AVA Vision SET 120 Review

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timind

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Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #20 on: 23 Jun 2019, 11:29 pm »
My experience with class D amps has not been good, except when powering sub woofers. If you have a very hard load to run they tend to stay more linear, but still aren't as involving. I have not heard one that lets the emotion through like AVA products and the SET amp does it in spades.
Have you heard the Cherry amps? I ask as your comment mirrored my comments previous to getting a pair of ILMs. After owning close to 10 different class D amps, I finally found one I can live with. It's only been a few weeks so we'll see if the irritation I got from every other class D amp sets in. So far they sound fantastic...color me surprised.

avahifi

Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #21 on: 24 Jun 2019, 01:45 am »
To me, Class D Amps play all of the notes but none if the music.  You might like one if you have heard nothing better, such as one if our Vision SET amplifiers. There is really no comparison.

Frank

Birdbrain

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Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #22 on: 24 Jun 2019, 03:18 pm »
I was looking for an amp to pair with the 93db, 12ohm Spatial Audio M3 Triode Master open baffle speakers. I looked at all sorts of Class A, A/B, and D amps. I looked at tube and solid state amps. I remembered the sweet sound I got from an AVA Delta 120 amp years and years ago. I wanted to hear the Van Alstine sound of today. The SET 120 and the Spatials are a tremendous pairing. I listen to favorite old record after favorite old record, and they are all sounding like I've dreamed of having them sound all my life. It's a beautiful thing.

I'm as curious as the next guy, and I wonder what my speakers would sound like with an Ultravalve, but hey, the SET 120 sounds awesome, is $700 cheaper, and will never need replacement tubes.

 

AvsFan

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Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #23 on: 24 Jun 2019, 05:39 pm »
I was looking for an amp to pair with the 93db, 12ohm Spatial Audio M3 Triode Master open baffle speakers. I looked at all sorts of Class A, A/B, and D amps. I looked at tube and solid state amps. I remembered the sweet sound I got from an AVA Delta 120 amp years and years ago. I wanted to hear the Van Alstine sound of today. The SET 120 and the Spatials are a tremendous pairing. I listen to favorite old record after favorite old record, and they are all sounding like I've dreamed of having them sound all my life. It's a beautiful thing.

I'm as curious as the next guy, and I wonder what my speakers would sound like with an Ultravalve, but hey, the SET 120 sounds awesome, is $700 cheaper, and will never need replacement tubes.

That's VERY comforting to hear, because I am leaning more towards the SET 120. I have already decided that my end game amp for my Maggie's WILL be the SET 400.
But I am trying to get something a lot more affordable now and save my pennies for the SET 400. Then when I get the SET 400, move the 120 to my ZU Audio room and be DONE! It will be a piece of cake for the 120 to run the 97db efficient ZU's.

reillyzing

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Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #24 on: 6 Jan 2020, 07:39 pm »
Hi Frank, or anyone, do you know how many wpc the 120 puts out into 6 ohm speakers?

avahifi

Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #25 on: 7 Jan 2020, 01:21 am »
The SET 120 should make about 75W per channel into 6 ohms.

I have one long term Stereophile reviewer (now retired) owning a SET 120 and he keeps reporting back to me how outstanding it is with his highly rated bookshelf size speakers.

The SET 120 is much better than you can imagine.

Frank

avahifi

Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #26 on: 14 Jan 2020, 07:45 pm »
I am actually getting a new SET 120 back from a client under our 30 day satisfaction guarantee.

He claims the reason for the return is that "it is too good for the rest of his system".  Says now he needs to improve his speakers, preamp, and phono cartridge first and can't do all at once.

Anyway it will be available in a few days at 10% off with our new warranty and satisfaction guarantee.

Frank

happyrabbit

Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #27 on: 6 Feb 2020, 11:40 pm »
That demo unit has a new home  :green:  My 1st AVA product ! 






AvsFan

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Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #28 on: 7 Feb 2020, 03:32 am »
That demo unit has a new home  :green:  My 1st AVA product ! 




Is that a Vidar or Aegir?

happyrabbit

Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #29 on: 7 Feb 2020, 03:44 am »
aegir

AvsFan

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Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #30 on: 7 Feb 2020, 05:04 am »
aegir

And now you have a SET120?!?!?!

AvsFan

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Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #31 on: 7 Feb 2020, 05:11 am »
aegir

You seriously have the 2 main amps I am considering for my very easy to drive super efficient 97.5 dB Omega HO’s. When you get a chance, really give me a breakdown and comparison between the two amps. I am VERY interested in your opinion on the differences between the two.

What are the other 3 components on the left hand side?

smargo

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Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #32 on: 7 Feb 2020, 05:51 pm »


He claims the reason for the return is that "it is too good for the rest of his system".  Says now he needs to improve his speakers, preamp, and phono cartridge first and can't do all at once.



Frank

my bs meter is going haywire - how do i stop it?

avahifi

Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #33 on: 8 Feb 2020, 09:50 am »
No BS, at least on my part.  This was actually the reason we were told when it was returned. We have never heard that reason (too good for my system) before either.

Of course it checked out fine when it came back.

happyrabbit

Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #34 on: 9 Feb 2020, 04:27 pm »
AvsFan,

The 120 is a capable amp.    Using the 120 to drive a pair Electric Studio FSX’s.  The Aegir is moving to a new home 😉.   Looks like the front panel has been updated compared to the website.  Not a big fan of the speaker terminals.  AVA has a return policy.  YMMV.

Dwight









maty

Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #35 on: 9 Feb 2020, 04:34 pm »
The 120 is a capable amp. Using the 120 to drive a pair Electric Studio FSX’s...

http://www.studio-electric.com/FSX.html

Quote
LF: SE HighXt™6.5" / 170mm /copolymer + 8" passive radiator
MF: SE HighXs™6.5" / 170mm /copolymer
HF: 1" / 25mm soft dome 
Frequency Response: 34Hz-22kHz
Sensitivity: 91dB @ 1W / 1 meter 
Recommended Amplifier Power: 75 to 450 Watts 
Impedance: 4 Ohms 
Crossover Frequencies: 80Hz / 3kHz
Construction: HDF and MDF with harwood veneers.
Cabinet Dimensions: (HxWxD): 45.5”x8.625"x22.125" (sans grill) 
Weight: 94 lbs. / 42.6kg (shipping weight: 104 lbs. / 47.2kg)

maty

Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #36 on: 9 Feb 2020, 04:42 pm »
To estimate the watts to listen to very good recordings with high DR (15 dB), 91 dB and 4 Ohms is like 88 dB at 8 Ohms, aka 3 dB less.

https://www.doctorproaudio.com/content.php?2273-calculators-proaudio-sound-dmx&langid=1#calc_spl

88 dB (at 8 Ohms), 30 watts, 3 m -> 96.2 dBSPL > 95 dB  :D. I know, max power > 60 watts at 8 Ohms -> 99.2 dBSPL.


More interesting:

The first 10 watts are class A. 10 watts, 3 m -> 91.5 dBSPL -> 76.6 dBSPL continuous, usually is OK.

happyrabbit

Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #37 on: 9 Feb 2020, 05:00 pm »
Thanks Maty !   It’s not a large room.. 




AvsFan

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Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #38 on: 11 Feb 2020, 11:41 pm »
Thanks Maty !   It’s not a large room.. 




I will most likely end up with a SET 120 for my new Omega Super 3 HO's. What do you think about the SET 120 with these?

https://omegaloudspeakers.com/collections/monitor-speakers/products/super-3-high-output-monitor?variant=34755858700

 

happyrabbit

Re: AVA Vision SET 120 Review
« Reply #39 on: 12 Feb 2020, 01:28 am »
I owned a similar speaker from omega. 

http://omegaspeakers.com/omegaoutlawopenb.html

I would hunt down a tube preamp if you don’t already own one. 

Dwight