Kevin sent this out to everyone this morning....
The reports are in, and VAC components took top honors at both CES and THE Show!
Writing in Positive Feedback, Myles Astor ranked the VAC / Critical Mass Systems / Focal Grande Utopia EM speakers / Trans Rotor system as the #1 top sound at CES and THE Show. He also ranked the VAC 450 iQ monoblocks as one of the top products he'd like to bring home.
In his initial show post, Myles wrote, "Big speaker, biggggg sound! Focal's new, cost no object, $180K Grande Utopia EM speakers in combination with VAC's Statement iQ self biasing tube amplifiers and new VAC Statement line and phono stage, was arguably one of, it not the best, sound at the Winter show." He further described the VAC Statement preamplifier as "A work of art both on the outside and inside!"
In The Absolute Sound, Jonathon Valin described the VAC system as, "My first highlight came as far and away the biggest surprise of this show—in fact, maybe, of any show I’ve attended... I have heard the gigantic $190k Focal Grande Utopia EMs on several occasions, and... I’ve never liked them... Here, driven by top-of-the-line VAC Statement electronics (including VAC’s marvelous, two-box, $70k Statement Phonostage) in a huge suite on the 35th floor of The Venetian, the Grande Utopia EM was one of the two or three best loudspeakers I’ve heard at a trade show."
Never liked them until VAC drove them? Hmmm. VAC electronics make a difference!
Mr. Valin again encountered VAC amplifiers and preamplifiers at THE Show in the Perfect 8 system, and noted them as "VAC’s audibly superior electronics."
Meanwhile, at Audioshark.org, for "Favorite Overall Room" founder Mike Bovaird said, "the nod definitely has to go to the VAC/Focal room at the Venetian. Kevin, Brent & Co. were able to reproduce a symphony orchestra as good as I’ve ever heard it on a hi fi system – probably better. I went back to this room several times, and every time was impressed. VAC 450’s, VAC signature Phonostage and Preamp, Focal Grande Utopia’s, Shunyata cabling throughout. Beautiful and awesome."
For "Favorite Tube Amps", Mike also named the "VAC Statement 450’s. On the big Focal’s, these great amps continue to impress. Sounding more like music, and less like “tube” or “solid” state, the VAC 450’s continue to represent some of the best that is possible in amplification today."
To everyone who came to hear our exhibit, and to the many people who made it possible, thanks for listening!
All the best,
--
Kevin Hayes, President
Valve Amplification Co., Inc.
