New Products introduced at CES & T.H.E. Show 2004
The 2004 show was, without exception, the finest event in VAC's 15 year history. Our main exhibit, covering two ballrooms at the Hotel San Remo, was a joint effort with Von Schweikert, Acoustic Zen, Rives, and Oracle. The resulting sound, from commercially available material to live vs. recorded demonstrations, was of unprecedented quality.
VAC unveiled seven new products at THE Show, creating the best line-up in the Company's history. A brief synopsis appears below...
Auricle Preamplifier ~ $2,200 US MSRP with remote control. This all triode tube instrument was designed to meet specific requests from numerous dealers, importers, and reviewers for VAC's sound quality and USA craftsmanship at an affordable price. It features three line inputs, passively equalized MM phono input, full tape loop, dual outputs for biamp applications, volume & balance controls, mono switch (especially handy for vinyl collectors), triple-shielded c-core power transformer, regulated heaters for long tube life, low 350 ohm output impedance for broad compatibility, machines .25" fascia. Available without remote control for $2,000. Now in production.
The Auricle Mk II Power Amplifier is a major advancement on the original model. It has new all triode input and driver circuits using mil-spec 12AU7's, a new power supply design, built in bias meter, triode/ultra-linear switch for the EL34 output tubes, match taps for 4, 8, and 16 ohm speakers, a ground lift switch for broad system compatibility, low feedback, and a mono switch that converts the Auricle Mk II from a 55 wpc stereo amplifier to a 110 watt monobloc! For this reason, we call this wonderful and compact instrument a "Stereobloc". US MSRP is only $2,200. Now in production.
How could we improve on the legendary Renaissance Preamplifier? It wasn't easy, but the Renaissance Mk II Preamplifier is an advance in every way. It still uses VAC's breakthrough transformer-coupled full balanced triode line stage, but adopts the superb remote control circuit created for the Phi Master Control preamplifier (includes power, selector, tape, cinema, volume, and mute), reduced source loading, improved tape drive buffer, the iVAC data buss system, 12 volt trigger output, and elegant blue VAC logo which automatically dims as ambient light is reduced. US MSRP is $8,000. Analogue buffs may specify the new all triode passively equalized MM/MC phono stage for $1,600. Now in production.
The VAC Phi 220 Monobloc and Phi 110/110 Stereo Amplifiers are the finest amplifiers ever made. Like their Phi Ultriode cousins, these perfectionist instruments feature external power supplies, pi-filter dual choke high voltage power, balanced inputs (with pin 1 lift switch), direct and isolated RCA inputs, zero global feedback, the iVAC data buss system, 12 volt triggers, output tube sentry & diagnostic system, ambient light responsive illuminated logo, built in bias meter, triode switch, and so much more. The 220 and 110/110 are beam power units designed around the KT88, from which we are now obtaining our best results. US MSRP is $9,500 for the stereo amplifier, and $9,500 each for the monoblocs. Now in production.
The Phi Beta 110 wpc Integrated Amplifier is, basically, the combination of our finest preamplifier and stereo amplifier into a unified design with external power supply. All of the features of the Phi Master Control Preamplifier and Phi 110/110 are present, including full remote control, MM and MC phono inputs (selectable from the front panel for users of two cartridges), dual choke pi-filtered power supply, balanced inputs and outputs, output tube sentry... we could go on and on, but the crucial facts are that it looks terrific and offers the finest sound in the world. US MSRP is $19,000. First shipment date is February 1, 2004.
For those who insist on the 300B filamentary triode is Class A push-pull, we offer the Phi Kappa 32 wpc Integrated Amplifier. It is the same as the Phi Beta in all respects except for the self-biased triode output circuit and 1" of additional height. The power supply has a switch allowing reduced voltage and power for use with the "mesh-plate" variants of the 300B.
PRESS INFORMATION - CES / THE SHOW 2004 - & coverage links
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Copyright 2004 by Valve Amplification Company. All rights reserved. Specifications subject to change without notice.