Factory Tour: VTL Amplifiers, Inc. | Stereophile

[@tomzielinski9506]

I don't care what any one talks down about how VTL is made, or there factory. This company history and sound quality speaks for it self. This is high end equipment, with real high end sound. And friendly people are employed there. Personally I love VTL. I don't care if it's made in a cave, as long as they keep the quality, build, and sound, they have been doing for over 30 years..

[@Zoomerland]

I retired as an R&D engineer from Hewlett-Packard many years ago. It's surprises me that the manufacturing process of pc boards and the final wiring of the box has not changed significantly. This video peaks my interest in VTL products.

[@williamli7477]

Great to see the analog hardware are still being produced and current!!

[@kevonmanuel]

Stereophile, PLEASE, PLEASE do more of these Factory Tours.

[@dennisfrancisco4937]

I bought a VTL amplifier from the David Manley time when they started their factory at Chino California and up to now I am still using it after 20 + years.

[@joeygonzo]

i bet it still has a warm and powerful sound

[@bikemike1118]

If you like it there’s no reason not to 👍🏼

[@johnanderson8096]

IMPRESSIVE!!! Bea was an Excellent tour guide!!!!

[@Sams911]

and the fact that they're using a dCS Rossini as a reference tells me they understand what it takes to be a top of the food chain manufacture.

[@carloalbertobirocco6264]

No doubt about VTL quality! An excellent organized factory and respect for Luke Manley, very skilled engineer as his father David, the -God of valves-!

[@bassplayersguild7641]

Impeccable quality control, very impressive company.

[@OrganNLou]

So nice to see more women in our audio industry! Terrific company!

[@duantorruellas716]

The name Manley is amp royal , like Bob carver is. VTL is a company that has a reputation for making great amps that I know of for just the last 30 years. Now they're new tech must be even better , I had a used stereo integrated tube amp by them . For a grand , it was built like a tank it had one section or channel on top of the other , like Conrad Johnson use to do. This vtl was like 80lbs.

[@Reyfox1]

Wish I could afford them! But these videos are really great! A "behind the scenes" tour. Love it! Bea is absolutely amazing!

[@Sams911]

I LOVE that she cares about the quality and country of origin of the parts, down to the base materials.. This is why brands like this are successful... companies like McIntosh, dCS, Accuphase are all examples of this level of pride in one's product and the unified desire to avoid Chinese labor and business practices..

[@salvadorrodenas3071]

those videos of 'how they made it', are very interesting. Please, keep doing more videos like this.

[@DrNoahBoddy004]

....and thank you, Maxxine, for that really useful public service announcement.

[@indopleaser]

do enjoy the factory tours. and seeing the ti car sub

[@1mctous]

It sounded as capable as the Siegfried.

[@Jvavolerpareil]

This is a very amazing factory tour ! I appreciate that you take care about local fabrication. BTW, I asked one to Santa Claus this year. :-)

[@joyojoyo8]

totally cool stuff ... Proudly made in the USA!

[@JigilJigil]

Made in USA, good to see that.

[@andyandy2684]

Nice vid. LOVE VTL products!

[@mapoulin300]

11:40 "autobias isn't working when playing music" lol. still appreciate the tour, well done.

[@Neo--X]

Many manufacturers are trying to copy VTL's unique approach to auto-bias. vtl.com/technology/vtl-technical-highlights/ ... if their statement is not true, it would be exposed as false long time ago, by their competitors in this field.

[@milojenikolovski7522]

Very nice, Made in USA.

[@Yogi-Megan]

so nice

[@paulanderson1313]

Very nice tube amps.

[@kloss213]

What I enjoy most out of these vids is how young they make this grandpa of 2 feel. The reviewers from phile are old as the hills. Sure educated listening and experience matter but are 60-70 year old ears ever factor in this? What phile needs is a few 20-30 year old reviewers and maybe a female perspective. I know print mags are mostly for the aged like me but I hate to see it just fade away.

[@joeygonzo]

Bea is such a fine lady. So caring too.

[@johnwheelwright799]

Do they still ship with fire extinguishers?

[@willstearns3603]

Cool!

[@AA-dd5kn]

That's cute we got a first full review of how their WMS and Production cycle is done.... as if that's what the people like me who love this stuff want to know.... good thing I work in the MRP/ERP/WMS world and understand what he was saying for the first 5 minutes....

[@Racedoc]

I won’t be surprised if they sound better than McIntosh.

[@Tesla_NZ]

Nothing beyond a diy level.

[@ethorii]

Not really. The builders have many years of experience, and the circuitry is assumed to be expertly designed and not "cloned" from China.

[@APRIL2862]

So how much do these units cost?

[@ethorii]

VTL new amplifiers can cost up to >100k. Preamps can be $5-15k.

[@joeygonzo]

9:37, FLUX CAPACITOR

[@CABohol]

Wow

[@anonymousonlineuser6543]

I would propose to introduce a hairnets into assembly process

[@TitusAthena]

4352 Ebert Tunnel

[@KennethJackson-l8n]

Elody Mountains

[@yonekyonekaw7470]

Good vídeo,Good report,Good made in USA I'm tired of seeing made in China,

[@kaybhee6]

without her, all stops huh..

[@veedub95]

A car or a amp that is the question

[@thegrimyeaper]

amp

[@iwaswithyourmom9410]

car

[@analogjames3429]

Bea is an extremely arrogant and offensive woman. I spent 30k on new amps and was chastised for not upgrading my preamp.

[@AttyMonroe]

I've never done business with VTL, but she does give off that vibe.

[@tomzielinski9506]

@@AttyMonroe you could be further from the truth. Bea and Luke are absolutely wonderful and Caring people, who still build by hand in the good ole USA. Unlike other profit is everything, company's who stuck it to the American worker and moved operations to China. Rest assured, you buy vtl, you are getting top notch valve equipment that vtl will stand behind the product. This company's history speaks for it self, great, great, tube equipment.

[@JoeSharber-t5k]

Perez Kenneth Hall Gary Smith Angela

[@chasevineland1508]

Being made by hand and tested is the norm. Tell me what VTL does different. I’m in manufacturing and owned manufacturing companies and nothing here is different or special. Especially considering VTL charges an arm, leg, and kidney for anything they make. Thanks for doing these audio factory tours... tells me how little innovation these audio companies have.

[@rastislavledaj3110]

I know that sound quality of their products is amazing, but frankly if I do not know what kind of company they are, I would consider them as total amateurs. It seems that none of people speaking in this video have clue about electronics. No sign of anybody who actually designed any of presented circuits/PCBs, what is the most critical. Moreover 10% of rejections at the end of production process after all QC during production is totally unacceptable.

[@carlosmante]

I guess most of that "10%" rejects are "buyer remorse".

[@WittyName]

I agree the lady talking seems to just act as a manager and represents bad pr for the company. She can't seem to explain any of his more complex questions.

[@TheRuffusMD]

QC , great , in this case helps make a great product ... i love smart asian women

[@nortoniglesias3060]

I’ll pay for those 500 dollars that’s what they gonna get from me..I’d Rather Travel To See the world.

[@ethorii]

These products are for those that can afford them, i.e. not cut back in other areas of life, or fanatical people who "overspend" in this area since to them it's worth it. I never buy new audio. It looses 30-40% out the door like a car. This stuff isn't abused by the owners generally. Buy used.

[@peace-yv4qd]

One word I wish people would stop using is "cool". It sounds silly when older people use it. And it's overused by everyone.

[@fredfungalspore]

Frustrating and annoying interview the gentleman ask the same question a 100 different ways 🤔

[@carlfuggiasco7495]

This is the most amateur late 1970’s early 80’s electronics firm way of working. No computers ….no anti -static grounding…..everybody touching boards right and left without grounding…what a joke! Rega, Naim, etc are modern electronic factories….this is the stone age.

[@moodyga40]

it valve not computers

[@iwaswithyourmom9410]

and made by Mexicans

[@MrCatalysis101]

In the end it's all about how good it sounds and how reliable it is. I like hand built. Seemed to me there was a lot of quality control and attention to detail built into their processes. This is a very small scale manufacturer. Unfair to compare with the big boys. Never confuse a fancy factory with knowledgeable staff. The two don't always match. Nor does sound quality.

[@Diggnuts]

Why bother with needless steps in production when these are not necessary to make a working product. Surely, if static was a problem, this would be addressed. It isn't so it is not.

[@chasevineland1508]

I 100% agree. Looks like junk one off assembly. Wooden jigs and building computer boards on leftover foam. Good grief.

[@ColocasiaCorm]

Lol so awkward when he talked shit about china to a chinese

[@tms372]

I like VTL tube gear but when SF sends a gay writer to help sell there gear I know it's time to look elsewhere.

[@1mctous]

His sexual preference has no bearing on his ability.

[@michaeljemal]

You sound cute.

[@billdunn8542]

All the gay hater I’ve met over the years, tuned out to be gay. Quite hating when they came out.

[@DrNoahBoddy004]

Ordinarily, I would just ignore this type of bigoted idiocy. The house of VTL was virtuous, forthright, and kind in hosting this visit by Mr Serinus. Alan Blumlein, the brilliant genius whose research laid the foundations for Stereo sound as we enjoy today, was gay. No one should give a bloody toss. If anything, you've exposed your frustrated closet-ness in this tacky display of ignorance.

[@КаринаБальсунова-б3б]

05609 Jevon Garden