Wow, the other guys on audio circle are right: we're a bunch of AVA fanboys.
That's those guys on the AVA Circle.
Frank never disappoints. He is always making his products better. Many of the upgrades are free or user-installable for the cost of the parts.
When Frank offers upgrades that are free or user-installable, he is absorbing his R&D costs for the benefit of his customers. Frank sells his Insight+ preamp for 899.00 and his UltraValve for 1699.00, while some other manufacturer is selling a mass-produced 499.00 Blu-ray player with their front panel and rear-panel labeling for 3500.00. When I was a teenager building a modified Hafler DH-100 kit, based upon some of Frank's ideas, Frank was already a legend in audio. Many years ago, my father was the service manager of HiFi Associates, South Florida's McIntosh dealer. When I told my father, a couple of years ago, that I spoke to Frank Van Alstine on the telephone earlier in the day, my father replied, "
The Frank Van Alstine?". Frank's reputation is built foremost on quality sound and innovation, and he also has an excellent reputation for solid construction and good value. I have a 25 year old AVA Omega 50 that will outlive me, I suspect. Frank's goal isn't to sell the most electronics, Frank's goal is to sell the best electronics. I am very happy to be an AVA fan.
I am not saying that there aren't other quality electronic components in the marketplace, and I wouldn't say that Jim is the only manufacturer of quality speakers. I really liked the Vandy 7 speakers that I heard @ RMAF. They were 41,000.00 more expensive than my HT2-TL, but they were excellent, I thought. However, can anyone match the sound and construction quality of Jim's speakers for 2X the price or 3X the price? I heard 35,000.00 plus speakers @ RMAF that paled in comparison with Jim's speakers (in a non-ideal hotel room that was exactly the same size, construction, etc., as Frank and Jim's non-ideal hotel room). Are there any manufacturers that exceed Frank or Jim's customer service? Jim was out in the snow cutting MDF on a table saw to finish a pair of speakers. Know anyone else with this commitment to his customers? Great sound, great prices, great builders.
(I am preaching to the choir when I respond to Nuance's posts.)