[ZMan]

What are the design differences between the AVA FET amps and the Llano Design Trinity amps?  

What are the sonic differences between these two Hybrid approaches?

ZMan

[avahifi]

There is no way I can comment on this because I have neither seen or heard the Llano Design Trinity amplifier.  We have not seen its schematic diagram either.

We can note that the Fet Valve amplifiers are protected by our US Patent so hopefully the other design is not a copy. We would doubt that there is another useful way to design a hybrid amplifier in which the small signal tubes do not have to do more than asked of them.  That is the heart of the Fet Valve amps design, the small signal tube stage can drive the distributed capacitance of the gates of the power mos-fet output stage without current limiting or bandwidth difficulties.  A small signal tube alone cannot do this.

In general asking an audio manufacturer how their product compares with that from anyother audio manufacturer is not the best way to get an unbiased response.

Frank Van Alstine

[rblnr]

I own Llano Trinity amps and am very happy w/them.  They are a big step up from the Bryston they replaced.

[WEEZ]

I have never heard either amp-nor can I comment on the design differences. But if you have read some of the 'other' forums on the net recently- it sounds like Llano is either out of business- or is very difficult to contact.

My advice- FWIW- would be that if you would be considering either of the two amplifiers- that you would be able to obtain an AVA amplifier if you wanted one. Not so (apparantly) if you want a Llano.

Right now, I couldn't afford either one   so there you go.

WEEZ

[mshale]

I have posted several times to Audio Asylum on Llano Design and Randy White, the company owner and founder.  I was in contact with him in April, and he is out of business for now (significant health problems).  When he was in business, his business practices were poor. You can find his used amps for sale.  While I have not heard one (although I ordered one and waited two years for it until he finally returned my money), everyone who has posted to a forum on the web testifies that they are great sounding units.  You can find the on the used market.  Be aware that if anything goes wrong with it there are no tech manuals for it and Randy obviously will not be fixing it.  He uses a proprietary circuit, so who knows what problems that could pose for a repairman.

   Frank van Alstine, on the other hand, has been in business for decades and has a rock-solid reputation for honesty and building reliable, excellent sounding products.  I've owned two of his amps and preamps over the years.  They are great value for money.  In the rare event one of his products needs repair, his company will do it--and quickly.