This is my first post on Audio Circle but I have been a voyer for quite a while. Thanks for all the info, it is great to be able to read others opinions before purchasing expensive gear.
I am posting to say thanks to Frank for his help in my recent purchases. A 350 Ultra with the double output transistors and an upgrade of my old 350 to an Ultra. I had already made my order for the new amp when his 15% sale was offered and he applied it to my order. That made enough difference in the price I was able to get my old amp to new status. I am glad I did because it would have been hard to listen to my studio system knowing how good the new amp sounds on my main rig.
I am replacing a set of Monarchy 160 hybrid amps. I had always liked the way Monarchies sounded and how you could change the character of the amps by rolling different 6dj8 tubes. These are the big brothers to the SE100 amps that the reviewer in audiomojo used for his reference amps compared to the Insight 240. He commented on the Monarchies ability to throw a better image. I have found that the Ultra amps are so much more musical and open that there is no comparison, I realize that the AVA amp he compared it to was an all transistor amp, but comparing apples to apples, or high end hybrid to high end hybrid, the AVA amp beats it in all respects.
My system is comprised of Rotel Cd player for a transport, Kora Hermies dac,glassware stepped attenuator, AVA 350Ultra amp and Soundlab A-1 elaectorstats. The Soundlabs are very hard to drive with a 2 ohm load over most of the speactrum. The AVA amp drives them to loud with no hint of stress. Thanks again Frank, I do believe I have found the holy grail of affordable amps.
