VAC Phi 70 good match for Vandersteen 5As?

One of the speakers used by VAC is the Thiel CS 3.6--and they are even less efficient than the Vandersteens, IIRC. The Phi 70would probably work fine with the 5s--call Kevin Hayes @ VAC and talk to him personally:(941) 952-9695. He'll be glad to help.

Cheers, Bill

Fsarc, I was going to stay off this thread, but I can't resist. I own a VAC Phi 110/110 which is driving Von Schweikert VR4 HSE loudspeakers. The VAC is an extremely musical amplifier, and I have no trouble filling my 19x14 foot room with 90+ db with room to spare to go louder.

I have also in the past year owned a McCormack DNA-2 Rev. A+ amplifier, and found the differences between the two amps to be very slight. The McCormack had deeper bass, and was equally sweet in the highs and mids. Eventually, I decided to keep the VAC because it was just the slightest bit more musical...music sounded real to my ears. The bass of the VAC is tight and plenty deep, while I found the bass from the McCormack DNA-2 to be just 5% more bloomy. And, the McCormack was a bit too large for my equipment rack. There is no doubt the 13"x13" footprint of the VAC is ideal for ease of placement.

My point is that you may have all you need in the DNA-500, and moving to the VAC will be one of those point-of-diminishing returns purchases. There is something very nice about turning on the solid state amp and listening RIGHT NOW to music and not having to wait 45 minutes for the tubes to warm up. If you can't quell your desire for the VAC, at the very least try to audition the Phi 70/70 in your own system.

The VAC Phi is a terrific amp, but so is the McCormack DNA-500. I'm simply highlighting the slippery slope of switching for the sake of change.

Have fun whatever you decide.

If at all possible, audition the VAC before you sell your McCormack. I know from personal conversations with Richard Vandersteen that he thinks very highly of the McCormack amps, and has used them over the years with his various speaker models.

Because the 5A's have an excellent built-in powered sub, lower-powered tube amps can be an excellent match for the 5A's (and the Model 5). The DNA-500 is a superb amp, and may in some respects be better suited to the 5A's than the VAC, but the only way to be sure is to do an A-B listening test in your own system.