[robinje]

Well, a year or so ago I decided to sell off my Van Alstine preamp/amp and get back on the audiophool nervosa merry-go-round for another ride.  After much money spent and nothing substantial gained, I am coming back full circle to AVA!  My new Ultra SL preamp arrived today and the outstanding sound quality of AVA gear has been re-realized in my system.  Up next is an Ultra 350 power amp which is already on order and should arrive in a few weeks...   

Why I decided to do such a foolish thing as sell my AVA components boggles my own mind.  At least I had the sense to come back.  Perhaps I had a mid-life crisis at age 41...   

[oneinthepipe]

Perhaps I had a mid-life crisis at age 41...   

That's not mid-life yet, or at least I hope not. 

[robinje]

I didn't mean to offend anyone with an age-related comment...   

I'll instead just admit to a bout of plain ol' stupidity! 

[oneinthepipe]

I didn't mean to offend anyone with an age-related comment...   

I'll instead just admit to a bout of plain ol' stupidity! 

I was just joking, and no problem for me. 

I haven't had my mid-life crisis yet (I'm only 52), or if I had, my wife didn't remind me, and I missed it. 

Regardless, AVA is great stuff. 

[Wayner]

Sometimes, the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, until we get over there.

Welcome back!

Wayner aa

[pardales]

Great, short story. Good for you! 

Actually, if the average life-span for men is around 78, then we enter mid-life in our late 30's (about 38-39). People don't usually think about it that way but I think that is accurate. Mid-life at 50 assumes your going to live productively until your 100. I hope so, but odds are against. it. I still believe you are as old as you feel and carpe diem because you could get hit by a bus or a water buffalo tomorrow. I am not in the insurance business. 

[martyo]

Well, a year or so ago I decided to sell off my Van Alstine preamp/amp and get back on the audiophool nervosa merry-go-round for another ride.  After much money spent and nothing substantial gained, I am coming back full circle to AVA!  My new Ultra SL preamp arrived today and the outstanding sound quality of AVA gear has been re-realized in my system.  Up next is an Ultra 350 power amp which is already on order and should arrive in a few weeks...  

Why I decided to do such a foolish thing as sell my AVA components boggles my own mind.  At least I had the sense to come back.  Perhaps I had a mid-life crisis at age 41...   

Welcome back

There is a rush in buying new stuff and I think sometimes people are looking for some kind of new break-thru, maybe just wanting a change.....Sometimes it just might be too easy
 We spent $11.5K on our whole system, including the room treatments and I really believe we get 95% of what there is to get, and very musically. I'm not at all concerned or stressed or obsessed with trying to get that 5%. That's a lot of money to us, but in this realm, not necessarily so. I'm really enjoying the 95%. I don't mean "my stereo is the best", just that I've got plenty, I'm extremely happy. 

[oneinthepipe]

you could get hit by ... a water buffalo tomorrow.

Yes, that occasionally occurs on my street.     (You AVA owners are very witty, too.)

When I bought life insurance, I made a comment to the insurance agent, "... and if I die."  He responded, "[oneinthepipe,] it is no if you die, it is when you die."  Nevertheless, according to the old saying, "Life begins at forty," I haven't reached mid-life yet, notwithstanding actuarial calculations.     

We spent $11.5K on our whole system, including the room treatments and I really believe we get 95% of what there is to get, and very musically.

I haven't spent that much yet, which will be my defense when my wife figures out how much I have spent or my excuse to spend another $4K when I have my mid-life crisis. 

[martyo]

I haven't spent that much yet, which will be my defense when my wife figures out how much I have spent or my excuse to spend another $4K when I have my mid-life crisis.

Glad I could be of assistance.   

 

[mark funk]

Well, my last mid-life crisis was when I turned 50. That is when I got all my stuff from Frank, $5,600 well spent, I should be good until I am 78   Oh ya Welcome back robinje:smoke:

[Art_Chicago]

Well, a year or so ago I decided to sell off my Van Alstine preamp/amp and get back on the audiophool nervosa merry-go-round for another ride.  After much money spent and nothing substantial gained, I am coming back full circle to AVA!  My new Ultra SL preamp arrived today and the outstanding sound quality of AVA gear has been re-realized in my system.  Up next is an Ultra 350 power amp which is already on order and should arrive in a few weeks...   

Why I decided to do such a foolish thing as sell my AVA components boggles my own mind.  At least I had the sense to come back.  Perhaps I had a mid-life crisis at age 41...   

Hey, would you mind to list the equipment you had during that crisis? I am new here, has not listened AVA amps. I am thinking about upgrade when my Song Towers arrive in a few weeks...
Thanks,
Art

[avahifi]

With SongTowers, I suggest you try our Insight Control Amp and insight DAC.

We used this combo at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest all day Sunday, driving both the Songtowers and the HT3s.  These were used for the now infamous MIT speaker wire comparison shootout with my 14 gauge Home Depot zip cord speaker wires.

Ask Jim Salk his opinion of the combination with the SongTowers.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

[Rocket]

Hi,

I know how you feel I've been on a merry go round for about 8 years and I've dumped a lot of money in my system.  I was really happy with a pair of speakers that I had custom made for me about 8 years ago.  I sold it to a friend and about six months later when I asked to buy them off him he wouldn't sell them back to me  .

Unfortunately every speaker I bought just wasn't up to scratch until I bought a pair of Salk Sound Ht2's recently.  I dumped about $10 000au which is a LOT of money for me.

I'm sure that Frank's gear is top notch.  A friend has recently purchased an Insight Dac (lives in melbourne) and he's raving about it.

Regards

Rocket

[robinje]

Well, a year or so ago I decided to sell off my Van Alstine preamp/amp and get back on the audiophool nervosa merry-go-round for another ride.  After much money spent and nothing substantial gained, I am coming back full circle to AVA!  My new Ultra SL preamp arrived today and the outstanding sound quality of AVA gear has been re-realized in my system.  Up next is an Ultra 350 power amp which is already on order and should arrive in a few weeks...   

Why I decided to do such a foolish thing as sell my AVA components boggles my own mind.  At least I had the sense to come back.  Perhaps I had a mid-life crisis at age 41...   

Hey, would you mind to list the equipment you had during that crisis? I am new here, has not listened AVA amps. I am thinking about upgrade when my Song Towers arrive in a few weeks...
Thanks,
Art

Shoot me a PM and we can discuss the specific components I've been had.  All I'll say here is that they all have cost more than any AVA equipment. 

[Art_Chicago]

With SongTowers, I suggest you try our Insight Control Amp and insight DAC.

We used this combo at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest all day Sunday, driving both the Songtowers and the HT3s.  These were used for the now infamous MIT speaker wire comparison shootout with my 14 gauge Home Depot zip cord speaker wires.

Ask Jim Salk his opinion of the combination with the SongTowers.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

Frank, I already asked Jim and he highly recommended your new integrated Insight. While I 'll probably end up buying it anyway, I am curious what your opinion about the digital amplifiers is? One of the companies I've seen is aslo a 'direct sale"; its power amplifier is rated to 250 Wpc at 4 Ohm and  sells for ~ 1k. It seems like a competitor to Insight 240. I have auditioned none of them, so please share your opinion.
Thanks,
Art

[avahifi]

My personal opinion of all the digital amplifiers I have heard:

They play all of the notes and none of the music.  I always get the feeling "why am I listening to this?"

Maybe someday they will do better.  Now the task of removing the switching frequencies so all the TV sets in your neighborhood don't black out and saving the music seem to be beyond them.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine