[Minn Mark]

I know many of us 'mix-n-match', but I am curous if anyone has purchased an all FET Valve system (preamp, power amp and DAC) and would post their listening impressions/review?

Mark

[charmerci]

Yup. (No, not me unfortunately.)


http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=109128.msg1123545#msg1123545

[gadfly]

Timely…..2/3 Fet Valve System sans DAC

Five hrs. ago I unpacked a FetValve 600R and CF vacuum tube pre.  A temporary part shortage, MN. snow,
and a slow train led to an 8 wk. + delivery.  I had sold off my class D integrated that powered Salk HT3s
relegating my last  2 month's listening to a second system that rates somewhere between vintage and
Value Village.  My source is a wyred4sound dac-2 dsdse fed by a squeezebox touch with edo app.  This
evening I have listened to high-res downloads including "Jazz at the Pawnshop."  Granted I don't get
out much but…….tonight my living room was a Stockholm jazz club.  Real you are there music.  The
HT3's are singing.  Cymbals have a delicate decay not heard or felt before.  Like-wise the Jazz bass has
previously absent wood tones.  The middle is warm, involving. The biggest difference is the Salk/Ava
combo grabs me emotionally where before the music was more of a head trip.

gad-

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Kwebb needs to upgrade to the new full tube FET Valve preamp.  It is much better sounding IMHO.  Frank has a real winner in the newer FET Valve preamp.

[ArthurDent]

Kwebb needs to upgrade to the new full tube FET Valve preamp.  It is much better sounding IMHO.  Frank has a real winner in the newer FET Valve preamp.

He may have already. He has his 'old' FET Valve listed on Agon.  He posted the link here http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=92757.msg1309264#new

[smargo]

Timely…..2/3 Fet Valve System sans DAC

Five hrs. ago I unpacked a FetValve 600R and CF vacuum tube pre.  A temporary part shortage, MN. snow,
and a slow train led to an 8 wk. + delivery.  I had sold off my class D integrated that powered Salk HT3s
relegating my last  2 month's listening to a second system that rates somewhere between vintage and
Value Village.  My source is a wyred4sound dac-2 dsdse fed by a squeezebox touch with edo app.  This
evening I have listened to high-res downloads including "Jazz at the Pawnshop."  Granted I don't get
out much but…….tonight my living room was a Stockholm jazz club.  Real you are there music.  The
HT3's are singing.  Cymbals have a delicate decay not heard or felt before.  Like-wise the Jazz bass has
previously absent wood tones.  The middle is warm, involving. The biggest difference is the Salk/Ava
combo grabs me emotionally where before the music was more of a head trip.

gad-

gad - after you lived and heard the piece for at least 1.5 weeks - then a month - then 2 months - if you still feel the same way

then it adds more credibility - if i had a penny for every person that gave a good review after intially opening their gear - i would be.....

[gadfly]

Yeah, you probably have a point.  Maybe with Obamacare I can get
some medication for severe expectation bias.

gad-

[edn4x4]

Maybe Larry can get a DAC for review from Frank and bring it to my place.  I would gladly host as I would like to hear the all FET system and shootout between my dac (W4S DAC2SE) and the FET.
I have the latest Fet Valve CF and a couple weeks ago received my 400r.  Larry has heard my system so I think it would be a good test bed!

Eric

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I am up for it.  It's up to Frank!  We can do a review. 

Eric, how's the new system sounding?  I am sure it is awesome.  I need to get over there for a listen with the new gear.

[edn4x4]

I am up for it.  It's up to Frank!  We can do a review. 

Eric, how's the new system sounding?  I am sure it is awesome.  I need to get over there for a listen with the new gear.

Larry  -  that would be a lot of fun!  Lets try some time beginning of April if possible.  We could also A/B the DACs with the source selector of the pre.  The  dac comparisons would be a true a/b test.

My system now - one word you already used -> awesome
The 400r really drive the 1.7s to sonic bliss - you were right about the fact I would be happy with this amp choice   The Ncores did great with the MMGs, but once the 1.7s were in house, they just seemed to lack the mids that the 400r provides - very musical indeed.

[coke]

I don't have exactly what you're asking, but I do have 2 systems with AVA amps and preamps.

I have a Ultra+ SL preamp and an Ultra+ Double 550 amp.  Upstream of these is an Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC.  I've had this since 2009 and have had absolutely no desire to upgrade the AVA components. I'm using all of this in conjunction with Salk HT2-TL speakers, and I feel that the speakers are the limiting factor. I'm considering upgrading to Salk Soundscapes and will not upgrade the AVA equipment if I go this route.   I may upgrade the DAC though, because I feel that it's my weakest link between the DAC, preamp, and amp.

Don't overlook the customer service of AVA either.  They have treated me better than ANY other company I've ever dealt with, and I mean any company, not just audio related. 

I also have a bedroom system consisting of older AVA insight preamp and amp and an Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC.  This system uses Salk Songtowers with the same ribbon tweeters that are in my HT2-TLs.  In this sytem, I feel like the electronics are the weak point and the Salks could justify better electronics driving them.  This is not to say I have any complaints with the AVA equipment, but the Insight equipment is not quite on the same level as the FET valve equipment according to my ears.

The only issues I have with the AVA equipment has to do with ease of use.  It would be nice if I could turn the equipment off and change sources remotely, but I know those aren't common features on this type of equipment.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Coke, I can tell you that if you heard a 400R or 600R in your system you would get rid of your Ultra plus 550 in a heart beat.  Those amps are awesome.  I have been able to audition both in my system and the R amps are in a totally different league compared to the 550.  They are more dynamic, much more musical with more air, transparency, detail and resolution.  Bass is deeper, faster and better controlled.  HF extension is fantastic.  The spacing between instruments is much greater.  The R series just deliver the power faster and they are dynamic and musical at low volumes.  The R series amps compare to amps in the $5K-6K range.  It compares well to my Pass Labs X250.  I truly feel the R series amps are the best buy in audio.

[NIGHTFALL1970]

"I truly feel the R series amps are the best buy in audio." -IGF

 

[coke]

Coke, I can tell you that if you heard a 400R or 600R in your system you would get rid of your Ultra plus 550 in a heart beat.  Those amps are awesome.  I have been able to audition both in my system and the R amps are in a totally different league compared to the 550.  They are more dynamic, much more musical with more air, transparency, detail and resolution.  Bass is deeper, faster and better controlled.  HF extension is fantastic.  The spacing between instruments is much greater.  The R series just deliver the power faster and they are dynamic and musical at low volumes.  The R series amps compare to amps in the $5K-6K range.  It compares well to my Pass Labs X250.  I truly feel the R series amps are the best buy in audio.

I'm content with my amps now and I'd prefer to avoid changing that if possible; so I'll do my best to avoid hearing an R amp 

[mark funk]

It's cool to see and hear how an amp grows up. Mine came to life as a Fet Valve EXR6, that was the last of the EX amps. Ultra came next then the Double and then one day, I got an Email from AVA and Frank would like to have my and Martyo's amps to come home so the team could play and do what they do to make things like the Fet Valve 600R.  Mine came back as an Ultra+ 550


                                                                                                                           

[Kwebb]

I did a couple of reviews a while back on my system comprised of FET Valve DAC, FET Valve Hybrid Preamp, FET Valve 600R Amp and  Salk Sound HT3 speakers.  The all FET Valve Component system perform superbly magnificent together. The first link is below.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=109128.msg1123545#msg1123545

and another link is here:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=121471.msg1278914#msg1278914

I am currently in the process of selling the FET Valve Hybrid because I want to upgrade to the FET Valve CF.  If interested the link is below:

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/tube-audio-by-van-alstine-fet-valve-hybrid-preamp-2014-02-25-preamplifiers-92009-carlsbad-ca

Greyhound thank you for mentioning.

Kyle