More than a century after its invention, the vacuum tube remains the preeminent choice for high quality sound reproduction. It is the ubiquitous and essential presence in the recording studio, mastering suite, music amplifier, and home music room. The reason is simple: it is the most linear amplifying device yet created. And, being the uniquely finest amplifying device in existence, it is the cornerstone of all VAC designs.
It is not sufficient to have the best ingredients; one must also have the best recipe, and a deep understanding of the required result. We do not seek to build an amplifier merely to attain certain specifications; these are the wrong goals, because the human ear and brain do not work in the manner of our test instruments, and the ear values different aspects of performance than can be measured readily. As the wise maxim states, "If it measures good and sounds bad, it is bad; if it measures bad and sounds good, you've measured the wrong thing!" Or as we say, in a battle between theory and the real world, the real world always wins.
In this section you will find information about the history of VAC and our 'first principles' design precepts.