Valve Amplification Company (VAC) Phi Beta 110i Integrated Amp with Phono

This is the one piece of equipment that I am most reluctantly selling. Quite simply, one of the most beautiful and exceptional pieces of equipment I have ever owned. Rare on the market , for good reason. VAC stopped making the Phi series which included Preamps, Amps & this Integrated simply because they cost too much to make even relative to their very high prices. A labour of love for Kevin Hayes at VAC, these amps were built to an exacting , perfectionist standard to the nth degree. Consider an Integrated amp that weighs 95 lbs .....without the separate 45 lbs power supply and you might get some sense of the quality of this piece. The unit was manufactured in June 2007 , one of the last being made before production was stopped. A glance at the new range of VAC Integrated's will give you some idea of the quality of this unit. If I don't sell this amp, I will probably be relieved..... An exceptional 110W (tube watts are not equal to SS watts) will drive anything out there , I should know, I've used the piece on everything from power-hungry Raidhos and Magicos to Maggies. The preamp section was lifted straight from the Phi preamp . The amp comes with an exceptional phono stage with both MC & MM inputs , making this a true stand alone , one piece solution. Direct amp input allows the amp to be used as a straight power amp, while Tape loop & Pre outputs only increase the versatility . Condition is excellent, closer to a 9/10 but conservatively rated 8/10 for age . From the Manual: "The Phi Beta is the world's finest integrated amplifier and an absolutely unique component. Its unusual topology, premium parts and flexibility make it a pleasure to hear and operate. Essentially, the Beta is the combination of elements of the Phi 2.0 Preamplifier with the Phi 110/110 stereo amplifier into a single, integrated, optimized system. The phono stage uses triode tubes operating without loop feedback. Gain is moderately high, with very low noise floor. Low output MC cartridges are accommodated by means of high quality matching transformers, which contribute voltage gain w/out noise, resulting in detail that emerges from a remarkable dark and neutral background. Remote volume control is implemented via motorized mechanical device. This provides two major advantages. First, the control is completely intuitive to use. Second, we avoid the sound degradation attendant w/ VCAs, transistor switches, and switched resistor arrays. The power amplifier section uses four KT88 tubes in Class AB1. Uniquely, each is provided with a separate DC heater supply to ensure that no undesirable couplings occur; only the intended ideal signal path exists. The input circuitry is derivative of the unique Williamson circuit, which provides pure, direct coupled, inherently balanced input amplification and phase splitting. Type 6SN7/5692 octal twin triodes do the honours. Two superb VAC output transformers allow high power to be delivered with sonic purity, provide superb voltage/current translation, and will drive impedances from eight ohms to as low as one ohm. The main chassis is machined from this aluminum. The separate power supply allows EMF fields, switching transients, and mechanical vibration to be isolated from the audio circuits. The high voltage supply dual choke pi filtering for extremely low noise. The Phi Beta is designed not to the latest fad but to substance, for the highest possible sound quality." I have all the original boxes, manuals, etc. Shipping will be at Buyer's expense at my cost, I have a Fedex account and all discounts will be passed on to the Buyer.Payment by wire transfer preferred . PayPal is acceptable if the Buyer pays the 3% fee. Price is pretty firm so no lowballers please. Thanks for looking