VAC
Reviews, Articles, and Publications (primarily English language)
updated
4 April 2011
"It is critical in
manufacturing perfectionist speakers to use related components that reveal
all that's possible; especially in resolution, tonality,
dynamics and sound-staging. To this end we've evaluated and tried a
vast array of the highest end equipment available. VAC's amplifiers
and preamps have turned out to be references of the highest order, and not
coincidentally, terrifically enjoyable to listen to" Alon Wolf,
owner, Magico Loudspeakers
Current products
Phi
200, UltraAudio, April 2011 ... given the "Select Audio
Component" award
Phi
200 (Italian, 2010)
Phi
200, DaGoGo, December 2010. "I
certainly feel better every time I use VAC gear in the systems I build. I
do mean every time. If there has been one amplifier which has never failed
me when reaching for top shelf sound, it is the Phi 200... VAC equipment
has an uncharacteristically big, beautiful sound. ... The conclusion is
clear: the balance of power, fullness, and correctness is unparalleled...
The VAC sound is audio-writ large but properly proportioned; it is
elegant, opulent and ebullient. The vastness and spatiality of the
soundstage with the Phi 200 is quite surprising when heard for the first
time... Their quality, reliability and unimpeachable sound earn them a
resounding recommendation."
Renaissance
Mk III Preamplifier, UltraAudio, September 2010 ... given the "Select
Audio Componenent" award
Signature
Mk II Preamplifier,
The Absolute
Sound, March 2012... "The sound is gorgeous - capable of
handling rock, jazz, or classical music equally well."
Signature
Mk II Preamplifier, dagogo.com, March 2010. "Thats
pretty much how it goes with VAC gear whatever it is connected to
sounds about as good as its going to get! ... recommended without
reservation!"
Signature
Mk II Preamplifier, The Inner Ear Magazine, February 2010. "A
Music-Lover's Delight ... imaging isnt good or even very good, it is
out of this world; and its out of the speakers. I wouldnt call
it three-dimensional, Id call multi-dimensional with instruments on
the (invisible) soundstage in revealing focus ... its dynamic range
was beyond compare and it was quite evident that the VACs presence
heightened the systems musical caliber."
Signature
Preamplifier Mk II, full review, Stereophile, October 2002
VAC Royal Power Supply,
mentioned in the March 2010 dagogo review: "As would be expected,
the fingerprints of the master are all over these devices. The King rose
from superb to state-of-the-art sound under the influence of the VAC Royal
Power Supply. Thats pretty much how it goes with VAC gear
whatever it is connected to sounds about as good as its going to
get!"
Show Coverage
Discontinued products
- Auricle
Musicbloc, Positive-Feedback No. 26 (August 2006)

Avatar cover feature in Audiotechnique, Issue 214
reviews the VAC Avatar! Click here! "...in
a rhythmic sense, the Avatar is single-handedly the most incredible unit
I have on hand, regardless of price...The balance of the overall
frequency spectrum and harmonic structuring thereof, combined with
excellent boogie factor, makes the Avatar a truly extraordinary piece
indeed! So just maybe all you need is love... and a VAC Avatar."
(Copyright 2000 by Enjoy the Music.com
All rights reserved.)
- Avatar, Stereophile, April 2000,
page 63; follow-up, November, 2000
- Avatar
Super, IAR Newsletter
- Avatar
Super, The Absoulte Sound, May 2004
- CPA1 Mk II, The Absolute Sound,
Issue 106 [visit the TAS website]
- CPA1
Mk II - Audio, May 1996
- CPA1 Mk II, Fi, March 1996
- PA35/35, The Audio Adventure,
February 1996
- PA80/80, Stereophile, March 1996
- PA80/80, High Fi News &
Record Review (UK), September 1995
- PA90 review (cover feature),
Stereophile, Nov. 1991
- PA90 review (cover feature),
Positive Feedback, May 1992
- PA100/100,
Stereo Review's Sound & Vision magazine, October, 2000. A rock band
and its producer compare the VAC PA100/100 & Standard
Preamplifier to a Krell/Lexicon combo costing twice as much.
The verdict? "There's a lot more clarity on the tube
system, with a lot more going on in stereo separation... the
tube is what I want our records to sound like... the tube had
more 'definition'... with the tube, I can hear into the mix
better... That sound is so clear and open, especially in the
real bottom and the ambient high end... "
- PA160 Review, Audio, August 1995
- Phi
70, IAR Newsletter, Issue 80
- Phi
Beta award in 6Moons
- "For those with a raging fire burning in
their pocket, VACs Phi Beta Beam Power Integrated Amplifier will
tickle their ears and help keep that hole from burning any larger really
fast. Yes, its expensive, but Ive heard precious few
amplifiers that sound this good. Im a sucker for the manner in
which tubes replicate music, and this amp has all those luxuriant
qualities, yet it doesnt really have a discernable sound of its
ownit simply churns out, with great prowess, some of the sweetest
music imaginable outside a live performance, full of life, nuance and
vitality. Its 110 watts of top-shelf intoxication." -
JazzTimes
on the VAC Phi Beta
- Renaissance
30/30 Mk III, Maxim Magazine, May 1999
- Renaissance
Thirty/Thirty Mk III, Fi, October 1998
- Renaissance
Thirty/Thirty Mk II, Ultimate Audio, Jan/Feb 1998
- Renaissance 30/30, Fi, March 1996
- Renaissance 30/30 Mk III, The
Absolute Sound, Issue 117
- Renaissance 30/30 Mk III,
Stereophile, June 1999.
- Renaissance 30/30 ("Premier
Design"), Home Theater Technology, May 1995
- Renaissance 70/70, Audio, May
1996
- Renaissance 70/70, The Absolute
Sound, Issue 106
- Renaissance 70/70 Mk II, The
Absolute Sound, Issue 96
- Renaissance
70/70 Mk II, "Recommended Systems," The Absolute
Sound, Issue 100
- Renaissance 70/70, Stereophile,
Dec. 1994; Manufacturer's Comment, July 1995
- Renaissance
140 Mk II, The Absolute Sound, Issue 98
- Renaissance
140 Mk II, "Recommended Systems," The Absolute
Sound, Issue 100
- Renaissance
140 Mk II, "The Best Components," The Absolute
Sound, Issue 100
- Standard
Preamplifier, Stereo Review's Sound & Vision magazine,
October, 2000. A rock band and its producer compare the VAC
PA100/100 & Standard Preamplifier to a Krell/Lexicon
combo costing twice as much. The verdict? "There's a lot more
clarity on the tube system, with a lot more going on in stereo
separation... the tube is what I want our records to sound
like... the tube had more 'definition'... with the tube, I
can hear into the mix better... That sound is so clear and open,
especially in the real bottom and the ambient high end...
"
Background
articles, interviews, etc...
- Television
feature, WRAL-TV (CBS) 6/20/2001
- Sight & Sound, winter 1997, profile of the
new VAC Visionary Audio & Home Theater System
- Scientific American special
issue "The Solid-State Century," winter 1997, pages 44-45 ("Where
Tubes Rule," information from Kevin Hayes & VAC) (full text
now available on-line)
- An
Historical Context of Audio Technology (by Kevin Hayes), Positive
Feedback, Late Fall, 1993
- The Visionary of VAC (interview), The Absolute
Sound, Issue 99 [visit the TAS
website]
- Quotation/product photo, Business Week, October
10, 1994
- VAC on
VTL vs. RAM (manufacturer's comment), Stereophile, June 1991
- Tube Misinformation (letter), Stereophile, May
1989 [visit the Stereophile
website]
- An interview with mastering maven
Steve Hoffman, with praise
for his reference VAC Signature electronics.
VAC Technical Monograph Series