Valve Amplification Company (VAC) is a U.S. manufacturer of high end audio electronics, principally utilizing vacuum tube

Vacuum tube

In electronics, a vacuum tube, electron tube , or thermionic valve , reduced to simply "tube" or "valve" in everyday parlance, is a device that relies on the flow of electric current through a vacuum...

 technology. It was founded in 1990 by Kevin Hayes (1959 -) and Channing W. Hayes (1923–2009). A Florida corporation, as of 2011 it is located in Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...

, U.S.A.

It is well known for having produced the Marantz Classic series of amplifiers

Amplifier

Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...

 for Marantz Japan from 1996-1998 (Marantz Model 7 / 7C, Model 8B, Model 9), as well as the VAC-designed Model 66 integrated amplifier

Integrated amplifier

An integrated amplifier is an electronic device containing an audio preamplifier and power amplifier in one unit, as opposed to separating the two. Most modern audio amplifiers are integrated and have several inputs for devices such as CD players, DVD players, and auxiliary sources...

. In addition, it redeveloped and produced the first 200 recreations of the LA-2A leveling amplifier

Leveler

A leveler performs an audio process similar to compression, which is used to reduce the dynamic range of a signal, so that the quietest portion of the signal is loud enough to hear and the loudest portion is not too loud. A leveler is different from a compressor in that the ratio and threshold are...

 for Universal Audio

Universal Audio

Universal Audio is the fifth and final studio album by Scottish indie rock band The Delgados, released September 20, 2004. The album is considered to showcase a more 'stripped down' sound than its predecessor Hate, featuring less orchestral themes....

in 1998.

Company History

VAC was founded in 1990 by Kevin Hayes and his father, Channing W. Hayes in Sarasota, Florida. The first products were the PA45 and PA90 power amplifiers, designed jointly. Beginning with their second product, the CPA1 / CLA1 preamplifier, designs are largely the work of Kevin Hayes, who functions as chief engineer.

VAC continued to operate in Florida until the beginning of the Marantz Classic project, the production phase of which commenced in Durham, NC in January 1996. VAC returned to Sarasota, FL in September 2001.

VAC is privately held.

Notable Products

PA45 & PA90 power amplifier, 1990–1997

Renaissance Series (R30/30, R30/70, R70/70, R140), 1993–2009

Phi Beta 110i integrated amplifier, 2004–2008

Signature Preamplifier, 1999–present

Avatar Series integrated amplifier, 1998–2008

Phi 200 power amplifier, 2007–present

Phi 300 Series power amplifier, 2006–present

Statement 450 power amplifier, 2010–present

External links

1) Official VAC company website

2) Review of VAC Phi 200 Power Amplifier in UltraAudio

3) Review of VAC Phi 200 Amplifier (Italian)

4) Review of VAC Phi 200 Power Amplifier in DaGoGo

5) Review of VAC Renaissance Mk III Preamplifier in UltraAudio

6) Review of VAC Signature Mk II Preamplifier in DaGoGo

7) Review of VAC Signature Mk II Preamplifier in InnerEar magazine (Canada)

8) Review of early VAC Signature Mk II Preamplifier in Stereophile magazine

9) Comparison of VAC tube electronics with Krell and Lexicon solid state electronics from Sound & Vision magazine

10) Brief review of the VAC Marantz Classic project

11) Article referencing VAC and Kevin Hayes from Scientific American