VAC Signature SE Preamp

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
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Did anyone catch the great review of the VAC Signature SE Preamp? I've always felt VAC made one of the best tube preamps available - period. I have heard VAC preamps completely transform systems and their built in phonostages are also really quite excellent.

The thing I love about my VAC preamp is that it works with EVERY amp I throw at it. Tube, solid state, doesn't matter. And it makes them all sound better.

Making a great tube amp is one thing. Making a world class tube preamp is another.

VAC-Signature-SE-Preamplifier.jpg


On a sad note, this was Robert Reina's last review as he passed away after a battle with cancer at a far too young age of 61.
 
I read the review. I also read JA's measurements and follow-up comments from VAC. So sad about RR and I hope he is resting in peace.
 
Kevin is a brilliant designer and engineer and he pointed out the folly of the measurements used. From my experience, the phonostage in the VAC preamps are outstanding...as for their separate phonostage...oh my...I remember hearing it at CES 2014. It was my best of show - and it wasn't close.

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Would love to trade up :)

As much as I want to sell everything and get something different, the other half thinks it's just fine the way it is.
 
Too expensive for me, but....Wow, just look how nice and neat the inside of that thing is laid out! Almost makes me want to ask the rep if I see these at show to open one up and then I can call people over to look at it..."hey, come look how neat they keep everything in there, let's ask them what their fridge looks like". I wouldn't be surprised to find the capacitors, tubes, resistors and all that were in numeric or alpha order or something...uh, well, ok, maybe that would be a bit odd.:)
Kidding aside, that has to be the neatest layout in a piece of electronics I've ever seen.
 
Any thoughts on how it would compare sonically with ARC Ref 10? VAC Sig was also reviewed in UK mag HiFi Critic but I haven't read that review.
 
ashandger said:
Any thoughts on how it would compare sonically with ARC Ref 10? VAC Sig was also reviewed in UK mag HiFi Critic but I haven't read that review.
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Reina compared it with the SP20 and in not so many words said it wasn't a contest. but that's a much cheaper ARC preamp.
 
Just to note - I believe that the bottom two pictures above are not of the Signature models, but rather the VAC Statement series which are much more expensive. The circuit layouts are certainly beautiful and very carefully dressed, but the Signature models do not have that level of internal fit and finish. Not that they're badly built, but when you compare them the differences and attention to detail are quite apparent.
 
I replaced my vac ren mkiii with an ARC Ref 40 which I felt was a better sounding preamp - more texture and dynamic. But the VAC was really good and beat others that I threw at it (CJ GAT).
 
I agree

At a dealer I compared the VAC ren mkii with a ARC REF 40 and bought the REF 40 off the floor. It just seemed more natural. But I would have been happy with either.

I compared the REF 10 with the REF 40, and again preferred the REF 40 for a lot of the same reasons I liked it over the VAC. So I suspect that the Vac and Ref 10 are a lot more alike than different.

My guess between the 3 preamps - it will come down to symmetry within the system.



Dpod4 said:
I replaced my vac ren mkiii with an ARC Ref 40 which I felt was a better sounding preamp - more texture and dynamic. But the VAC was really good and beat others that I threw at it (CJ GAT).
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I've owned the REF10, and as good as it is, at that price point, I have heard the VAC Master Preamp a number of times and that would be my choice. It sounds richer, fuller and ultimately more musical to my ears. YMMV.
 
Mike said:
I've owned the REF10, and as good as it is, at that price point, I have heard the VAC Master Preamp a number of times and that would be my choice. It sounds richer, fuller and ultimately more musical to my ears. YMMV.
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I am at the same place with my 520 preamp. I have tried to sell it 3 times now & I just can't do it. Why, because everything i ask of it is rewarded with fragrance of spirit! Sounds pretty good too if you feed it good stuff....
 
I will be shipping my VAC SigMKIIa for SE upgrade end of the summer. I was planning to replace SigMKIIa with Ref10 since I have ARC Ref250. But after a friend compared the SE with Ref10 in the same system, he suggests I should upgrade before replacing it.

Dpod4 said:
I replaced my vac ren mkiii with an ARC Ref 40 which I felt was a better sounding preamp - more texture and dynamic. But the VAC was really good and beat others that I threw at it (CJ GAT).
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I remember you never roll any tubes but just use stock. From my experience, VAC preamps are very sensitive to tube rolling and a MUST to get the best out of them.
 
knghifi said:
I will be shipping my VAC SigMKIIa for SE upgrade end of the summer. I was planning to replace SigMKIIa with Ref10 since I have ARC Ref250. But after a friend compared the SE with Ref10 in the same system, he suggests I should upgrade before replacing it.

I remember you never roll any tubes but just use stock. From my experience, VAC preamps are very sensitive to tube rolling and a MUST to get the best out of them.
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Looking forward to your impressions after the upgrade. I agree with your friend! [emoji6]

Agree 100% on the tubes. Remember, manufacturers need to buy hundreds of the same tube, they must be reliable, available, etc. After that, users installing NOS can bring things to a whole new level.
 
Mike said:
Looking forward to your impressions after the upgrade. I agree with your friend! [emoji6]

Agree 100% on the tubes. Remember, manufacturers need to buy hundreds of the same tube, they must be reliable, available, etc. After that, users installing NOS can bring things to a whole new level.
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And don't forget they can reject 40 or 50 pct. of the tubes they get. Guess what happens to those reject tubes?

Generally the remainder go through a slow, tempered burn in over 48 hrs or so to extend tube life. Then some companies will put the tubes in the equipment and test to make sure the circuit meets specs. That's what you are paying for when say you buy from ARC or cj as opposed to say The Tube Store.
 
Mike said:
Looking forward to your impressions after the upgrade. I agree with your friend! [emoji6]

Agree 100% on the tubes. Remember, manufacturers need to buy hundreds of the same tube, they must be reliable, available, etc. After that, users installing NOS can bring things to a whole new level.
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Either that or users will ruin the sound the designer intended with the tubes they chose to use. Lots of NOS tubes in the marketplace aren't really new and/or they are either pulls from used gear or they are tubes that were previously rejected by other manufacturers. There is lots of junk out there masquerading as premium NOS tubes. Are there still some really good NOS tubes available in the marketplace? Yes. How hard is it to find them and buy them? It's a crapshoot at best.
 
And if they ruin the sound they can put the stock tubes back in. Done. End of story.

If you have good sources, finding NOS isn't that bad.

And let's not forget there are some decent new tubes being made - like Elrog and Takatsuki.
 
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