VAC Signature iQ200

Thanks for posting Mike looking forward to impressions versus the KT88's.
 
After two days (20 hours) of run in, the KT150's are absolutely wonderful tubes. Are they better than KT88's? Well, I think that depends on the system. Both sound incredible. KT88's are sweeter with more decay and finesse, the KT150's sound bigger ("yuuuuuge") and ballsy and sound more linear in the bass.

Just like the KT150's I heard on the S1 mk2's at CES and S5 mk2's at Axpona, a wonderful tube.

These amps are seriously so good, you just can't go wrong.


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Mike said:
After two days (20 hours) of run in, the KT150's are absolutely wonderful tubes. Are they better than KT88's? Well, I think that depends on the system. Both sound incredible. KT88's are sweeter with more decay and finesse, the KT150's sound bigger ("yuuuuuge") and ballsy and sound more linear in the bass.

Just like the KT150's I heard on the S1 mk2's at CES and S5 mk2's at Axpona, a wonderful tube.

These amps are seriously so good, you just can't go wrong.


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Let me know when they are fully broke in (tubes and amps). I would like to swing by and hear the combo again. I may need a set of those one day.
 
As for the VAC amps...I put them on the Avantgarde's for fun tonight. Oh my! Awesome! Kevin has really hit it out of the park with these babies.
 
Mike said:
As for the VAC amps...I put them on the Avantgarde's for fun tonight. Oh my! Awesome! Kevin has really hit it out of the park with these babies.
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Do you think there is a trade off at some point . SE Triode SET with sweet mid's and high's but no or little power then you have something like this amp 100W PC do you lose any of that SE tube warmth ? Or is it the best of both worlds?
 
Etunes said:
Do you think there is a trade off at some point . SE Triode SET with sweet mid's and high's but no or little power then you have something like this amp 100W PC do you lose any of that SE tube warmth ? Or is it the best of both worlds?
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That's a great question. The VAC amps had so much in reserve that everything had an "ease" about it. I felt the 200 iQ's had SET like qualities - great midrange, body, organic and with the KT150's - huge, balanced sound. I've said it before, I will say it again, these VAC Signature 200iQ amps are a home run and a crazy good value - beating competitors costing much more. They are world class in either stereo or mono.

The 8 watt 300b amps have enough, but they don't have anything in reserve.

IMO - I think the 50 watt SET Triode 845 amps (which also handle 211's) would be excellent. But better than what the VAC's delivered? I don't know.

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Decided to try the VAC Signature 200iQ monos with KT150's on the Avantgarde Duo Mezzo XD's again. Man! What a HUUUUUUGE sound! 200 watts of musical bliss. A great synergy.


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Mike said:
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Decided to try the VAC Signature 200iQ monos with KT150's on the Avantgarde Duo Mezzo XD's again. Man! What a HUUUUUUGE sound! 200 watts of musical bliss. A great synergy.


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Downright beautiful!!!.... And I bet they sound fantastic too.
 
Tubes & vinyl baby, tubes & vinyl! :celebrate008_2::tutu::tutu::tutu::woot:
 
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Vintage NOS GoldLion KT88's and 1950's NOS Raytheon 6SN7GTB's went in the VAC Signature 200iQ today.

I've had these amps for several months and they are still an absolute home run in my opinion. I would put them up against any KT based amp under $50k. And these are only $14k each. For the tube sound lover, these are absolutely sublime on the Magico's.


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Mike has certainly listened to way more amps with Magico speakers than I have, but the 200iQ's are the best I have heard with the Q3's. I've had the 200iQ's for about 2 months now, and it sound great. And that's with the stock tubes. I'm sure some NOS 6SN7s would take them up another notch--they did with the VAC Phi200's--but the 200iQ sounds so good with stock tubes that I haven't felt the need to start rolling. For me, that's a first!
 
Soo... sounds neat.

Sonically, how do they compare to the Phi200?

Thank you
 
tes said:
Soo... sounds neat.

Sonically, how do they compare to the Phi200?

Thank you
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Far superior in every way. I owned the phi200's and frankly, something wasn't quite right with them. The Sig 200iQ's are on another level. Balanced. Musical. Incredibly defined bass. Organic. Smooth on top without losing definition.


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Mike said:
Far superior in every way. I owned the phi200's and frankly, something wasn't quite right with them. The Sig 200iQ's are on another level. Balanced. Musical. Incredibly defined bass. Organic. Smooth on top without losing definition.


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As good as the triodes that Joe just set-up in his place? None of that different flavour thing either! :D
 
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