VAC Vintage High Power Mk II Monophonic Power Amplifier

[Hyfi]

I know as in my searching and not finding much I found a old post of yours. I was going to send a PM and talk to you and Gordon.

I'd be glad to chat about it. I am the second owner and it was originally a Demo unit at David Lewis Audio in Philly along with the rest of what is in my sig (minus the CDP).

When I bought the system, the Conterpoint was not working and the VAC was tubed incorrectly. The guy had 4 12AX7s in play as opposed to 2-12AX7s and 2-AU7s.
I went thru several rounds of tubes including Sovtek, JJs, and what Kevin recommended and what would have been in newer VAC units at that time. They were decent but I was still lacking some bass. Last year I bought 2 matching pairs of Genalax Gold Lion Gold Pins and have been real happy with the sound.

For fun and to make sure my old Hafler 9180, which had been sitting idle for close to 20 years, was still in working order I dropped it into my main system. Aside from being generally pleased with how the old Hafler sounded, I was also reminded just how important a good Pre can be and was amazed at what the combo could do. A $4500 pre driving a $600 amp was a fun experiment.

I would love to match those 2 old mono blocks up the the CLA Pre.

 

[Bostown]

I know as in my searching and not finding much I found a old post of yours. I was going to send a PM and talk to you and Gordon. I sent Bostown one to see if he still had his but he did sell it.


Yep

I always start out with a "matched" stack and then after a while I start mixing things up based on performance. ( or vice versa) I'm on a similar hunt. I acquired a VAC Auricle MKII ( The Kevin Hayes "remix" of the Marantz 8 / 8b) It's been on my list of Curiosity items for a while but very few have actually shown up for sale on the market. Apparently there is also an Auricle Preamp.

I need another Pre-amp like evil dictators need a valid reason to "off" their citizens. but I'm "curious" to hear the pair together. I'm using a Musical Fidelity X-P100 pre at the moment and will probably run through a few pairings ( Van Alstine super PAS, Audire Diffet 2 and 3, Essence High Def Audio Control Center, etc etc blah blah blah.) so if you come across a VAC Auricle PRE. hit me up. I'll do return the favor if I see a match for your mono amps.

 

[4-2-7]

I would love to match those 2 old mono blocks up the the CLA Pre.

LOL
Yeah but.... who's doing the matching...

Personally though, I can't for the life of me understand why I keep buying stuff. However these came into the record store and the owner brought me in the back to show me them. The next day after lamenting on them I had to try them so I swung a deal. I have no plans and don't know what I'm doing but just couldn't leave them at the store. Whoever had them took extremely good care of them, and I think when the tubes started to go they wrapped them up and stored them away.

 

[GordonW]

I think these where built around 1995-1998?

Here is the company today.

Ha, CES 2016- 29th floor of the Venetian in Las Vegas. I set up much of the equipment in that room. Transrotor Rondino turntable with Airtight PC1 Supreme cartridge, Esoteric K-01X CD/SACD player, VAC Master pre-amplifier, 4x VAC Signature 200iQ power amps (bi-amped), Focal Grande Utopia speakers, all Shunyata cables and power conditioners.

That was a jaw-droppingly good sound system. Even crammed into that little hotel suite.

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[Pio1980]

VAC did reissued runs of the Marantz 8 and 9, how bad could they be?

 

[Bostown]

VAC did reissued runs of the Marantz 8 and 9, how bad could they be?

They did the official reissue for Marantz and then after that they released a VAC branded clone of the 8 / 8b called the Auricle. some tweaks later... The Auricle MKII . im not sure where the preamp came in.

Ive been very happy with the VAC amps ive owned over the years. Im thinking that @4-2-7 could end up being a VAC fan along with McIntosh. looks like that bug bit pretty hard

 

[GordonW]

The Auricle pre-amp was released about the same time as the Auricle Musicbloc amps (2003-4 or so, plus or minus).

Those were the first VAC models I ever sold, new.

I remember the mind-blowing experience of getting in our VAC Phi 110i integrated amp, about the same time period. That amp simply re-wrote pretty much everything I thought was "the best in audio" in one fell swoop. Simply the best sounding amp I had ever heard, bar none. And it still can hold its own, against some very lofty and expensive competition, even now...

Yes, I will positively say that the VAC Statement gear is significantly better in pretty much every way- but the Phi 110i still may well be better than everything ELSE out there, IMHO...

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[4-2-7]

For example, with early Martin Logan Sequel II we find that the bass speaker is best matched with the 4 ohm tap, while the electrostatic panel is best controlled by the 2 ohm tap. To achieve this connection, the black leads of both speaker cables connect to "G", the red lead for the panel connects to "2", and the red lead for the woofer connects to "4".

Here's a clip having the VAC set up this way

 

[4-2-7]

These amps a even more special when paired with the Monitor Audio M3 Mk II, What a nice little package..

 

[4-2-7]

Short clips of Sarah McLachlan: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy and The Freedom Sessions
Label: Classic Records

 

[Hyfi]

Very cool, would be so nice to pair those monos with my matching pre, which is also pretty special from what I am finding out auditioning new gear.

 

[4-2-7]

Very cool, would be so nice to pair those monos with my matching pre, which is also pretty special from what I am finding out auditioning new gear.

I haven't see much info on that Preamp, is it a tube pre?
I know what I'v posted here with photos and vids is the most info on the net so far of these amp.
If you could post some good shots, info and owners manual for your pre it would be good for other to see what the whole set was at the time.

 

[4-2-7]

Well, how do they sound? Stop teasing us with amp porn.

Well here's some vids above David
I have to get a better external mic for my Canon SLR because it's just a mono mic inside of it, my phone sounds better and this is what I have for now. I'm just learning about shooting and posting vids to youtube but will get better.

 

[Hyfi]

I haven't see much info on that Preamp, is it a tube pre?
I know what I'v posted here with photos and vids is the most info on the net so far of these amp.
If you could post some good shots, info and owners manual for your pre it would be good for other to see what the whole set was at the time.

I will see where I have the original Brochure.
Here is a link to the original Owners Manual, I also have this in the original from along with the real owners manuals for my Counterpoint Amp and Clearfield Speakers.

http://www.vac-amps.com/manuals/Manual_CPA1_Mk3.pdf

Here are the online pics I can find. Note, I have the CLA and the CPA model has the extra bank of tubes for the Phono Stage.

With the 20LB outboard PS

Guts of the CPA model

And this one is actually my unit
View attachment 968972

 

[4-2-7]

I will see where I have the original Brochure.
Here is a link to the original Owners Manual, I also have this in the original from along with the real owners manuals for my Counterpoint Amp and Clearfield Speakers.

http://www.vac-amps.com/manuals/Manual_CPA1_Mk3.pdf

Here are the online pics I can find. Note, I have the CLA and the CPA model has the extra bank of tubes for the Phono Stage.

With the 20LB outboard PS

Guts of the CPA model

And this one is actually my unit
View attachment 968972

See that's the best photos I'v seen of it. So this is a two box design, Dirty Box Clean Box, separating the power supply.

 

[Hyfi]

Yes, huge outboard brick I leave on the floor behind my rack. It has a good length umbilical with balanced like connectors.

The other cool feature is the 3-Mode drive settings, Passive Buffered, Low Gain, and High Gain. I use all 3 for different listening situations.
Passive Buffered for late night listening where I don't need volume and slam, but want to maintain detail.
Normal Gain - general every day listening
High Gain - for when I want to seriously jam out and nobody is home.

I leave the cage off so I can get to the Mode Knob and roll tubes. I stopped messing after dropping in matched sets of Golden Lions.

The only real drawback is no remote and two separate volume knobs due to this unit being true Dual Mono.

 

[Mister Pig]

longtime friend of mine has these mono blocks and the matching pre amp. He used them for quite awhile running speakes from Quads to Genesis, and Mourdant Short. They have always sounded very nice over at his place. The phono stage in it is quite good, and he happens to own a Sota Sapphire with SME M2-9 arm. LOL. These days he has set them aside for a pair of Pass SS mono blocks that are better suited for his current ATC speakers.

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[Bostown]

The only real drawback is no remote and two separate volume knobs due to this unit being true Dual Mono.

You can remedy the lack of remote by using a Schiit Saga or locating a Creek remote volume control (obh 10,12,22). They all operate as passive devices that can serve as an external remote control device for NON remote capable gear.

 

[Hyfi]

Th

You can remedy the lack of remote by using a Schiit Saga or locating a Creek remote volume control (obh 10,12,22). They all operate as passive devices that can serve as an external remote control device for NON remote capable gear.

Thanks for the tips. Changing the volume is one of my exercise routines.

What do you do, set the volume to max on the real Pre and then work the volume from there?

 

[Dotting]

Hi all, I am from Vietnam, do have a pair of VAC V100 as well.

Having recapped all about 60 capacitors, added volume attenuators and made cages for both blocks. They are fantastic to drive any low efficient speakers.

A little bit strange that my pair has switches that change modes of power supply transformer.
Some pairs optioned by VAC with knobs switching between triode - ultralinear, cages also.

Pics for fun: