Pretty strong statement...
Can't say I agree with it based on my listening and auditioning on Salk HT3's. I found pure solid state, hybrid, and tube amps that floated my boat more than the AVA 550EX.
I will put on my anti-flame suit now.
George
Hahaha.
My fingers sometimes type faster than my words come out. I believe that this is the result of being required to attend summer school every year during high school because my grades weren't very good. I took typing with my homeroom teacher every summer, undoubtedly to his dismay.
I meant that the Fet Valve Ultra is better than Frank's solid state amps. I didn't mean that the Fet Valve Ultra is better than every solid state amp. I haven't heard every solid state amp, and even if I had, I don't have the listening capabilities to make that determination, regardless of the extraordinary variables. Nonetheless, the AVA Ultimate 70, a tube amp, floats my boat more than the AVA Insight 440 in my system in my room.
Frank describes AVA equipment as "True state-of-the-art high-fidelity at prices you can afford." If "true" is a synonym of "honest", then AVA could also be described as honest hi-fi at affordable prices. The SongTower and the SongBird also bring hi-fi to listeners at affordable prices, and the SongTower has brought hi-fi to some listeners who, I suspect, might have been priced out of hi-fi if the SongTowers weren't available. Jim doesn't state that the Song-series speakers are the best speaker in the world. (He'll reserve that designation, I believe, for the HT4.) I suggest that listeners consider AVA gear without any reservation. Frank purposely does not build "money no object" electronic components, and although I am not suggesting AVA gear to "money no object" buyers, I might if I knew any. Frank's vision, for 35+ years, has been to provide affordable, reliable, upgradeable, individually-built, and innovative products to serious music lovers.
