VAC Signature SE Preamp

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.
 
mep said:
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.
Click to expand...

NOC.
 
knghifi said:
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.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this - what did VAC quote for the SE upgrade?
 
Bobolaclune said:
Thanks for this - what did VAC quote for the SE upgrade?
Click to expand...
$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.
 
Dpod4 said:
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).
Click to expand...
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 said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
knghifi said:
CORRECTION, $6500 is to add SE phono stage to a linestage.
Click to expand...

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

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.
 
Mike said:
Welcome Takeniteasy. Let us know how the upgrades go. Exciting stuff. Are you going to do the phonostage?
Click to expand...
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.
 
Dpod4 said:
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).
Click to expand...
Hi, I am looking for a pre-amp for my Hegel H30. Wondering what you suggest?
Thank you

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk
 
My VAC preamp with my H30 was a terrific combination.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Mike said:
My VAC preamp with my H30 was a terrific combination.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
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

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk
 
junglern said:
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

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


I can assure you that the CP 800 is a great match with the H30!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top