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  1. #1
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    VAC - when music matters

    VAC - When Music Matters - 2022 episode 01 - YouTube


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    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

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  2. #2
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    Re: VAC - when music matters

    Just watched that on Facebook
    -----------------
    Brian

    Main System -
    Rotel RCD-1572 / Rega P3 > Luxman 505UX Mark II > Fyne Audio F502SPs > Synergistic Cables

    Secondary - OPPO 93 > VAC CLA 1 MKII Pre > Odyssey Stratos > Dynaudio Audience 82s > Tara Labs Cables


  3. #3

    Re: VAC - when music matters

    I'm glad he touched upon the matter of transistors being discontinued. Nowhere was this issue more apparent than in the "Stax Mafix" headphone community. Those high-end electrostatic amplifiers depend on some very specific high voltage transistors. I remember one particular excellent design, the KGSShv, went through many iterations in only a FEW years: transistors would be discontinued and then replaced with another part #, which then also became discontinued and subsequently replaced. I've heard five KGSShv builds and EVERY ONE sounded significantly different. Mainly because of the transistors. Those KGSShv amp versions ran the full gamut from very warm to very bright, and it could absolutely be pinned down to the big HV transistor in use.

    You hear about SS & hybrid amp makers stockpiling silicon all the time - it's a necessity because of this fact. I'm sure Justin Wilson of HeadAmp has significant stockpiles (his BHSE actually uses a lot of this HV silicon). This almost certainly adds to the cost.

    With tubes, pretty much all the common audio types are still in production. Even in the vintage tube market, there's PLENTY to choose from, since hifi audio mostly focuses on only maybe a dozen or so tube types (all which were produced in HUGE quantities), as opposed to how specific and small-batch the "good" transistors are.

    Really nothing is more future proof than a P2P wired tube amp (with circuit diagram).

  4. #4
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    Re: VAC - when music matters

    Short but informative. I look forward to future episodes.
    Contributor to stereotimes.com

  5. #5
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    Re: VAC - when music matters

    I admire this guy Kevin Hayes - what a class act for the industry. I also treasure my VAC Master Preamp and a recently sold 160i SE - wish I had it back! Maybe a 170iq in the near future.
    Studio/Study:
    Mojo Audio Deja Vu Evo Universal Music Server > or McIntosh MVP-901 > Mojo Audio Mystique Evo Dac > Raven Audio Osprey Integrated Tube Amp > Harbeth P3ESR


    Main Listening Rig:
    Shunyata Denali D6000/SV2>Mojo Audio Deja Vu Evo Universal Music Server > or Jay's Audio CDT2-Mk3 > TotalDac D1-Tube > VAC Master Preamp > VAC Master 300 > JM Reynaud Orfeo Jubile


    Home Theater:
    Xfinity Cable Box or Oppo BDP105D > McIntosh C2300 Preamp > McIntosh MC302 Amp > JM Reynaud Offrande Supreme

  6. #6

    Re: VAC - when music matters

    Quote Originally Posted by Scotty View Post
    I admire this guy Kevin Hayes - what a class act for the industry. I also treasure my VAC Master Preamp and a recently sold 160i SE - wish I had it back! Maybe a 170iq in the near future.
    Couldn’t agree more about Kevin Hayes. Every interaction with Mr. Hayes, whether personal, technical or business has always been top shelf.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Rockport Lyra speakers; TotalDac Amp-1 mono blocks; four box CH Precision L1/X1 pre/power supply monos; CH precision P1/X1 phono/power supply; TotalDac d1-driver monos; Pacific Microsonics Model 2 DAC; TotalDac d1-12 MkII DAC with two reclockers; Kodo The Beat Turnatable with LT Schroder magnesium tonearm and Lyra Atlas cart; Taiko Extreme server; Kalista Dreamplayer CD Transport; Taiko Audio Daiza Platforms; Nordost Odin2 Power Cords and Analog ICs; 512 Engineering/Tim Marutani Balanced Transformers (30 amp for sources; 50 amp for amps); Rives designed dedicated room.

  7. #7
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    Re: VAC - when music matters

    Vac makes great tube amps no doubt but there are flaws in some of his claims
    1- when he says linear How is this measured ?
    I don’t think a tube can be linear as much as a SS amp can in some ways
    2- his claim of triodes has truth but again only cause a tube can’t switch it mostly has to rise and fall so a smoothing takes place
    Is this making it linear ?
    3- tubes are made to many specs and do not perform all the same nor over a life span
    You can’t always measure tubes as they age but one can hear this if new tubes are installed after breaking them in.
    if I were to buy a tube amp it would be there why cause many times rooms at shows I love are using there amps. Or preamps and phono pre amps
    I think one reason is they make tubes amps in one manner no bias changing sws making the amp perform at its best as it’s made.
    great video mike ty
    TUBEZATOR

    preamp ML26
    amps ML No.33
    Infinity IRS-V speakers with Xover redone by Arie Nudell.




  8. #8
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    Re: VAC - when music matters

    VAC - When Music Matters - YouTube


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

    https://suncoastaudio.com/
    Phone: 941-932-0282
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/

  9. #9

    Re: VAC - when music matters

    Quote Originally Posted by Alrainbow View Post
    Vac makes great tube amps no doubt but there are flaws in some of his claims
    1- when he says linear How is this measured ?
    I don’t think a tube can be linear as much as a SS amp can in some ways
    2- his claim of triodes has truth but again only cause a tube can’t switch it mostly has to rise and fall so a smoothing takes place
    Is this making it linear ?
    3- tubes are made to many specs and do not perform all the same nor over a life span
    You can’t always measure tubes as they age but one can hear this if new tubes are installed after breaking them in.
    if I were to buy a tube amp it would be there why cause many times rooms at shows I love are using there amps. Or preamps and phono pre amps
    I think one reason is they make tubes amps in one manner no bias changing sws making the amp perform at its best as it’s made.
    great video mike ty
    I think he's comparing the devices on their own - a singe triode versus a transistor as a pure amplification device. When you add lots of parts and global feedback to a SS circuit, it can get to a much lower THD distortion number than a tube amp - but that has its own downsides. I don't know, maybe some high tech modern transistors are linear enough to compete with triodes (SicFETs), but the silicon makers don't cater to audiophiles, good audio transistors go OOP quite regularly, and they are also highly counterfeited. The EL34 tubes from 60 years ago were great, and EL34s are still produced today are quite good, with thousands of makes of amplifiers to plug them into.

  10. #10

    Re: VAC - when music matters

    Great videos
    Kevin

    Main: VPI Aries 3/Grado Reference3, and Aurender N200 > PS Audio DS DAC. Luxman L-509Z integrated amp. Sonus Faber Elipsa SE speakers. PS Audio P10 power. Transparent Audio, Cardas and Audioquest cables.

    Bar: EAT C-sharp/Hana MH, and exaSound s82 > Luxman L-595SE amp. GolderEar One.R speakers. Shunyata power, Audioquest cables.

  11. #11
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    Re: VAC - when music matters

    very nicely done with great content. thanks for posting.

    after watching the 3 available episodes, i am for some reason feeling the upgrade urge.

    viking acoustics berlin r mk2 | air tight atc-5 + atm-300r | clearaudio concept + virtuoso v2 MM | t+a dac8 dsd + kanjiroba diy transport + roon rock
    alp-tone audio analog cables | core audio designs plyKraft 3L | hifi racks ltd podium t5-iii

  12. #12
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    Re: VAC - when music matters

    It was great to hear the passion he has for his craft. I know the 200iQ is on my current list.
    Amplification : Modwright LS300 - Atma-Sphere "Class D" monoblocks
    Digital : MSB Premier DAC+Digital Director, Oppo 203, Sonos Port (W4S mod)
    Analog : Technics SL1200G, Boulder 508
    Speakers : Daedalus Audio Muse Studio
    Headphone : BHSE + Voce

  13. #13
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    Re: VAC - when music matters

    These are really good. (Mike gets a plug in episode 4.)
    Rance


    Synology DS411+II | GigaFOILv4 + Keces P3 Power Supply | Shunyata Alpha Ethernet | Lumin S1 | VAC Master Line Stage | VAC Signature 200 iQ amps | Kharma Elegance dB11-S | SVS PC-4000 subs x 2 | Shunyata 6000/T v2 | Kharma Elegance signal cables| Luminous Audio Technology power cables | Isoacoustics OREA vibration isolators | Solid Tech racks | Vicoustic room treatments | Acoustic Sciences Corporation IsoWall + IsoCeiling construction

  14. #14
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    Re: VAC - when music matters

    Took a trip in my way-back-machine when Bill Iber mentioned Dahlquist DQ-10s were his first serious system. They were my gateway drug.
    Contributor to stereotimes.com

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VAC - when music matters

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