after going through many cycles of NOS tubes musical chairs. All of this from a company with a stellar track record and reputation in quality, dependability and pre/post sale support. I listened to the VTL 7.5 and found it to be too soft. The BAT VK51SE sounded too dark. Then I listened at length to the VAC Ren II, which seems to embody all of my requirements. I have not heard the VAC Phi as yet, but it is in the running by inference. Nor I have listened to the ARC Ref 3, although I intend to: Ref 3 is in the running by reputation.
Suggestions? Opinions? It's your turn guys and girls!
guidocorona
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Keithr, I'm going to jump in with a comment about my burn-in experience as it relates to a Modwright SWL9.0SE with Blackate cap upgrade. I know the Modwright is not in the rarified air of the preamps being discussed here, but my burn-in observations may be relevant nonetheless.

Dan Wright told me the SWL9.0SE with Blackgate would require 200 hours off burn-in. Nonsense, I thought. After 300 hours, I threw in the towel. Hard, edgy...lacking soundstage breadth and height.

After 400 hours, the darn thing exploded out off it's cocoon. I was stunned. I am a skeptic at heart. You have to show me the results. Should've been born in Missouri.

The burn-in of the Blackgate capacitor is legendary...and true from my experience.

I have no idea how this relates to the ARC, but electronics are electronics, and there has to be a correlation on some level.

Burn-in is real. Moral of the story...don't give up too soon.

guidocorona OP
4,114 posts
 
Keithr, TBG's breakin finding are consistent with my own. As you may have read I have purchased a Teac X-01 last October. Teac America had suggested that the unit would reach optimum performance after c.ca 80 hrs. My experience has been that the unit has lost its last traces of etched sound after 800 hrs, and in my view now close to the 1000 hrs mark it is still developing.
A linestage being a higher current device will probably take a little less, yet I fully expect to have to wait for 500 hrs till the device stabilizes. I will keep everyone posted on this thread.
oneobgyn
410 posts
 
The interesting thing about every piece of ARC gear that I have ever owned is that out of the box it sounds absolutely terrific and then after a few hours it becomes very muddy until it has been broken in. I do believe all of my ARC gear (and I have owned a lot of it) always sounded better after extensive break in.
guidocorona OP
4,114 posts
 
Thanks Doc, this is very useful. . . I am bracing myself for beuty followed by. . . temporary Mud City!
guidocorona OP
4,114 posts
 
Doc and all, I finally received my Ref 3 this very morning. . . and it's already making music. It is connected to my X-01 source via AQ Sky XLR, and the down-range IC leg is temporarily provided by a pair of Gutwire Synchrony XLR. Ref 3 has now been playing for just 5 hrs. . . . seems already some 'whool' has been removed from the speakers; somewhat sweeter, more extended than old LS2B; harmonics ring more distinctly. Only obvious sign of its newness is the apparent lack of sound stage and a very slight hollowness. Quite good this far , if perhaps--just as predicted--not yet overwhelming, but still promising for a brand new unit. Most remarkable today is its ability to 'fill' the house with fine, detailed music even at very moderate levels of gain.
Finally a special thanks to Babybear, who not only took temporary delivery while I was travelling, but also brought it to my place and even helped me to install it this morning. Friends don't come any better than this!
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