What's unique about the brand
What reviewers are saying
We read all the reviews. Here's what reviewers feel most strongly about:
- VAC designs and manufactures its own bespoke transformers in the USA, winding them with stick-wound EI cores and encapsulating them in a special gel to dampen noise and vibration.
- The "iQ" Continuous Automatic Bias System, a patented technology, continuously monitors and adjusts the bias of the output tubes, optimizing performance and extending tube life without manual intervention.
- VAC Statement components are meticulously hand-wired with point-to-point connections and use silver turrets for junctions, minimizing signal path and maximizing RF rejection and signal purity.
- They employ a specific sequence of plating metals—aluminum, copper, nickel, and chrome—on Statement preamplifier and iQ power amplifier parts to create coactive circuits.
Our favorite reviewer quotes:
- "Whether playing LPs or high-resolution files, I was continually moved by this system's ability to present such meticulously expressed musical resolution, while being able to convey it with one of the most organic, natural, and coherent voices I've ever experienced. The exceptional degree to which these instruments accomplish both transparency and musicality is, in my experience, unparalleled." (https://pt.audio/2023/05/12/vac-statement-components-greg-weaver)
- "The ensuing space that these components so effortlessly and precisely reconstruct is so authentic, so corporeal, and so credible, that you can almost believe that you could reach out and touch the performers and their instruments. The inescapable dimensional reality with which this confluence of gear consistently portrays the physical placement of instruments and artists, the characteristics of individual instrumental size and body, as well as their interrelationships and layering specificity, simply must be experienced to be believed." (https://pt.audio/2023/05/12/vac-statement-components-greg-weaver)
- "Let me begin by revealing one of this system's most overwhelming strengths, its unfailing ability to accurately render timbre, and with not only an unassailable truthfulness but by conveying tonal color in the most remarkably fine gradation of shading and articulation. This system's ability to portray accurate tonality, and with an arguably almost faultless balance, is simply as good as it gets." (https://pt.audio/2023/05/12/vac-statement-components-greg-weaver)
- "The Statement 450i iQ (and the entire VAC Statement series), does not stop at knocking on solid state's transparency supremacy door, it kicks it open and stomps on through, demanding a seat at the table as an equal. Its ability to render stark transparency to sources and recordings, to reveal the most delicate nuance in detail or scale, is somewhat disarming and is unrivaled by other valve-based amplifiers in my experience." (https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/valve-amplification-company-statement-450i-iq-integrated-amplifier)
- "With the VAC combo, I can sit in the middle of the orchestra and follow the lines and textures of the individual instruments, I can hear the most minute detail illuminated in the score, how the sheer brilliance of Mozart's orchestration becomes apparent. It is revelatory and exhilarating to experience." (https://hifiplus.com/articles/vac-master-preamplifier-and-signature-200-iq-power-amplifier)
- "The Statement 450i iQ portrays tone color, or instrumental timbre, with incontrovertible accuracy, endowing it with a level of expressiveness that I have only otherwise recently heard from much more expensive separate Statement products from VAC. There is density, robustness, texture, and sustainability to tone that is singularly exceptional in my experience." (https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/valve-amplification-company-statement-450i-iq-integrated-amplifier)
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Products
Lineup comparison
We think it's helpful to understand how their products compare. To learn more about each, scroll to the section above to click through to individual product pages.
Essence 80iQ:
- Positioning: Entry-level line, designed for affordability and compactness.
- Description: Offers a clear, detailed sound with Gold Lion KT88 beam power tubes and patented iQ Continuous Automatic Bias System. It provides 85 watts of power, which is less than the Signature 202iQ's 100 watts per channel. Its affordability makes it suitable for those with a limited budget who still desire high-quality sound.
Signature 202iQ:
- Positioning: Mid-range option, balancing performance and cost.
- Description: Features the iQ Continuous Automatic Bias System and delivers 100 watts per channel, making it more powerful than the Essence 80iQ. It operates in both stereo and mono modes, unlike the Essence 80iQ.
Master 300:
- Positioning: High-end line, designed for superior sound quality and flexibility.
- Description: Provides a fully balanced audio circuit and can be configured for 160 watts per channel stereo or 300+ watts mono, offering more flexibility than the Signature 202iQ.
Statement 450 iQ:
- Positioning: Premium line, focused on advanced technology and high performance.
- Description: Incorporates the iQ Intelligent Continuous Automatic Bias System and improved output transformers, providing 450 watts of power. It offers more headroom and a greater sense of space compared to the Master 300.
Statement 452 iQ:
- Positioning: Flagship model, offering the ultimate in audio performance and innovation.
- Description: Features a unique vertical architecture and lateral tube mounting, providing 450 watts mono or 225 watts per channel dual mono. It surpasses the Statement 450 iQ with its enhanced realism and flexibility.
Used
VAC
Every month, we find the brand's used items for sale across the web and offline hifi stores. We have the largest database of used hifi products. Search it here.
Search hifi products
Explore our database of 10,000+ new and 25,000+ used hifi products.
Similar
Amplifiers
brands
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
Fully transformer coupled designs. The use of directly heated triodes not only as output tube but also as drive rand preamp tube. 600 Ohm LCR RIAA EQ in phono stages. Custom triodes for the Intrepid series (Thomas Mayer ONE, TWO and THREE). Possibility to customise each product to specific needs.
What's your approach to customer support?
I sell directly to end customers. I used to have very few resellers but due to the steep increase of production and material costs I exclusive do direct sales now to avoid price increases of the products which would otherwise be necessary. My goal is that every customer is happy and I am always available for any questions even years after the sale. When necessary I do repairs or assist in set up at the customer site.
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
I don’t have any favourite tracks, but use whatever I am in the mood for. Equipment should not be designed to work with specific music. People should use music they like for testing
What other products pair best with yours?
Admire Audio speakers.
.png){kind=logo}
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Featured products
About the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
