[rcag_ils]

I am not sure if anyone already knows about this, Stereophile has published the Super Pas review from 1988 on their website. http://www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/1088vana/

It's a somewhat favorable review. I didn't know Frank used to offer tube dampers, and Tiffany jacks, since Frank dislike most of the audiophile parts.

It makes me wonder at which point Frank pissed off Stereophile and no other equipment review has been done since.

[gjs_cds]

Perhaps it was a lack of purchased ad space...

...Never cared for stereopile anyway...

[rcag_ils]

Stereophile was OK up to the mid 80's, then they had gone downhill since when they started reviewing magic cables and feet.

[BrianM]

I learned from Stereophile all about how a cable can have "pace"

[avahifi]

I am pleased to see that this review has been posted at the Stereophile web site.

The Super Pas Three remained on their Class C rating list for a couple of years, and then was removed because, "they had not listened to it for some time.".

I wrote to them reminding them that the preamp belonged to them, I had installed the Super Pas Three circuit set in a stock unit they had supplied.  Thus I suggested that they find it in the closet again, dust it off and listen to it again.  They never responded.

The Super Pas Three both kit and factory wired, remains in production now, over 15 years after it was designed.  A nice improvement available now is is the Insight output buffer board ($250 factory installed only) that turns the performance up a couple of classes.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

[rcag_ils]

Frank,

Do you mean you have the Insight output buffer boards for line and phono? That would be nice (I am currently working on a Pas 3).

[avahifi]

I have Insight+ Line buffer boards that will fit in the chassis and work really well, but no phono buffers at this time.  Actually the phono improves a whole bunch too by having a much better line section after it.

The installation into a properly wired and working Super Pas Three is $250.

Frank

[orthobiz]

I believe now Stereophile only reviews equipment with a minimum (5?) number of dealers. So I think this means AVA is excluded because of mail order status.

Of course, one of the individual reviewers such as Art Dudley could write about AVA stuff in his "monthly" column.

Paul

[orthobiz]

I could not link to the Manufacturer's Comments. Anybody able to?

Paul

[ricmon]

I believe now Stereophile only reviews equipment with a minimum (5?) number of dealers. So I think this means AVA is excluded because of mail order status.

Of course, one of the individual reviewers such as Art Dudley could write about AVA stuff in his "monthly" column.

Paul

I'm not a defender of Stereophile but I know for sure that they don't have any rules on advertising to get reviewed.  My Lipinski L-707's got a class A reccomendation.  Lipinski Sound spent zip, zero on Stereophile advertising and don't have much of a dealer network, mostly sold through pro audio dealers.  This was verified by Andrew Lipinski in a conversation with me.

Ric

[rlee8394]

Ric,

Yeah, but Atkinson still believes that Frank only "modifies Dynaco and Hafler equipment." He has been sent letters stating that AVA is a full fledged company designing, marketing, and manufacturing their own designs. He's still clueless, or just faking it!

Ron

[Art_Chicago]

I believe now Stereophile only reviews equipment with a minimum (5?) number of dealers. So I think this means AVA is excluded because of mail order status.

that is my understanding, too

[orthobiz]

I believe now Stereophile only reviews equipment with a minimum (5?) number of dealers. So I think this means AVA is excluded because of mail order status.

that is my understanding, too

Only one or two months ago they went through a paragraph describing how a particular manufacturer had only four vendors (something like that) and how they had to wait until one more vendor came through before they could publish the review of a piece of equipment. I know I read it in Stereophile, at least I think I did!

Paul

[dB Cooper]

Sterophile gave one AVA power amp a 'Class D' Recommended rating- and a B&K (IIRC) power amp that was later admitted by an officer of the company to be a direct copy of AVA's amp, a 'Class A' or 'Class B' rating. The full story can be found in the Audio Basics back issues somewhere. What does that tell you about depending on their judgments.

Since Gordon Holt sold it off, I mainly read Stereophile- if at all- for laughs. I'm not buying any $40,000 audio systems even if I hit the Powerball.

Well, on second thought, $40K would go a long way at AVA and Salk... 

[boycephoto]

If you bought a system off the pages of Stereophile $40K would be the cost of just the speaker cable.   I am going let my subscription run out, but wait... I just got a renewal for $7 for the next year, that is $82 off the regular price.  I guess they do know what thier magazine is worth.  I would rather get a Big Mac and some  fries!!

[boycephoto]

Now we all know what Stereophile is really worth but I do need to give credit where credit is due.  After reading the review of the Super Pas 3 in Stereophile I did order the kit shortly after and have been happy ever since. I think I still have a copy of it with the Super Pas 3 instruction manual.