[ckullmann1]

My system consists of Songtowers with a center channel (dome),  Marantz SR7005, AVA Insight +240/3 amp, acoustic zen cables. The Marantz amps only power my in-ceiling rears.  I'm thinking about upgrading to the ava vision preamp/dac with a HT bypass.  I'm sure the Marantz does a pretty good job as a preamp and DAC.  Does anyone have any thoughts about the potential sound improvement?  I don't want to spend the money unless the improvement would be significant.  As a side note, I just replaced the spikes on my Salks with Herbies giant fat gliders because I need to move my speakers in and out for critical listening.  I'm surprised at the improvement in sound quality.  Has anyone else had a similar experience?     

[floresjc]

When I first received my Salks a couple years ago, I had intended to buy only speakers. But I came into a little money and got Frank's Insight Preamp and DAC to match.

The logistics of it were that I used my Salks with an Outlaw 1070 (about 70-80 wpc) for awhile until my AVA stuff arrived. The Insight preamp/dac were a good upgrade, made much more difference than I thought electronics would. Particularly in the stereo imaging and extending out the high and low end, just a very full sound. No one would have called the receiver set up bad, but the AVA set up was marvelous.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy used. I used to search Audigon at least a couple times a day to see if any new AVA gear had shown up. I bought my (at the time) top of the line Fet Valve 550 on there for a steal. Insight DAC's were common and fairly cheap (I picked up a 2nd one for $350 when they were $1k new). If you get lucky, someone is selling a hybrid or tube preamp/DAC that Frank makes as they upgrade to the latest and greatest. Frank also maintains a stock of some secondhand equipment that you can view on his site as well.

[floresjc]

I didn't see the part about pass through. I believe you'll have to buy new to get Frank to add this feature, it can't be retrofit. But maybe not, someone had posted a PDF on using the EPL to achieve the same effect. I'm sure someone will chime in.

[Nuance]

My system consists of Songtowers with a center channel (dome),  Marantz SR7005, AVA Insight +240/3 amp, acoustic zen cables. The Marantz amps only power my in-ceiling rears.  I'm thinking about upgrading to the ava vision preamp/dac with a HT bypass.  I'm sure the Marantz does a pretty good job as a preamp and DAC.  Does anyone have any thoughts about the potential sound improvement?  I don't want to spend the money unless the improvement would be significant.  As a side note, I just replaced the spikes on my Salks with Herbies giant fat gliders because I need to move my speakers in and out for critical listening.  I'm surprised at the improvement in sound quality.  Has anyone else had a similar experience?     

If you noticed an improvement in sound quality from the fat gliders, I don't see how you won't hear the improvement that the AVA preamp and DAC will add.  It's a worthy investment IMO.

[wilsynet]

I have a Marantz HT receiver that I bought new last year, and have never heard anything from AVA.  Having said that,  I believe good 2-channel preamps and DACs would easily outclass the Marantz.

Doesn't AVA have a 30 return policy?  Very little downside to trying this out.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I believe that Frank can retrofit a T switch.  He did on my Ultra II Preamp and it works great. 

You will get more air and detail from the AVA gear.  And besides, AVA gear sounds great with Salk Speakers.  I have heard the Song Towers with Franks gear in his studio.  Great combo!

[smwick]

I have the Vision Dac/Pre and love it.  I would seriously consider it if you can.  I have mine with a fet valve ultra II 350 double driving Philharmonic Audio 3 speakers.  I tried the Dac/Pre with my Rega Mira 3 int amp and it made a huge improvement.  Clairity and detail are strong points as well as dynamics.  I also have Herbies big fat dots.  I have them under the rather large and heavy Phil 3's and they have made some rather nice improvements.  I have tried them under my old Yamaha floor standers, which I could not listen to for any length of time, as they are bright and rather flat sounding.  With the big fast dots they almost souned ok.  The bottom end was fuller and much tighter, with improved detail and the highs no longer made my ears bleed.  So yeah, I'm a big fam of the dots.

[coke]

I use a marantz receiver in my system for HT processing and to power my surrounds. I use AVA amps for the front 3 speakers.

I can listen in stereo with both, and switch between using an EE DAC and AVA preamp, and the marantz receiver.  There's a HUGE improvement when the marantz is taken out of the loop. 

The marantz processing the digital signals and sending them to my AVA amps is great for movies, but it just isn't good enough for 2 channel music. 

[ckullmann1]

Coke-Which Marantz receiver do you have?  Also, does the AVA gear have a big impact top-to-bottom for both highs and lows?

[coke]

I think it's the sr5004.   Picked it up really cheap online and is perfect for what I need.

You'll hear an improvement everywhere if you switch to an AVA pre and DAC.  It will be very noticeable with music. 

For reference, i've also used an integra preamp in my system before the marantz. I think it was the DHC 40.1.  My ava preamp and dac were big improvement over that as well.