[Wally King]

Have any of you AVA equipment owners had a chance to compare the T8 preamp with the new Avastar?  Or, perhaps Frank would like to offer his two cents. 

I know what the descriptions say about each piece, but have not seen anything contrasting the strengths of one preamp against the other.

If I get one of these AVA units, it would be replacing a VTL 2.5 preamp and paired with a Double Ultra 550, driving Salk HT-3s. My source is a Cambridge 840c.

Thanks for any insights you fine fellows can provide.

[Listens2tubes]

Get The T8+ and some Valvo E188CC tubes. I don't think you'll need any other preamp under $4000.00. IMHO.

GET A T8+

[martyo]

Hey Wally. I haven't heard the Avastar but I run a T8+  with the Double 550 and the HT3's. The tad of warmth from the T8 is welcomed with the HT3's for me. I'm sure the Avastar is more refined and gives a clearer look into the music and there are always NOS tubes for a tad of warmth.     

[Wally King]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the advice.  Sounds like the T8 may be the way to go ... and I save some money too!

Listens2tubes:  I didn't think the 6dj8 tubes and their variants would work with the current version of the T8 since it comes with 6CG7 tubes in the line stage.

[avahifi]

We have tried 6DJ8 tubes in the T8 preamp and did not like the results at all - -  wall to wall mud.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

[Listens2tubes]

There is a thread in which I under-detail my rolling of the 6DJ6, 6922, 6FQ7/6CG7, ECC88, 7308 and CCa Amperex, Valvo, Mullard, etc. vintage tubes as well as cryo'd 6n23p's. For my money the Amperex Bugle Boys had everything except the bass slam I was looking for, which the E188CC Valvo's give me. Actually the cryo'd Vishod rocket cheapos did as well but were a bit microphonic. The T8+ is capable of clean definition of a linear nature. No tube warmth.

[Wally King]

Frank,

Does tube-rolling have as much of an impact in the Avastar as it does in the T-8?

[I.Greyhound Fan]

The T-8 should tame some of the 840's brightness.  I use to own an 840c and sold it and bought the Ultra DAC to go with my Ultra preamp.  I did get a chance to hear the 840c with a T-8 and the results were good.