Renaissance Mk I Preamplifier
In 2000, the VAC Signature (Renaissance Signature) Preamplifier burst forth into the world of audio, demonstrating that there is possible a quantuum jump in sound quality over the long-standing "state of the art." The culmination of six years' research and development, it was the first preamplifier worthy to bear the Renaissance name.
For 2001, the smaller Renaissance Preamplifier joins the Signature Preamplifier, making this unprecedented sonic improvement available to more music lovers. Like the Signature Preamplifier, the new Renaissance Preamplifier features a circuit that follows VAC's "first principles" design philosophy, wherein we look beyond conventional wisdom to discover what a preamplifier really must do to preserve musical life. As usual, the answers are distinct from anything you've seen or heard before.
The Renaissance circuit is derived from the Signature circuit. Through its principal outputs, the Renaissance Preamplifier contains no coupling capacitors from input to output. No coupling capacitor hinders the purity and detail developed by the two hand-wired Class A1 twin triode tubes. Additionally, no loop negative feedback is used; the output interface is completely stable and free from dynamic interactions with the load. Two fully balanced inputs are provided; these may also be configured via switch for standard RCA inputs. Fully balanced outputs are present, as are standard RCA outputs.
Balancing is achieved by differential triodes driving a special wideband output transformer. This design ensures a true balanced signal, capable of driving even the most cruel professional studio equipment, something impossible with cathode followers and totem circuits. In addition, the transformer output may be used with unbalanced loads. In this manner, ground loops are eliminated, allowing for the most liquid, dimensional sound. In addition, this technique results in identical sound through either the SE or balanced outputs; therefore, the choice is entirely dependent upon the charactersitics of the source components and power amplifiers.
The line stage also offers VAC's Cinema Bypass mode, which allows your high-end stereo system to integrate seamlessly with home theater. The Cinema Bypass input is a fixed gain input that allows your source component to control volume, and passes this signal through to the stereo power amplifiers without further processing. It allows a cost-no-object stereo system to integrate seamlessly into a home theater context when needed, without any degredation of two channel performance from traditional stereo sources. The Cinema Bypass input may also be used with stereo components that have their own level control, such as d/a converters (and improves their sound by providing a more competant, isolating drive to the power amplifiers).
The optional phono stage is sensitive and quiet, capable of handling even low output moving coil cartridges. A rear panel switch allows engagement of wideband transformers to provide a proper and balanced load to low output pickups. Electrostatic decoupling prevents the heater circuits from "talking" to each other, a common cause of lost detail.
The standard remote control is implemented with electromechanical switches and controls. This approach is considerably more costly than the usual digital interfaces, but has several major advantages. First, no VCAs, relays, or transistor switches (switched ladder networks) are used in controlling volume or selection. This is mandatory for sonic purity. Second, VAC's careful implementation avoids the use of microprocessors, which generate significant noise signals that, while sometimes not audible directly, can do damage to the sound. Third, the front panel controls are direct and intuitive to use, their positions indicating at a glance exactly how the unit is set.
The heirloom-quality sculpted 3/8" aluminum fascia is finished in high-gloss black lacquer. The liberal use of sound deadening material compliments the 1/4" thick CNC-machined aluminum chassis, creating a solid mechanical foundation.
Basic specifications:
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Copyright 2001 by Valve Amplification Company. All rights reserved. Specifications subject to change without notice.