VAC Signature SE Preamp

[Mike]

Did anyone catch the great review of the VAC Signature SE Preamp? I've always felt VAC made one of the best tube preamps available - period. I have heard VAC preamps completely transform systems and their built in phonostages are also really quite excellent.

The thing I love about my VAC preamp is that it works with EVERY amp I throw at it. Tube, solid state, doesn't matter. And it makes them all sound better.

Making a great tube amp is one thing. Making a world class tube preamp is another.



On a sad note, this was Robert Reina's last review as he passed away after a battle with cancer at a far too young age of 61.

[mep]

I read the review. I also read JA's measurements and follow-up comments from VAC. So sad about RR and I hope he is resting in peace.

[Mike]

Kevin is a brilliant designer and engineer and he pointed out the folly of the measurements used. From my experience, the phonostage in the VAC preamps are outstanding...as for their separate phonostage...oh my...I remember hearing it at CES 2014. It was my best of show - and it wasn't close.

[Shadowfax]

Would love to trade up

As much as I want to sell everything and get something different, the other half thinks it's just fine the way it is.

[MDP]

Would love to trade up

As much as I want to sell everything and get something different, the other half thinks it's just fine the way it is.

I feel your pain Brian

[MusicDirector]

Too expensive for me, but....Wow, just look how nice and neat the inside of that thing is laid out! Almost makes me want to ask the rep if I see these at show to open one up and then I can call people over to look at it..."hey, come look how neat they keep everything in there, let's ask them what their fridge looks like". I wouldn't be surprised to find the capacitors, tubes, resistors and all that were in numeric or alpha order or something...uh, well, ok, maybe that would be a bit odd.
Kidding aside, that has to be the neatest layout in a piece of electronics I've ever seen.

[ashandger]

Any thoughts on how it would compare sonically with ARC Ref 10? VAC Sig was also reviewed in UK mag HiFi Critic but I haven't read that review.

[KeithR]

Any thoughts on how it would compare sonically with ARC Ref 10? VAC Sig was also reviewed in UK mag HiFi Critic but I haven't read that review.

Reina compared it with the SP20 and in not so many words said it wasn't a contest. but that's a much cheaper ARC preamp.

[ashandger]

Reina compared it with the SP20 and in not so many words said it wasn't a contest. but that's a much cheaper ARC preamp.

Many thanks for the feedback.

[audio.bill]

Just to note - I believe that the bottom two pictures above are not of the Signature models, but rather the VAC Statement series which are much more expensive. The circuit layouts are certainly beautiful and very carefully dressed, but the Signature models do not have that level of internal fit and finish. Not that they're badly built, but when you compare them the differences and attention to detail are quite apparent.

[Dpod4]

I replaced my vac ren mkiii with an ARC Ref 40 which I felt was a better sounding preamp - more texture and dynamic. But the VAC was really good and beat others that I threw at it (CJ GAT).

[the professor]

I agree

At a dealer I compared the VAC ren mkii with a ARC REF 40 and bought the REF 40 off the floor. It just seemed more natural. But I would have been happy with either.

I compared the REF 10 with the REF 40, and again preferred the REF 40 for a lot of the same reasons I liked it over the VAC. So I suspect that the Vac and Ref 10 are a lot more alike than different.

My guess between the 3 preamps - it will come down to symmetry within the system.

I replaced my vac ren mkiii with an ARC Ref 40 which I felt was a better sounding preamp - more texture and dynamic. But the VAC was really good and beat others that I threw at it (CJ GAT).

[Mike]

I've owned the REF10, and as good as it is, at that price point, I have heard the VAC Master Preamp a number of times and that would be my choice. It sounds richer, fuller and ultimately more musical to my ears. YMMV.

[ashandger]

Many thanks to everyone for their feedback. Much appreciated.

[bzr]

I've owned the REF10, and as good as it is, at that price point, I have heard the VAC Master Preamp a number of times and that would be my choice. It sounds richer, fuller and ultimately more musical to my ears. YMMV.

I am at the same place with my 520 preamp. I have tried to sell it 3 times now & I just can't do it. Why, because everything i ask of it is rewarded with fragrance of spirit! Sounds pretty good too if you feed it good stuff....

[knghifi]

I will be shipping my VAC SigMKIIa for SE upgrade end of the summer. I was planning to replace SigMKIIa with Ref10 since I have ARC Ref250. But after a friend compared the SE with Ref10 in the same system, he suggests I should upgrade before replacing it.

I replaced my vac ren mkiii with an ARC Ref 40 which I felt was a better sounding preamp - more texture and dynamic. But the VAC was really good and beat others that I threw at it (CJ GAT).

I remember you never roll any tubes but just use stock. From my experience, VAC preamps are very sensitive to tube rolling and a MUST to get the best out of them.

[Mike]

I will be shipping my VAC SigMKIIa for SE upgrade end of the summer. I was planning to replace SigMKIIa with Ref10 since I have ARC Ref250. But after a friend compared the SE with Ref10 in the same system, he suggests I should upgrade before replacing it.

I remember you never roll any tubes but just use stock. From my experience, VAC preamps are very sensitive to tube rolling and a MUST to get the best out of them.

Looking forward to your impressions after the upgrade. I agree with your friend!

Agree 100% on the tubes. Remember, manufacturers need to buy hundreds of the same tube, they must be reliable, available, etc. After that, users installing NOS can bring things to a whole new level.

[Myles B. Astor]

Looking forward to your impressions after the upgrade. I agree with your friend!

Agree 100% on the tubes. Remember, manufacturers need to buy hundreds of the same tube, they must be reliable, available, etc. After that, users installing NOS can bring things to a whole new level.

And don't forget they can reject 40 or 50 pct. of the tubes they get. Guess what happens to those reject tubes?

Generally the remainder go through a slow, tempered burn in over 48 hrs or so to extend tube life. Then some companies will put the tubes in the equipment and test to make sure the circuit meets specs. That's what you are paying for when say you buy from ARC or cj as opposed to say The Tube Store.

[mep]

Looking forward to your impressions after the upgrade. I agree with your friend!

Agree 100% on the tubes. Remember, manufacturers need to buy hundreds of the same tube, they must be reliable, available, etc. After that, users installing NOS can bring things to a whole new level.

Either that or users will ruin the sound the designer intended with the tubes they chose to use. Lots of NOS tubes in the marketplace aren't really new and/or they are either pulls from used gear or they are tubes that were previously rejected by other manufacturers. There is lots of junk out there masquerading as premium NOS tubes. Are there still some really good NOS tubes available in the marketplace? Yes. How hard is it to find them and buy them? It's a crapshoot at best.

[Mike]

And if they ruin the sound they can put the stock tubes back in. Done. End of story.

If you have good sources, finding NOS isn't that bad.

And let's not forget there are some decent new tubes being made - like Elrog and Takatsuki.

[mep]

We have to count on the fact that there are some "decent new tubes being made" meaning current production tubes. After all, no manufacturer of high-end tube gear is designing their gear around NOS tubes (and no, I don't count boutique companies). The day that tube gear manufacturers can't make great sounding tube gear using existing tubes that are in production is the day that new tube gear is doomed.

Some of the safest bets in the murky NOS tube world is buying NOS mil-spec tubes. Mil-Spec tubes had to meet much higher specifications than normal consumer grade tubes had to and thus went through many more measurements and culling than standard production tubes and this was true for the U.S. and other governments.

[Myles B. Astor]

Either that or users will ruin the sound the designer intended with the tubes they chose to use. Lots of NOS tubes in the marketplace aren't really new and/or they are either pulls from used gear or they are tubes that were previously rejected by other manufacturers. There is lots of junk out there masquerading as premium NOS tubes. Are there still some really good NOS tubes available in the marketplace? Yes. How hard is it to find them and buy them? It's a crapshoot at best.

NOC.

[Bobolaclune]

I will be shipping my VAC SigMKIIa for SE upgrade end of the summer. I was planning to replace SigMKIIa with Ref10 since I have ARC Ref250. But after a friend compared the SE with Ref10 in the same system, he suggests I should upgrade before replacing it.

I remember you never roll any tubes but just use stock. From my experience, VAC preamps are very sensitive to tube rolling and a MUST to get the best out of them.

Thanks for this - what did VAC quote for the SE upgrade?

[knghifi]

Thanks for this - what did VAC quote for the SE upgrade?

$1560 for linestage and $6500 linestage w/phono. Should take ~2 weeks in the shop.

My friend also compared SigMKIIa SE against Master and Master was significantly superior. He has Statement 450 mono and SigMKIIa ... he said if he didn't hear it himself, he wouldn't believe it. Master retails only ~$7K more.

I also asked Kevin if I can upgrade SigMkIIa to Master and he said not feasible with so many differences.

[knghifi]

I replaced my vac ren mkiii with an ARC Ref 40 which I felt was a better sounding preamp - more texture and dynamic. But the VAC was really good and beat others that I threw at it (CJ GAT).

Dpod4, I'm NOT dismissing your results. It's very possible with all the tube rolling in the Vac ren mkiii, you will still find ARC Ref 40 superior.

[knghifi]

$1560 for linestage and $6500 linestage w/phono. Should take ~2 weeks in the shop.

CORRECTION, $6500 is to add SE phono stage to a linestage.

[Shadowfax]

I will be shipping my VAC SigMKIIa for SE upgrade end of the summer. I was planning to replace SigMKIIa with Ref10 since I have ARC Ref250. But after a friend compared the SE with Ref10 in the same system, he suggests I should upgrade before replacing it.

I remember you never roll any tubes but just use stock. From my experience, VAC preamps are very sensitive to tube rolling and a MUST to get the best out of them.

The last time i retubed my old CLA1 MKII I called VAC and bought what was suggested and what would have been the stock tube at that time for newer pre amps. They were better than the Sovtecks and JJs I was running but a far cry from the recent purchase of Gold Lions. I was dissapointed with their suggested tubes after finding the Gold Lions. They could use better tubes in an new expensive pre.

[Bobolaclune]

CORRECTION, $6500 is to add SE phono stage to a linestage.

Thanks - wonder what the upgrade cost would be for a Sig2a with an existing phono to SE status? Kevin is certainly pushing the dial on pricing to the point where there are a lot of other contenders ....

[Takeniteasy]

Talked to Brent from vac on Wednesday as I'm thinking of the II-A to SE upgrade.
For line stage will be about 3000US as I'm in Canada wil be about 4000 cn.
Of course shipping and duties ect.
Don't have the PH stage in mine so it would be worth the call.

[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum Takeniteasy, thank you for joining.

[Mike]

Welcome Takeniteasy. Let us know how the upgrades go. Exciting stuff. Are you going to do the phonostage?

[Bobolaclune]

Talked to Brent from vac on Wednesday as I'm thinking of the II-A to SE upgrade.
For line stage will be about 3000US as I'm in Canada wil be about 4000 cn.
Of course shipping and duties ect.
Don't have the PH stage in mine so it would be worth the call.

As it happens, my Sig2a is at VAC right now for an SE upgrade, I already have the onboard phono stage. My tab came to $3400 for the upgrade.

[Takeniteasy]

THX Joe.

[Takeniteasy]

Welcome Takeniteasy. Let us know how the upgrades go. Exciting stuff. Are you going to do the phonostage?

Thanks Mike,
No PH stage as I use a BDP2 BDA-2 downstairs with the Vac and of course and that's where my projector and screen are.
I do use a Lamm LP-2 deluxe with Clear audio TT upstairs as the wife likes LP's alot.
She didn't like my small JBL's on stands so I put them in the garage and bought her a Martin Logan sound bar(MOTION VISION).
It sounds pretty good as it has the analog inputs also and the digital side for the TV a win win.
Will be perhaps summer when I send the Vac in as were out and about outside for the fun n the sun side of things.

[Takeniteasy]

Shodhan,
is that US or Can,THX.

[Bobolaclune]

No, that was in US$ , they've shipped it back, I'll take a look at the invoice when it gets here next week and let you know, might include shipping to TO.

Shodhan,
is that US or Can,THX.

[junglern]

I replaced my vac ren mkiii with an ARC Ref 40 which I felt was a better sounding preamp - more texture and dynamic. But the VAC was really good and beat others that I threw at it (CJ GAT).

Hi, I am looking for a pre-amp for my Hegel H30. Wondering what you suggest?
Thank you

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[Mike]

My VAC preamp with my H30 was a terrific combination.


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[junglern]

My VAC preamp with my H30 was a terrific combination.


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Mike but I don't think I could afford that pre-amp.
I was thinking on classe CP800 or plinius kaitaki.
Your thoughts important.
Thanks

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[MDP]

Mike but I don't think I could afford that pre-amp.
I was thinking on classe CP800 or plinius kaitaki.
Your thoughts important.
Thanks

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I can assure you that the CP 800 is a great match with the H30!

[Etunes]

As it happens, my Sig2a is at VAC right now for an SE upgrade, I already have the onboard phono stage. My tab came to $3400 for the upgrade.

Please give us an update on the upgrade!!!!