[jhm731]

What's the best sounding AVA amp, the Fet Valve Ultra 550  or the OmegaStar 440EXH?

Do they offer silver faceplates?

[Zheeeem]

I've owned both Omegas and FetValves, and while I really like both, the FV is the clear winner.

[pearsall001]

I gotta go with the 440EX on this one (I own one). I was ready to purchaes the Fet Valve 550 but Frank talked me out of it & recommended the 440EX for my system. So I never had the chance to listen to the 550, and to be quite honest, as good as the 440EX is I really don't think I'm missing out on anything.

[brj]

I was ready to purchaes the Fet Valve 550 but Frank talked me out of it & recommended the 440EX for my system.

What characteristics of your system or listening preferences led to the 440EX recommendation over the 550?

Thanks!

[pearsall001]

brj, When Frank asked about my listening habits I told him it is approx. 75% Ht/25% 2 channel. I expressed my concern for the slam & dynamics needed for HT. But I still wanted all the dynamics for my 2 channel listening. With this information I assume Frank felt the 440EX would best suit my listening needs. Now that I have the 440EX I agree with him 100%. Good call Frank!!!!

[avahifi]

One reason I suggested the OmegaStar 440EX for pearsall001 was that he was using a vacuum tube preamplifier and I felt his system then did not need any more "softening" as the CJ was already doing this, perhaps even more than necessary for his listening tastes.

In general we feel that the Fet Valve Ultra series amplifiers are better overall, with an even better reach into the emotion and spirit of the music.  The OmegaStar amps have a slight advantage in bass impact and are less expensive.  if the preamp already has soft tube characteristics, then any differences in the superior definition of the Fet Valve amplifiers will probably be somewhat masked by what the preamp is doing and thus spending extra to get what you are likely not going to hear is not useful.

We are talking small "shades of grey" here. Both amplifiers are excellent musical performers.  I am simply more comfortable matching an OmegaStar amp with a high end vacuum tube preamp and a Fet Valve amplifier with a high end hybrid or solid state preamp.  If we could make them all sound exactly perfect and exactly the same, we would build only one model.  As is, likely you will be impressed with whichever model you choose even if it is the only model of ours you have heard.

I am probably not making any sense to either you or me.   

Frank Van Alstine

[jhm731]

Thanks for the feedback.

Still wondering if the AVA amps are available with a silver faceplate?

[modular747]

  I am simply more comfortable matching an OmegaStar amp with a high end vacuum tube preamp and a Fet Valve amplifier with a high end hybrid or solid state preamp.  If we could make them all sound exactly perfect and exactly the same, we would build only one model.  As is, likely you will be impressed with whichever model you choose even if it is the only model of ours you have heard.

I am probably not making any sense to either you or me.   

Frank Van Alstine

Makes perfect sense...  Do you recommend the OmegaStar over the Ultra amps with the T8 preamp?

[avahifi]

Sorry, no silver faceplates, that would require double tooling and production stocking of faceplates and knobs for everything and raise the costs for everyone.

The T8 tube preamp does not have typical tube softness, it is amazingly dynamic and extended, thus we are comfortable with any combination of our amplifiers and preamps between the Ultra and OmegaStar and T8 series.

Cost is probably a important consideration. Do the best you can reasonably afford.

Frank Van Alstine

[guest1632]

Sorry, no silver faceplates, that would require double tooling and production stocking of faceplates and knobs for everything and raise the costs for everyone.

The T8 tube preamp does not have typical tube softness, it is amazingly dynamic and extended, thus we are comfortable with any combination of our amplifiers and preamps between the Ultra and OmegaStar and T8 series.

Cost is probably a important consideration. Do the best you can reasonably afford.

Frank Van Alstine

Hi Frank,  since we are playing with shades, what is the sound difference between the T8 and the FET Valve T7? series? Sorry if I got the syntax of the FET Valve model of the preamp wrong.

Ray

[MarkM]

The T8 tube preamp does not have typical tube softness, it is amazingly dynamic and extended, thus we are comfortable with any combination of our amplifiers and preamps between the Ultra and OmegaStar and T8 series.

Cost is probably a important consideration. Do the best you can reasonably afford.

Frank Van Alstine

I own a T8 pre and have to agree with Frank regarding its sonics, not your typical tube pre.  I have an Ultra Fet 550 on the way and look forward to hearing the combo any day now.  It should be in my hands in a week or two.

[Wayner]

I actually like my Dynaco Stereo 120 rebuild known as the AVA 170EX. Maybe because I've always like Dynaco and also what Frank has done with the mods, but the 170 is very musical (although the only thing left is the chassis, all new AVA inside, even tranny). My Dynaco A25XL's simply love the feed. I am powering the 170 with a brand new AVA T8 as it replaced an old friend, my Dynaco Pat-4, which many critics did not like, but I did. I am trying to keep this one system retro with my 2 sources, a Dynaco FM-5 tuner and an AR-XA turntable. I can't describe what the combo of the components sound like with words, but it would have no shame in anyone's home. I let the system be itself, not fretting if it's the best in the house. It is what it is. Frank's equipment has brought this home so many hours of wonderful music, I can't thank him enough. There have been many, many evenings with one album after another with the music getting louder and louder and it's into the wee hours of the morning, I finally have to stop.