AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Audio by Van Alstine => Topic started by: mark funk on 21 Mar 2011, 09:13 pm
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180642439330&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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This one was built by us in 1992, before we started building our own chassis. We bought new old stock Dyna Pat-5 sheet metal from Soundvalues back then after Dyna had folded. Our original hybrid tube circuit board designs were done first to fit into the space available in the Pat-5 box with excellent results back then.
The unit in this e-bay adv. looks completely AVA stock and appears to be in really nice cosmetic condition.
Regards,
Frank Van Alstine
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Interesting, one question though. What are those binding post looking things to the left of the power outlets on the back of the unit?
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Selling used equipment is tricky. The seller's BIN price is $750 when there are T7, T-8, and Ultra preamp on Audiogon going for $700 to $950, it's hard press to get this price unless the potential buyers don't check Agon. I am sure it's a good preamp, but in my opinion there are better deal to be had.
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Interesting, one question though. What are those binding post looking things to the left of the power outlets on the back of the unit?
They are indeed binding posts. You hook the amp up to the input posts and connect up to two sets of speakers to the other two pairs and switch between them. The selector switch also selected the headphone output that was also driven from the power amp.
Ron
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It is simply a high quality speaker switchbox built into the preamp chassis. It has nothing at all to do with the actual preamplifier circuits. It is a necessary connection to allow the power amp to drive the headphone output jack on the preamp.
Regards,
Frank Van Alstine
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230604232732&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
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They are good speakers, I saw a pair sold for $289 not too long ago, that makes the $600 starting bid seem too high.
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Here is one,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270733390667&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
Here is another, but have we seen this before?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320683274993&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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Here's another on:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180660788641&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1070
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These look old,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150616083444&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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Frank, what are the mods done to these? I know I should be looking thru Audio Basics, but laziness has set in with the heat. :shake:
Sweatin to the oldies in NJ :rock:
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Here's a Pas 3
http://cgi.ebay.com/Van-Alstine-Super-PAS-Three-Dynaco-Mod-Pre-Amplifier-/250832877111?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3a66cdf637 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Van-Alstine-Super-PAS-Three-Dynaco-Mod-Pre-Amplifier-/250832877111?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3a66cdf637)
Some other cool stuff
http://cgi.ebay.com/1987-AUDIO-VAN-ALSTINE-CATALOG-BONUS-BIN-FAST-SHP-/360361236376?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item53e7341798 (http://cgi.ebay.com/1987-AUDIO-VAN-ALSTINE-CATALOG-BONUS-BIN-FAST-SHP-/360361236376?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item53e7341798)
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Shit, what is this guy doing?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180691153992&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170663687129&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290584262787&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
Now there is a set.
:smoke:
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He is selling the 550 and the DAC as bids and the PAT-3 is $499? :o
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http://cgi.ebay.com/SUPER-CLEAN-DYNACO-ST-70-AMPLIFIER-mod-Van-Alstine-/110709683202?_trksid=p4340.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D5%26pmod%3D250832877111%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D1138288393819491943
What about this one, this guy is a moron. What a waste of listing fee.
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Are you trying too be a smart ass! :lol:
:smoke:
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The Super Pas3 is from some one other then the guy that is selling the 550 and DAC :o
:smoke:
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The guy with the double 550 has to be a member here.
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Man that Super70 looks worst than described. Apparently reflections. That's why I use a large white roll of paper draped ove a table to shoot items I sell. Of coarse the 1000 watt mogul flood lamps help too. :D As for the price I'd be amazed if it would come near that as an auction. 8)
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What is this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290648319898&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
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What is this? Mostly misinformation.
Hafler had absolutely nothing to do with this unit.
We actually did help Jim Strickland of Acoustat with this design, but it happened so late in the life cycle of Acoustat that it never had any major market impact. The audio was much like our Super Fet designs of that vintage but with a huge power supply and a really nice layout.
If it is in good working order, it will be a darn good sounding unit.
Regards,
Frank Van Alstine
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Some more stuff,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180817092651&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180817157485&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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The first link takes you to what is a strong contender for the most confusing, poorly written listing ever put on ebay.
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More stuff that poped up today,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310386661735&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310386661674&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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The first of these two items could easily be updated to a current Insight+ line preamp for about $250 if all you need is two set of inputs.
The big old hybrid amp could be updated to a current Fet Valve 600R for $1995 and that would be a huge musical step up for anyone. If the selling price is right, you could end up with very high value here.
Frank Van Alstine
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I think the amp will go for $600 to $700.
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The price is already 255 bucks and there are 8 days to go :duh:
Why don't some people just learn how to bid on ebay :dunno:
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More stuff,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300691035961&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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This Super Pas Three looks just fine.
Note that we NEVER used RAM tubes.
Frank Van Alstine
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the old style long selector switch makes installation of the insight phono buffer board impossible, the insight line buffer board should still fit. The selector switch has the new ceramic wafers, I wonder if it was an AVA feature since I don't recall Dynaco made any like this.
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That selector switch is one we used as a replacement switch many years ago when a defective original made a replacement necessary.
Adding the phono buffer board is still possible, mounting it horizontal below the selector switch.
Frank
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What does that mean? Van Alstine Glass MOD?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261001974569&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
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I have no solid idea what "glass audio mod" means. Certainly it is not a term we ever used.
The unit may have the low and high cut input filter we described many years ago. This, along with the bigger interstage coupling capacitors this unit has, improved overall musicality by limiting the input bandwidth to within what the amp could actually reproduce without being driven into hard distortion.
Ask more about this from the seller. A photo of the insides,especially showing the wiring around the input RCA jacks would be useful for me to evaluate this further.
Frank
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I remember at one time there was an ST-70 shoot-out article written by a person who designed his own board. He then gave all other mods a bad review but his own. His name was Motram or something? Maybe this is one of them, but I don't see the new driver board. The article was printed on either Glass Audio or Audio ameture, they were from the same publisher.
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rcag is right- "Glass audio mod" likely refers to something or other published in Glass Audio magazine. I don't think it is still around.
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I don't have a turn table any more,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170834708490&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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Look at this one,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251060839714&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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Why would anyone take out the original knobs, or were these the knobs used by AVA back then, and why the jacks on the jack set are not gold?
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More stuff,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110946137087&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
And look at this bad boy,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110946138083&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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I like the way both are priced higher in the text than the Buy-it-now.
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Whoops. My bad. I just used ebay's "re-list" feature. I'll see if I can fix it. Rest assured, the correct prices are what is listed, not in the text.
Ron
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Whoops. My bad. I just used ebay's "re-list" feature. I'll see if I can fix it. Rest assured, the correct prices are what is listed, not in the text.
Ron
You should know that you can't add 3% for Paypal on eBay auctions -- if somebody buys one of these and calls you on it, eBay and/or Paypal can and will give you trouble. You could lose your eBay account, and get a chargeback to your Paypal account, plus a funds hold.
You should fix those auctions now, before anyone bids on them. The way they are, they violate the eBay seller terms of service.
From the eBay seller policy site:
"Policy overview
Sellers are not allowed to charge eBay buyers an additional fee for using ordinary forms of payment, including credit cards, electronic transfers, PayPal, ProPay, and Paymate. These costs should be included in the price of the item and should not be charged separately.
See our accepted payment policy. Wire transfers, checks, and money orders can only be used as payment methods for specific listing categories.
Make sure your listing follows these guidelines. If it doesn't, it may be removed, and you may be subject to a range of other actions, including limits of your buying and selling privileges and suspension of your account."
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I though I know that name from some where :duh: :lol:
:smoke:
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Auctions fixed. Thanks for the heads-up.
Ron
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Look at this,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-by-Van-Alstine-Fet-Valve-Phono-Card-/111000992590?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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This is really one strange item to try and sell separately.
The board is useless without the appropriate power supplies and a chassis.
The board did absolutely no harm in the unit it was removed from.
No rational reason for removing it or buying it.
Strange!
Frank Van Alstine
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Well, I guess if no one buys it, I can install it in an empty AVA chassis that I have with a new PS and trannie and sell as a standalone Phono Preamp. Just thought that there may be someone who bought an AVA tube type preamp (FV, T7, T8, etc.) without phono and wanted to add one. Not entirely a useless proposition IMHO.
Ron
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Check it out above the serial number never saw one like this before, the sticker not the amp :duh:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-by-Van-Alstine-Omega-III-260-Amplifier-/271150343614?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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I believe Aado was Frank's electrical engineer/designer a number of years back. I remember talking to him on the phone a time or two.
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This is a year 2000 production AVA solid state amplifier. It can be upgraded to a Synergy 300 for $995.
The upgrade includes new Exicon output mos-fets, new ground plain output boards, new audio circuit boards with built in multiple active regulator circuits, and nearly complete rewiring. The heat sink assemblies go to bare metal to start the upgrade progress.
The stock old amp had one problem issue. In some units with many long hours of use, they tended to cook the solder connections to the top pair of 2N3440 and 2N5416 transistors on the audio boards. These transistors were used for regulators for the plus and minus 15V devices on the boards and ran quite hot. After many years of service they tend to develop a crackling noise, especially at cold start up. The noise vanishes and the amp runs just fine after a bit of warm up as the very small diameter transistor leads warm up and make good connections to the circuit board again. A useful fix is to simply resolder the connections to these transistors. A long term connection is to replace the transistors with new ones, folding the new long leads over onto the foil traces for as long as practical, and resolder, providing a much larger thermal path for the transistor leads to dump heat into the board connections.
The transistors in our new circuits run much cooler, eliminating any future potential for this issue to occur.
Frank Van Alstine
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Sweet, this is what I use in my HiFi,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Van-Alstine-Tube-Preamp-/111026218224?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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I'd say this is a steal. While it's probably bad form, if there was a way to contact the seller I'd shorcircuit the 'bay', drive the 40 minutes down the road & pick it up. Appears he also has a nice Hafler DH-220 for sale, which Frank could upgrade most reasonably.
Nice Mark, you & martyo be careful in all that snow heading to Chi-town for the show. :beer:
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This is interesting. Anyone with any experience with this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynaco-AF-6-AM-FM-Stereo-Tuner-Modified-by-Van-Alstine-/271161465152?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f227b9940
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I have had one of these as my tuner since purchasing it new from Dynaco in 1973, and then Frank modifying it into a Jensen's Super Tuner Two in 1983 (edit: date corrected based on receipt, memory apparently has an intermittent fault). The modification disconnected the AM tuning (FM only since), and I think included new audio boards. It has been trouble-free since the modification, looks like some 30 years. 8)
This is interesting. Anyone with any experience with this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynaco-AF-6-AM-FM-Stereo-Tuner-Modified-by-Van-Alstine-/271161465152?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f227b9940
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Hmm :scratch:. Near as I can tell from old catalogues, the Super Tuner Two didn't come out until '81, or for sure '82.
My old FM-5 was the first piece I had Frank modify in about '80 and it had the same sticker on the front as the AF-6 shown above.
Dynaco had planned a Dolby card for their tuners when some stations went to that method of transmitting with much fanfare, calibration tones, etc. When a local shop said the card was unavailable, they directed me to Frank who said he could make my FM-5 sound better than any old Dolby mod could anyway.
I've been going back to Frank for other stuff ever since. But I never upgraded the tuner to the later versions. I always had trouble getting a clean signal on the classical station in our area on it or any other tuner I've tried :banghead:, until I found a used FM-3 (all tube) which I modified myself with parts I found on line. Nearly electrocuted myself during the alignment process :duh:, but it had great sound.
But I let both of them go out on consignment when I got a Sony XDR-F1HD. No more noisy classical station and as a bonus, HD channels. :thumb: Frank says the main problem now with the FM-5's and AF-6's is that the FM front end is vulnerable. It's nearing the end of it's serviceable life and there are no parts to fix it, unless you've cannibalized a working spare from another unit, but how long can that last? :dunno:
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I had two versions of Frank's FM5 based tuners, both done in the same chassis a few years apart. The first was a "mod" which retained all the original Dyna boards (and had that same sticker on it), the second was the Super Tuner Two which had AVA-designed boards. plaf26's estimate of the ST2 sounds about right or maybe a few years early.
The "mod" did improve the sound but the ST2 circuits took it to another level. Friends who heard it- not all of them audiophiles- often commented that my tuner sounded better than their primary sources. (I heard their systems and their assessment was correct; you didn't need a "golden ear" to hear it.)
AFAIK the Dolby card either never was released or was incredibly rare. I never heard of anyone who claimed to have (or even to have seen) one. Nor do I remember seeing any ad or review. Dolby FM seems to have been more or less DOA and maybe this is why. In my FM5 manual (which I still have) it says that the FM5 front end was designed to be adaptable to a possible four-channel multiplex system as well.
I foolishly sold my ST2 in favor of one of those Magnum Dynalab jobs with three big meters on it hoping for better reception with the help of the multipath meter (which didn't happen). The ST2 mopped the floor with it SQ-wise.
Despite being in what looks like nice condition cosmetically, $200 sounds high for a unit with the original Dyna boards. The FM5 supposedly had a higher quality front end than the AM/FM tuner.
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Shameless self promotion:
Insight+ EC Pre-Amp
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130902819966 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130902819966)
(http://www.wghwoodworking.com/audio/Insight_pre-amp_front.jpg)
(http://www.wghwoodworking.com/audio/Insight_pre-amp_serial.jpg)
Wayne
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This appears to be a very nice sample of our full function solid state preamplifier built in October, 2008. If it was user upgraded to an Insight+ then all the integrated circuits will be Burr Brown OPA627 type. Ask the seller to confirm this.
This a really foolproof and very durable design with gold contact switches and jacks.
Note that this unit does not have our optional RIAA phono circuits or remote control.
Frank
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Yes, the Insight+ pre-amp above has the Burr Brown OPA627 linear IC. I bought the pre-tested op-amps from AVA on 3-2-09, invoice #14897. This unit is really pristine and used in a smoke free, pet free, kid free house.
I am only selling because I took advantage of AVA's summer sale and picked up a FET Valve pre-amp.
Wayne
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Look at this,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Van-Alstine-Fet-Valve-600R-Power-Amplifier-/310674937977?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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Before you posted this it had a $10 bid. Now I can't keep up with the bids. 8)
Actually it's a couple of guys with automatic bidding. Should be interesting as is selling it on Ebay.
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The 600R doesn't happen to be anyone from here on AudioCircle, does it?
I've got a savings fund going for a 600R based on hearing it at Axpona this year, and was planning to get an order in later this summer.
That is one VERY nice sounding amp, especially with the Salks.
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For what it is worth, the amplifier is as described.
The customer claims that one of the audio circuit boards mounted on the back heat sink assembly had come off in shipping to Hawaii! We got the unit back many months later when the client returned with it to the mainland USA. Sure enough, we got it back with some wiring damaged to one circuit board and a few extra small screws rattling around inside. We pulled the board, fixed the wiring, reattached the board firmly, and checked bias and overall circuit operation and very recently returned it to the client. We fixed it at our expensive as the client never put in a UPS claim at the Hawaii end. It does work like new now. Note that this unit was built before we started building in the HumDinger circuits but it runs very quietly here anyway.
Regards,
Frank Van Alstine
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Ended up selling for $2,224.00. 8)
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More stuff. Some might be a little much,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-By-Van-Alstine-Transcendence-Eight-Vacuum-Tube-Preamplifier-/321139590071?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123#ht_45wt_1156
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-By-Van-Alstine-Omega-Star-DAC-/321139598883?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123#ht_45wt_958
I would pay that for this one,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Van-Alstine-Super-Pas-4i-/111093598671?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123#ht_83wt_958
:smoke:
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The T8 preamp and OmegaStar DAC are 2005 vintage and are priced higher than I would suggest as both are now a bit dated by our newer models.
The Super Pas 4i preamp has a more rational price and has a phono section to boot. This unit has a major $300 upgrade available from us.
All three units Mark highlighted appear to be original AVA units in nice cosmetic condition.
Frank Van Alstine
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How about this one? How much? Don't know until we look inside,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AVA-Van-Alstine-integrated-amplifier-/200935537812?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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This 20+ year old integrated amp might be a simple one to fix. Our electronics in this unit (all solid state) were a very durable design so the issues might only be dirty switch contacts. Buy it cheap and invest in a can of Caig Labs Deoxit D5 and spray into ever switch and jack and control and exercise all of them many times. If this works you will have a really nice integrated amplifier.
If all else fails, we can still service it.
Frank Van Alstine
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No connection to seller:
Dynaco AVA set super pas tube pre fm-5 tuner mosfet 150 amplifier van alstine
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111109651284?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
The tuner does not show an AVA sticker but the seller says it has AVA Omega circuits.
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Very old AVA circuits (40 years or thereabouts). We can still service the amp and preamp.
Frank Van Alstine
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Here is a nice one?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-by-Van-Alstine-AVAStar-Preamp-/151079572157?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1120
I had to look at that again, $750.00 buy it now! I wish I had 750 because my T-5 just went down. I put an old Super FET PAT-5 preamp in and you know it still sounds OK!
:smoke:
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This one is an absolute steal at $750. It is a very nice sounding preamp and appears to be in excellent condition. It is a basic model with no options.
If we had one available used (we never have) we would ask several hundred dollars more and get it.
It is February, 2010 production so it is just past the transferable factory warranty. Sorry about that. However, we have never had one back to repair.
Regards,
Frank Van Alstine
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The seller is our very own Steve Ford, AC member, all-round good guy and reptile owner. :thumb:
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Si', that is me, I just placed an ad here.
It's a very, very nice piece as Frank said.
I don't expect it to sit around very long which is good as I'm going to buy another motorcycle so I'll have a lifetime's supply.
I figure I've got another 450,000 miles of riding left in me and 5 bikes will just about do it before they all crap out.
I also put two guitars up for sale if anyone is looking for a really nice Gibson electric - an SG Classic at $850, a Lucille for $1800.
Both are red, both are quite nice.
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Comes with the EH tubes but I think the included Sylvanias sound better but that's just me.
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Has the AVAstar series been discontinued?
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I think it was last year or the year before; the new top of the line is the FET Valve.
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Another oldie,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hafler-Model-100-preamp-w-Van-Alstine-mod-/251306838017?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1120
:smoke:
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offered fwiw I believe the seller has the item mislabelled. Having built a 100 in the late '70s, trading that in on a 110 in the mid '80s, I would say that is either an interim model or a 110. Nice preamp if it is trouble fee. Frank can probably tell which model for sure.
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This is indeed an AVA preamp built in a Hafler DH-100 chassis. I could not tell you more without seeing inside it. I can tell you it is old, probably 25 years old or thereabouts.
Arthur, your first Hafler preamp was probably the earlier model DH-101. That one had dual concentric volume and balance knobs and two rows of rectangular push-button switches. The DH-100 came later.
I don't remember doing a "dual mono" circuit in a DH-100. I suspect it has a stereo line board and a stereo phono board, or possibly just a power supply board and a stereo line board. Again, I can't be sure without internal (and much sharper) photos.
Frank Van Alstine
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynaco-416-Power-Amplifier-Modified-Stereo-400-Van-Alstine-W-Manual-Documents-/190873555487?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1120
:smoke:
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This one is badly misrepresented by the seller! Avoid it!
The seller says to read down to learn all about it. When you do, as I did, you will notice that this was a simple driver board do it yourself kit we sold to the original owner in 1978 for $100.00.
Since is was a kit built unit, not done in our shop by our technicians, we have no way of knowing if it was properly built or not.
Fuses? The seller says it does not need fuses! Wrong! Never fuse an old Dyna 400, with our circuits or not, with more than 5 amp quick blow front panel speaker fuses.
I don't have an e-bay account. If someone here does, I would appreciate it if they would contact the e-bay seller and tell them to read down to the original receipt for the kit and then change the description of the product to reflect the truth.
Frank Van Alstine
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Yes I know this is old but it has some pics of the insides,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VAN-ALSTINE-MODEL-TWO-POWER-AMP-/251317857290?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1120
:smoke:
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This amp was built by VA Systems about the time I left that company. I was promised service data on all models and that my name come off their products. Neither of these actions ever happened. VA Systems folded up soon thereafter.
I have no service data or parts for any old VA Systems product so I cannot economically repair them.
Frank Van Alstine
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Nice pics with the old 16 amp transistors on both channels -
but the thermal sensor which switches fan (hi-lo)speed at
63°C/140°F is missing - and air cooling for the Model Two is crucial.
8)
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just in from Ebay , we have seen this here on the Circle,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-by-Van-Alstine-Ultra-550-Amplifier-/190888946006?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:3160
:smoke:
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This looks real clean!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DYNACO-Audio-By-Van-Alstine-Super-Pass-Two-preamplifier-/171149436468?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1120
:smoke:
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This looks real clean!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DYNACO-Audio-By-Van-Alstine-Super-Pass-Two-preamplifier-/171149436468?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1120
:smoke:
It has at least two of the three options available back then: the faceplate and the switchcraft jack set. The third option was the GE 5751 tube set. Impossible to tell from the photos if it has those tubes. I have one just like it that I purchased in 1987, except I sent mine in to be upgraded to a "3" sometime in the 1990's. Nice preamp.
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Actually GE 5751 tubes were our standard tubes way back then because we could not find decent 12AX7 tubes at a reasonable price then. This is before many good 12AX7 tubes reappeared.
The 5751 tube is a low gain version of the 12AX7 and actually would not be recommended today, especially for the phono section where as high a gain as possible 12AX7 tube is needed.
Frank VA
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Having just moved from a re-capped Bryston 4B to a supercharged Hafler xl-280, I'm thinking a tube/mosfet hybrid is where I want to be. I would love to find a piece like this 550 that could be upgraded to a 600. 8)
just in from Ebay , we have seen this here on the Circle,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-by-Van-Alstine-Ultra-550-Amplifier-/190888946006?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:3160
:smoke:
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Look at this thing,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Designer-Van-Alstine-Dynaco-PAT-4-Pre-Amplifier-or-Amplifier-/291005016078?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1120
:smoke:
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Wow, I didn't know there was a way to make a PAT-4 uglier than stock. Something tells me that that isn't how it looked when it left Frank's place.
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This is a very old (like 30 plus years old) Super Fet Pat-4 without a faceplate. It never went out of our shop that way. They were ugly enough even with a stock faceplate.
There is an original PAT-4 faceplate for sale separately in an additional listing below the preamp listing!
One would still need to find the original knobs though.
Note that the tone controls and their circuits are missing.
Oh well.
Frank Van Alstine
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I don't know?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynaco-ST-120-Completely-rebuilt-with-Van-Alstine-Designed-Power-Supply-Dyna-120-/141173193529?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1120
:smoke:
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This very old Dyna St-120 does not look "completely rebuilt" to me. It has all of the original old old old power supply capacitors, a bunch of non-standard transistors on the audio boards, lots of very sloppy wiring work, and there is no photo of the power supply section to tell what it is, or is not.
Not my idea of a great deal.
Frank Van Alstine
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Is there any background on this unit?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Van-alstine-MosFet-240D-amplifier-/161208631248?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item2588c87fd0
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I can't find any customer records of refurbishing or repairing a Mos-Fet 240D here since 2007. I also notice the AVA back panel label with serial number appears to be missing.
Just questions to ask the seller before buying.
This is a 120W ch amplifier about 15 - 20 years old and is a nice sounding unit if still in good condition.
Frank Van Alstine
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Just sold a refurbished Bryston 4B and looking for something with a bit more than 120 watts. For now using a Hafler xl-280 with upgraded power supply, I like the sound with mosfets, looking to go tube/mosfet hybrid.
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We just acquired, tested, and upgraded an original AVA Transcendence Two 140W/Ch power amp built into a very nice black Hafler DH-200 chassis.
This was a very special amplifier, all solid state, all mosfet, and very tube sounding. It is lovely sounding and in very nice condition. There are no Hafler circuits, it is all AVA with VERY sophisticated audio circuits that we eventually discontinued because they were just too expensive to build and some of the active devices needed were discontinued.
Fortunately much better than new devices have become available now and with this amp resurrected with all new Exicon power mosfets, both in the output and line circuits, it is now better then new.
We need to get $595 for this gem with a one year AVA parts and labor warranty and a 30 day satisfaction guarantee.
Frank Van Alstine
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We just acquired, tested, and upgraded an original AVA Transcendence Two 140W/Ch power amp built into a very nice black Hafler DH-200 chassis.
This was a very special amplifier, all solid state, all mosfet, and very tube sounding. It is lovely sounding and in very nice condition. There are no Hafler circuits, it is all AVA with VERY sophisticated audio circuits that we eventually discontinued because they were just too expensive to build and some of the active devices needed were discontinued.
Fortunately much better than new devices have become available now and with this amp resurrected with all new Exicon power mosfets, both in the output and line circuits, it is now better then new.
We need to get $595 for this gem with a one year AVA parts and labor warranty and a 30 day satisfaction guarantee.
Frank Van Alstine
Is it now an Insight? I can't remember which DH-200/220 upgrade preceeded the synergy, but I grabbed one as soon as it got listed on the Used Equipment page. It's in a DH-220 chassis and I THINK it's an Insight. It is sweet! I'm hanging on to it until I can afford to upgrade my Omega III 260 to the latest Synergy, and then I'm going to see if I can work a trade and upgrade my preamp to an Insight+EC.
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No, the used Transcendence Two 250 does not have Insight or Insight+ circuits. It is an older but great audio design freshly upgraded with modern semiconductors.
It certainly is as nice sounding overall as an Insight+ amplifier.
Frank
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What about this one?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynaco-PAS-3X-w-Van-Alstine-Mods-Hums-Need-Repair-/221379757318?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1120
:smoke:
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I could tell more if I had a photo of the internal circuits. There seems to be some kind of a non-standard jack added just to the right of the phono ground terminal on the back panel that we certainly did not do
The Super Pas was pretty easy and inexpensive to repair and was very durable so this might be a good deal if the price is right. In good working order it is still a lovely sounding preamp but not the last word in transparency and dynamic range.
I am a bit surprised that the owner has not contacted us for a repair estimate.
Frank Van Alstine
The photos are there, Frank. You have to pull down the pic window to see the bottom 3 (internal guts) pics.
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Avoid this one. It is not properly represented on e-bay. The seller claims new internal AVA circuit boards. The internal photos show this is not true. The unit has original very old Dyna circuit boards and the parts are not the ones we supplied in our earliest do it yourself kits. It does not have our modern power supply board as claimed.
It appears to have started life as one of our early do it yourself kits, but with many user parts substitutions of unknown value or voltage.
It appears to still have the original or perhaps a replacement quad filter capacitor and that is possibly the hum issue if it is failing.
There is too much wrong with this one for me to be comfortable with.
Frank Van Alstine
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-FULLY-SERVICED-Van-Alstine-Super-Fet-ONE-Preamplifier-Dynaco-RACK-MOUNT-/291081058716?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item43c5c8799c
I see all the potted modules are gone........
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This appears to be an old VA Systems Model One preamp that I reworked in 1985 to eliminate the unserviceable electronics potted modules. I am suspect of it though because for some reason the power supply section of the unit is covered over in the photos.
Note that this is not a Dynaco product and has nothing at all to do with any Dynaco designs.
Frank Van Alstine
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More stuff on Audiogon:
https://app.audiogon.com/listings/tube-audio-by-van-alstine-fet-valve-hybrid-preamp-2014-02-25-preamplifiers-92009
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This looks like a very nice preamp at a very fair price. It would still have over a year left of the original AVA three year parts and labor warranty.
Frank Van Alstine
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This one looks OK too me, but there is one card standing on end with a little chip? Is this one of those line drivers or buffers?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Van-Alstine-Super-PAS3-pas-3-preamplifier-Dyna-/111292828829?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1120
:smoke:
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This AVA Super Pas Three is in very nice condition and was checked out here and repaired recently as the seller claims.
The vertical board is the line output buffer section, unity gain solid state buffer circuits isolating the tube line stage from real world loads. This unloads the tubes, improving their linearity, and allows the preamp to drive low impedance amplifier input impedance loads and long interconnect cable runs. The unit does have our vacuum tube phono section and optional jack set.
I would ask $595 for one this nice if I had one here.
Frank Van Alstine
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Here's some nice pieces from the days of yore:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynaco-Van-Alstine-Jensens-Stereo-Components-/141253198266?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item20e358c1ba (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynaco-Van-Alstine-Jensens-Stereo-Components-/141253198266?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item20e358c1ba)
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These three units are over 30 years old so what remaining useful service life is still there is a big unknown.
However, we can still service the preamplifier and power amplifier, but not the tuner. OEM mechanical parts for the preamp may be long gone however.
Frank Van Alstine
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Van-Alstine-Transcendence-II-Magnavox-CDB610-CD-player-/251528009482?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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Meh. He wants too much for shipping. :roll:
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This T2 CD player is very old and there are no repair parts available for the stock Philips/Magnavox electronics or mechanical parts.
This unit contains three new PC cards of AVA audio and power supply circuits and was a great sounding unit way back when. Unfortunately when it quits it won't be repairable (except for the AVA circuits).
My recommendation is avoid it.
Frank Van Alstine
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What is this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Hughes-AK100-SRS-Mod-by-Van-Alstine-Sound-Retrieval-System-NICE-CONDITION-/171338920718?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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What is this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Hughes-AK100-SRS-Mod-by-Van-Alstine-Sound-Retrieval-System-NICE-CONDITION-/171338920718?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
Check the info in Audio Basics:
http://www.avahifi.com/images/avahifi/root/audio_basics/ab_pdf/ab1991-05-06.pdf (http://www.avahifi.com/images/avahifi/root/audio_basics/ab_pdf/ab1991-05-06.pdf)
"Essentially, the Hughes SRS processor inexpensively
generates a huge three dimensional sound
field with amazing imaging and depth with no
need for extra speakers or amplifiers. Only two
loudspeakers and one stereo amplifier are necessary
– the speakers and amplifier you already own.
It even works with mono source material!"
That was 23 years ago. Not sure how that holds up with today's equipment.
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Interesting that this topic comes up since Frank has been an opponent of special effect device. Maybe this particular unit has some merit.
I have been listening to my vintage Phase Linear 2000/series two preamp and 200/series two amp, keep in mind these are from 1978.
There's a feature call "Ambience" on the preamp and it produces a more spatial effect. I am not saying they sound better than my newest components, but these two little vintage units are very listenable.
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/171346760121?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/171346760121?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649
Is this better than the 1st generation modded Dynaco?
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An Omega II tuner was produced around 1992-1994 and I believe to be a 3rd or 4th generation design. I have an Omega II in a hafler chassis. To me, it sounds better than my FM3.
Regards,
Dean
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Is this better than the 1st generation modded Dynaco?
Depends what you mean by "modded Dynaco". AVA produced at least one FM5-based design which retained the original Dynaco boards. If we mean that one, then definitely. There were later versions which used AVA board sets, retaining only the original FM front end. AVA always referred to these as "rebuilt", not "modified". This would probably be a horse race. I had a FET Three Plus tuner, with the AVA boards, and when people heard my system, their eyebrows would go up like Mr. Spock when they found out they were listening to FM. I stupidly sold it during a fit of upgraditis.
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The Philips FT-920 was a very useful tuner. It was both FM stereo and AM and had about 30 nonvolatile presets and good sensitivity. It's downfall was its audio output circuits. These consisted of one 25 cent surface mount transistor per channel. The result was another low-fi sounding tuner.
Our fix was pretty easy - - - a complete new AVA audio circuit, with its own self contained power supply. Our audio circuits evolved over the years from the original Omega series to the current Insight Plus designs. We can still upgrade an older good working FT-920, either an original or with our older circuits.
However the best tuner we did, and one I still use here, is our Super Tuner Two circuits, all new boards and all, for a Dyna FM-5 tuner. We made major improvements in these in recent years by replacing all of the unity gain current buffers with LME49600 super buffers. These are kind of a necessary kludge into our circuit boards, which were designed for 8 or 10 pin current buffers, while the LME49600 is a 5 pin surface mount device. However the sonic quality of the Super Tuner Two with LME49600s is pretty amazing.
Unfortunately the Dyna FM-5 tuners are very old now and not many are in good working order (the front end assembly is not replaceable or repairable) often dies and then the tuner is done for. Our replacement board set is long out of production so we can't do the upgrades any more.
But I won't part with mine. You would have to hear this one here to believe it.
Regards,
Frank Van Alstine
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I have one of those Super Tuner Two. Frank did the super buffers to it. Pretty Amazing is a good way to say it! Every day when I turn it on I hope the front end keeps living!
:smoke:
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How about these?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Sale-for-Parts-2-Dynaco-Mk-4-Tube-Power-Amplifier-Van-Alstine-ST70-Trans-/191229842342?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
:smoke:
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Mark IV amps in pieces? A pig in a poke for sure.
There was nothing magic about our custom power transformer for the ST-70. We tooled one production run only because back them 5AR4 rectifier tubes became unavailable for a while. We designed it with lower high current high voltage taps to make up for the fact that the rectifier tube takes about a 50V forward drop, and using diodes in the original ST-70 layout makes the B+ voltages go 50V too high -- higher then the tube ratings and many of the capacitor ratings. Bad for reliability for sure.
By the time we ran through our available transformers, 5AR4s were available again, making a reorder of these special power transformers redundant.
Frank Van Alstine
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What do you think,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUDIO-BY-VAN-ALSTINE-ULTRA-FET-VALVE-550-TUBE-HYBRID-POWER-AMPLIFIER-/351202157077?ssPageName=ADME:SS:SS:US:1120
:smoke:
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This one, a Fet Valve 500HC, is a real "golden oldie". We built in back in 1997 in Burnsville. It is about 16 years old now.
It does not have any of the current improvements. It still has the original and now obsolete Hitachi output transistors, and does not have regulated power supplies or any other improvements made over then years. It will still be a nice sounding amp but without the power, transparency, dynamic range, and engagement of our current Fet Valve 600R.
However we can still do the full Fet Valve 600R upgrade to this amp (the only parts salvaged are the case, some hardware, and the power transformer) for $2000 so if one could buy it at a low price it would be an economic way to have a $3200 Fet Valve 600R for a much lower price, complete with new AVA three year parts and labor warranty.
Frank
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My brother is putting his Omega Star Dyna 400 amp up for sale on ebay.
He also selling his PAT5 pre-amp. It has a Insight+ line section, an Omega Star phono section with a updated power supply.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynaco-Stereo-400-Power-Amp-W-Omega-Star-400-circuit-upgrade-by-AVAHIFI-/251785011341?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3a9f8e608d
Regards,
Dean
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Some one been playing,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-by-Van-Alstine-Line-Stage-PCB-Stuffed-OPA-627-Op-Amp-Black-Gates-/291410869746?ssPageName=ADME:SS:SS:US:1120
:smoke:
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This one is really curious as to the best of my knowledge, we have never sold or released this bare board and the stuffing guide for it outside of our shop.
With all non-stock parts I can give no assurance it will work properly, especially with lower capacitor values and surface mount ICs.
Frank Van Alstine
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To say nothing of sloppy soldering... :nono:
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Hmm?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Estans-By-Van-Alstine-Turntable-Cartridge-/171823551081?
:smoke:
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Well! A phono cartridge I tweeked about 40 years ago or so. Without a working stylus its worthless.
Frank
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Going to post my Ultimate 70 on the Bay in a few days. Wife wants my extra stuff out of the office. Sigh. Hate to see it go, but I have gone in another direction.
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Not mine: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynaco-Dynakit-Stereo-ST-70-AVA-Van-Alstine-Super-70i-Power-Amplifier-w-Manuals-/121756789345?hash=item1c59452a61
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Not mine: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynaco-Dynakit-Stereo-ST-70-AVA-Van-Alstine-Super-70i-Power-Amplifier-w-Manuals-/121756789345?hash=item1c59452a61
Not mine either. Here's the identical amplifier for $99.00 less: http://cnj.craigslist.org/ele/5223855526.html (http://cnj.craigslist.org/ele/5223855526.html) :thumb:
Have fun,
Jerry
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I have left my Ultimate 70 sit on Craigslist for now. Don't feel like dealing with EBAY.
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Couple items up right now:
Super 70i http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=2&toolid=10044&campid=5337159607&customid=&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&item=121891141058
FetValve PAT-5 http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=2&toolid=10044&campid=5337159607&customid=&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&item=151965936285
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Here's another on:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-By-VanAlstine-Omega-II-260-Power-Amp-/272131700851?hash=item3f5c503873:g:2J8AAOSwQYZWvYES
Been hanging onto it with the thought of sending it in for an upgrade to the Synergy 240 to replace my Insight+ 250, but I'm selling instead.