VAC owners, sound off

Hi Tholt. The most useless thing anyone can say comes from those who give you an opinion on a piece of equipment they have not heard and guaranteeing it will be right for you. Slightly less useless are opinions coming from those with a limited range of equipment they have real experience with, and then telling you how wonderful the piece they happen to own is, with very little comparative listening but a real gungho recommendation on what they do own and with no knowledge of your preferences or system context. Ultimately, "you have to try", might very well be the best advice anyone can give you and the most honest - since we all hear differently and look for different things. The answer to your original question was answered pretty well. It sounds like VAC might very well work for you - but you will never know till you try it - that's just the way it works, and the next step if what you have heard about VAC here has made you interested in pursuing it further.

Of course ultimately it always boils down to 'try it in
your system and find out.' And of course that's the most useless thing anyone
can say.
Tholt (Threads | Answers)

Well, I disagree that it's the most useless thing anyone can say. Frankly, it's
the simple truth. Most who have been around the block a few times realize
this is really the best way to determine if a particular component fits one's
system and listening preferences.

For example, because of impedance matching between preamp and amplifier,
the VAC preamp it will undoubtedly sound differently with different amps
(assuming the amps have different input impedance specs). What sounds
great in one person's system may sound lacking in yours because of different
input impedances of the two amps. On the other hand, the VAC may sound
incredible in your system for the same reason.

Only if you find someone who owns the same amp as you own, and who has
tried the VAC preamp in their system, will you be able to compare sonics on
an apples-to-apples basis. Otherwise, all bets are off. Hence the ultimate
importance of actually trying a component in your system to determine if it
works.

I don't mean any disrespect, and I understand why you have your present
viewpoint. Perhaps one day after you've tried a few variations of a particular
component (preamp, amp, CD player...whatever) you're viewpoint will change
and you won't consider the advice useless.

and i didn't either (mean disrespect). it is after all, the absolute truth. you have to try. my point is it goes w/o saying. More to the point, that my questions (and i think anyone's with simple curiosity about components) are leading up to if we actually want to try 'X' out in our systems, or if "X' will even work from a technical standpoint.

And for the record, i plan on doing just that.

Tholt, Tvad's comments on impedance matching are critical for many reasons, and usually more of an issue when dealling with a tube preamp. Now if you are also planning on using tube amp it becomes less likely you have a problem. I think trying VAC is a very good idea, a 9 year old VAC remains and will always be good piece of equipment well worth exploring. Now if you want a warmer, "tubier" sound there are other choices and not driven by the necessity of "newer technologies" - good/great preamps have been made for quite a while.

I confirmed impedance compatibility from Kevin Haynes when I spoke with him, so all good there.

I also got the 'welcome to the family' line from Haynes. Nice guy, coupled with reputation and the love you guys obviously have, i'm looking forward to trying the VAC.

thanks