AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Audio by Van Alstine => Topic started by: avahifi on 5 Apr 2018, 09:59 pm
-
At Expona, showing with Alta loudspeakers in room 622, we will have the world premiere of our newest and best ever solid state power amplifier design, our SET 400.
Its a single ended discrete transistor design with separate regulated power supplies for each separate transistor.
It removes the haze from the music like nothing else I have heard before.
Come and listen, you are going to love it.
Still with a very rational price, $1999. 225W/Ch, dead quiet, cool running, and built to last.
Frank
-
Sweet. :thumb:
-
I'll be sure and stop by for a listen. Thanks for the update.
-
Not P-P? This is interesting....
-
SET 400, how about a little teaser for those not going to the show. Like specs, inputs what kind, how many type tubes you know the good stuff
-
No tubes at all. It is a very unique discrete solid state design.
Standard RCA inputs and 5-way binding post outputs. XLR/RCA inputs with back panel switch available as a $200 option.
Power 225W/Ch into 8 ohms, more into 4 ohms. 3dB down at 70KHz and 3Hz. Price of the SET 400. $1999
75W/Ch into 8 ohms, more into 4 ohms and same bandwidth for the SET 150. Price $899. XLR inputs not available for SET 150.
We will be showing it at Axpona next weekend.
Frank
-
Its a single ended discrete transistor design with separate regulated power supplies for each separate transistor...
class AB H2 predominant? :D
[IMG] http://maty.galeon.com/WP-imagenes/hum/xrk971-Alpha-20-2.87vrms-8ohms-FFT.png
-
SET 150 sounds like a great value for decent volumes and efficient speakers. Any differences between the 2 models other than the wattage? Can the SET 150 be bridged? $1800 for monoblocks?
-
SET 150 sounds like a great value for decent volumes and efficient speakers. Any differences between the 2 models other than the wattage? Can the SET 150 be bridged? $1800 for monoblocks?
That'd be a sweet set up. :thumb:
-
When will they be available? When will they show up on your website?
-Ron
-
No tubes at all. It is a very unique discrete solid state design.
Standard RCA inputs and 5-way binding post outputs. XLR/RCA inputs with back panel switch available as a $200 option.
Power 225W/Ch into 8 ohms, more into 4 ohms. 3dB down at 70KHz and 3Hz. Price of the SET 400. $1999
75W/Ch into 8 ohms, more into 4 ohms and same bandwidth for the SET 150. Price $899. XLR inputs not available for SET 150.
We will be showing it at Axpona next weekend.
Frank
Thank you Frank for the info
-
Will the SET replace the Synergy amplifier line?
-
Actually we will have two versions of our new SET amplifier design at Axpona, room 622.
The SET 400 will be the main amp used. $1999 225W/Ch
Also the SET 150 will be available to hear too. $899 75W/Ch
We think you will be pleased with what you hear.
Frank
-
Thanks for the update, I'll be at Axpona this weekend and will stop by for a listen.
-
so-- any comments on the SET-400/150 sound from Axpona? I could not make this time :(
-
I know Frank insists on saying his equipment doesn't have a sound. However, after owning a lot of Franks fet valve amps and hearing his solid state amp at RMAF. I have noticed a common thread running between them. Very open highs, uncolored mids, controlled bass that goes as low as the music does and great soundstage. All the qualities of a good amp. The SET amp doesn't really sound like the others, yes it does all these things but with more clarity and immediacy that really sets it apart from the others. The closest sound to a wire with gain I have heard. If you aren't ready to buy a new amp I don't suggest you listen to the SET. The Alta Audio speakers sounded great, especially for their size. I prefer the larger bi-amped speakers they showed at RMAF but these were a fraction of the price and still allowed the emotion of the music to be felt. A great room all in all.
-
so-- any comments on the SET-400/150 sound from Axpona? I could not make this time :(
Frank had a beautiful looking and excellent sounding room.
I sat through a demo running strings, percussion, female voice, male voice, etc. and all was presented tonally
accurate and true to the source with great detail and excellent soundstage.
As always the value is there due to the reasonably priced pieces.
Another winner in the AVA lineup. :thumb:
Luis D. Paret
Keller, TX
-
Hopefully when Frank gets back from Axpona, I will get a chance to review one and post it here. I got to hear the prototype a few weeks ago. Awesome sounding amp.
-
Hopefully when Frank gets back from Axpona, I will get a chance to review one and post it here. I got to hear the prototype a few weeks ago. Awesome sounding amp.
Sweet. I look forward to reading your review, Larry. :thumb:
-
This room did sound excellent. The new amp seemed like a clear winner and a huge value. If I’d not just bought Bryston amps I might have been writing a check. Well done, AVA.
-
Would love to see some pics if anyone took some....
-
Would love to see some pics if anyone took some....
I tried one but it kept showing upside down.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=178931)
-
I know Frank insists on saying his equipment doesn't have a sound. However, after owning a lot of Franks fet valve amps and hearing his solid state amp at RMAF. I have noticed a common thread running between them. Very open highs, uncolored mids, controlled bass that goes as low as the music does and great soundstage. All the qualities of a good amp. The SET amp doesn't really sound like the others, yes it does all these things but with more clarity and immediacy that really sets it apart from the others. The closest sound to a wire with gain I have heard. If you aren't ready to buy a new amp I don't suggest you listen to the SET. The Alta Audio speakers sounded great, especially for their size. I prefer the larger bi-amped speakers they showed at RMAF but these were a fraction of the price and still allowed the emotion of the music to be felt. A great room all in all.
Hydro's assessment is spot on, as are the other comments. The SET amp should be at the top of the list for anyone looking for a new power amp, at Frank's price and (as usual) for anyone thinking of something more spendy. From what I heard (my friend and I spent two lengthy sessions in Frank's room) it was one of a very few rooms that produced music in a way that grabbed the brain and the heart. A "wire with gain" amp that also brings beauty and emotion to the musical presentation. The rest of the system helped, of course. :)
-
Frank,
Are you considering an integrated amplifier based on the SET design?
NB
-
We can't pack in all the power amp circuits and preamp circuits into one package and maintain the quality and low noise performance we want.
However since the SET 150 amp is just $899 and the matching Vision RB preamp is also $899, and the two units stack and match, you can have integrated amp size and cost for $1798 and much better musical quality to boot.
Frank
-
Frank when will you have these on your web site.
-
Frank,
Thank you for your reply and helpful insights.
NB
-
I've searched, but haven't found any Professional Reviewer comments on the AXPONA room, and new SET amplifier, and only several comments from visitors to the room. Are there any more comments out there?
-
Yes, disappointing.
We had the best sound we have ever had at a show both at RMAF and at Axpona recently with Alta speakers and lots of very positive comments from show visitors to our room.
But
Absolutely no mention from most of the major publications, not even any room visits, at either show.
Stereophile did give us a brief mention after RMAF saying it was best AVA sound they had heard at RMAF, but the limiter, “at RMAF” was discouraging.
All is not lost, we just sent a new Vision SET 400 to Enjoy the Music for review. They enjoyed our sound at Axpona.
Maybe we are not spending enough on advertising recently.
Frank
-
Maybe we are not spending enough on advertising recently.
Advertising is old school, you need to send out more tweets!
-
Yes, disappointing.
We had the best sound we have ever had at a show both at RMAF and at Axpona recently with Alta speakers and lots of very positive comments from show visitors to our room.
But
Absolutely no mention from most of the major publications, not even any room visits, at either show.
Stereophile did give us a brief mention after RMAF saying it was best AVA sound they had heard at RMAF, but the limiter, “at RMAF” was discouraging.
All is not lost, we just sent a new Vision SET 400 to Enjoy the Music for review. They enjoyed our sound at Axpona.
Maybe we are not spending enough on advertising recently.
Frank
Or make a model that's 4 times the cost and put a pretty case around it :duh:
But hey, i get my honest reviews from actual real users not from paid advertisement sites Stereophile, TAS, etc..
-
Frank,
When will this be on the site to purchase?
-
:D very interesting ,,,, I need a new amp and pre ,,,,, :D
-
So, can we infer from the comments above that the Alta Audio speakers are excellent? I ask because I gave in to an irrational impulse yesterday and bid on an ebay auction for a brand new pair of Alta Audio Rhea speakers at about half retail price. Somewhat to my horror, and definitely to my surprise, I was the only bidder, and I believe these things will shortly arrive at my front door. Wondering if they will be a step up from my KEF LS50's or if I will end up sending them back.
The new amps sound lovely. Should I be thinking about trading in my Synergy amp? Or even my FetValve 400R?
-
I heard the Alta Rhea speakers ay Axpona. We could not use them because the room was too small for them. They excited low frequency room resonances. Base response just went too deep for the small room. Mids and top end was better than just fine.
I will be getting a pair of them for myself.
Frank
-
The AVA website has the two new Vision SET amps included now. SET 400 at 225 W/ch I would have expected to be instead labelled SET 450, following previous nomenclature. Wondering if there will be an upgrade offered to owners of previous generation Synergy amps?