The 90 pound VAC Phi 200 is a 100+ watt per channel version of the VAC Phi 300.1a, also user switchable to 200+ watt mono operation.
All of the Phi amplifiers produce the areas of beauty typically associated with good vacuum tube designs, but also go well beyond this, producing bass impact, speed, and dynamics that have converted many adherents of solid state design.
The Phi 200's wideband power is developed using the KT88 beam power vacuum tube, exploited to fullest advantage by custom wound 21 section output transformers, each weighing 14 pounds. The Class A direct-coupled low-mu triode input and driver stages are those developed for the Phi 300. The combination results in fast, full, detailed sound. You will be surprised by details in your recordings that you had never heard before. The ambience and retrievel of reverb and decay information is particularly startling.
To many listeners, however, the single most surprising aspect of the Phi 200's performance is the absolutely full, powerful, dynamic portrayal of the deepest bass notes. You will hear the punch and control normally associated with solid state amplifiers, but coupled with the tunefullness, ambiance, and ring-out that only vacuum tubes seem able to develop.
Both fully balanced and single-ended input modes are supported; by switch setting, the front end circuitry is rearranged to be correct and optimal for the selected mode. Discreet amber indicator lights tell you when the output tubes are biased for ideal sound. The rugged 2.4 mm non-magnetic chassis is beautifully complimented by the laquered 9.5 mm fascia. The massive power transformer is fully potted to assure quiet operation. A 12 volt trigger is provided.
The ability of the user to set the amplifier for stereo or mono operation allows both freedom of application (biamp one day, monoblocks the next) and the ability to pace the development of their system. One can start with one Phi 200 in stereo mode today, and add a second one later for additional power and true monoblock performance.
In the mono mode the Phi 200 really sings. There is not just more power, there is more detail and control.
Bottom line: mono or stereo, the VAC Phi 200 is one of the world's finest amplifiers.
Basic specifications:
Copyright 2011 by Valve Amplification Company
Rotating image photos by Keith Sequeira of The Audio Company, Atlanta