VAC Reviews, Articles, and Publications (primarily English language)

updated 15 March 2010

Are you wondering why there aren't more ‘official’ reviews of VAC instruments? The fact is, each VAC component is hand built as a labor of love, in a time intensive way, and has enough of a 'diehard' following that there is usually an 2 to 8 week backlog of orders, and thus no units available for review. We do not view this as a problem: there isn't anyway to meet the higher than current demand that a 'great review' might create. Our focus is on making the best gear possible, not the best-reviewed gear!

"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

"For those with a raging fire burning in their pocket, VAC’s Phi Beta Beam Power Integrated Amplifier will tickle their ears and help keep that hole from burning any larger really fast. Yes, it’s expensive, but I’ve heard precious few amplifiers that sound this good. I’m a sucker for the manner in which tubes replicate music, and this amp has all those luxuriant qualities, yet it doesn’t really have a discernable sound of its own—it simply churns out, with great prowess, some of the sweetest music imaginable outside a live performance, full of life, nuance and vitality. It’s 110 watts of top-shelf intoxication." - JazzTimes on the VAC Phi Beta

"The sound was easily the Best at Show in my humble opinion." - StereoTimes on the VAC room, CES/THE Show 2004

Positive Feedback "Audio Oasis" Award, RMAF 2007

Current products

Phi 200 (Italian, 2010)

Signature Mk II Preamplifier, dagogo.com, March 2010. "That’s pretty much how it goes with VAC gear – whatever it is connected to sounds about as good as it’s going to get! ... recommended without reservation!"

Signature Mk II Preamplifier, The Inner Ear Magazine, February 2010. "A Music-Lover's Delight ... imaging isn’t good or even very good, it is out of this world; and it’s out of the speakers. I wouldn’t call it three-dimensional, I’d 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 VAC’s presence heightened the system’s 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”. That’s pretty much how it goes with VAC gear – whatever it is connected to sounds about as good as it’s going to get!"

Show Coverage

Discontinued products

Background articles, interviews, etc...

VAC Technical Monograph Series