Purveyor of all things tubular, Bob Malecki of TubeSeller is your source for especially vintage 6SN7s including VT-231 and 5692 by makers such as Ken-Rad, Tung-Sol, RCA, Raytheon, GE, Sylvania, Brimar, Mullard and Hytron. Want to telegraph your thermo alliances on chest or back instead? The folks from Vacuum Tube Valley Magazine will oblige with the requisite T-shirts.
Allen Wright's Vacuum State Electronics continues the research into true differential tube amplification that was begun by the infamous think-tank Tektronix which, among others, bestowed serious engineering spurs on Jennifer Whitewolf-Crock of Jena Labs. Attempting to marry the virtues of SE [upper left circuit] and P-P [middle left circuit] topologies while transcending their weaknesses -- very high levels of harmonic and intermodulation distortion as well as asymmetrical output impedances in the SE camp; loss of microdynamics through recombinant phase splitting in the push-pull camp -- Allen's devised a circuit that uses two output tubes with a p/p-type transformer but converts operation to true differential in all stages, through the addition of a 'magic box' [lower left circuit].

This is said to guarantee absolutely constant current flow through both tubes and output transformer, assuring perfectly symmetrical behavior and thus SET-type microdynamics. The DPA-1 uses one pair of KT88s for 25/50-watt of triode/ultralinear power while the DPA-2 doubles output valves for twice the power. 300B variants as well as 845/211 bottles can be accommodated as well. Under development for four years, the silent-display amp above appeared to be exceedingly well made and gets my 'educated guess' vote for most exciting new tube topology of the year.

Show organizer Ron Welborne of Welborne Labs displayed his Oris horn system [$5,138] which uses an Oris 150 horn with AER BD3 driver, bronze phase plug and crown, solid aluminum stand and horn-loaded bass-reflex cabinet plus Reveille active crossover kit. An AER BD2 driver [$4,480] or Lowther PM4A [$3,530] can be substituted. These prices reflect kit status and do not include the stunning paint job on the horns which, depending on lighting, changed color like a hi-tech multi-hue metallic automotive lacquer.
Amplification was compliments of Ron's new Direct Reactance Drive DRD SET monos which couple the Ultrapath stage's Electra-Print output transformer return to the power valve's cathode rather than power supply. Power output for the 2A3 version is 3 watts, 1.5-2 watts with the 45, 7 watts with the 300B. Depending on trim level and output tube, these kits sell from $850 to $1,810. Welborne's new Ultrapath bp two-box battery-powered preamp [$695 to $1,250, add $200-250 for assembly] offers 3 inputs, dual transformer-coupled outputs and runs off a pair of matched Telefunken 6GM8s while supplies last. Our own Paul Candy is signed up to build this kit during the cold Canadian winter months.
Alan Kafton's $2,000 PowerWing under his WorldPower banner powered everything in the Two Bald Guys as well as Redpoint/ Experience and ModWright/Rogue/Quad displays while also appearing in the Cain & Cain exhibit. This appears to be yet another high-performance entrant in a field crowding up with offerings from Audio Magic, BPT, Running Springs Audio, Shunyata, Sound Application and Walker Audio.

The Third Wright (not Rethm) of Wright Sound Company won the most-boxes-brought sweepstakes with a mindboggling selection of amps, preamps and phono stages. All manner of trim levels suggested that budget-conscious tube lovers would definitely find something from this company to benefit his or her wallet, sophistication and power requirements.

In closing -- and with sincere apologies to those whom I unwittingly overlooked -- VSAC's hidden heart beat was really all about the forming of community. From common dinners and yak sessions between Positive Feedback, EnjoyTheMusic, Audio Asylum and 6moons writers/posters to completely casual, no-secrets, no-attitude interactions between visitors and exhibitor, what you didn't see or feel was segregation. No better-or-holier-than-thou vibes, no 'here comes the competition, avoid eye contact and detour into the first possible open door' nonsense I've seen perpetrated elsewhere by the morks and dorks of the world. It's this very spirit of freely shared cooperation and involvement, between manufacturers, press and end users, that's somewhat scarce at many of the more formally -- and so-called professionally -- organized events. Mind you, I can't speak for others. Personally though, I much prefer a T-shirt and open-toed sandal crowd, on both sides of the fence, than the stodgy and rushed atmosphere of the big-dog shows. I say then, let's do it again. And since the Rocky Mountain AudioFest promises just that, count on 6moons to cover it next year. Meanwhile, our new Asian correspondent Sanjay will report from the upcoming Singapore Show 2003 until our corporate coffers are loaded enough to send ye olde editor abroad for DimSum and pickled jelly fish. Coming up first, way first? Jeff's notes on VSAC 2003...