[rcag_ils]

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=46861.0

I guess I am just bored tonight and found some outragously stupid mods for your AVA amps.

The guy who did the mod claimed to do a comparison with the same amp, and found the modded unit to be more superior. Unbelieveable.

[kip_]

Frank Van Alstine has refused to use "magic caps" in the past, though I think he will substitute them if you explicitly request them. I'm sure they sounded different but I think these things can be subjective.

[rcag_ils]

I don't think Frank will install the magic caps for you, unless you supply your own parts and give up the three year warranty. Actually, some of the AVA circle regulars endorse the mod, like JerryM, he loved it. I didn't realize that two years later, this amp was sold again in 2010.

[JerryM]

I don't think Frank will install the magic caps for you, unless you supply your own parts and give up the three year warranty. Actually, some of the AVA circle regulars endorse the mod, like JerryM, he loved it. I didn't realize that two years later, this amp was sold again in 2010. It's amazing, I guess magic parts, bungee cord size cable can really help the sale.

I don't recall loving the mod; I never got to hear it. I do recall believing it was a sweet deal, though. 

Have fun,

Jerry

[Tone Depth]

It might be appropriate to PM Frank to see if he feels it appropriate to discuss unauthorized mods to AVA equipment in the AVA forum, before posting. I remember reading some comments less than positive by Frank about this mod when it was originally posted.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=46861.0

I guess I am just bored tonight and found some interesting mods for your AVA amps, but you may want to check with Frank first before you proceed. Or ask Frank why the mod wouldn't work. Or Frank may learn a thing or two from this guy.

The guy who did the mod claimed to do a comparison with the same amp, and found the modded unit to be more superior. It has been approved by a guy who bought it from him.

[rcag_ils]

It might be appropriate to PM Frank to see if he feels it appropriate to discuss unauthorized mods to AVA equipment in the AVA forum, before posting. I remember reading some comments less than positive by Frank about this mod when it was originally posted.

I am not seriously recommending this mod, and my post is to reflect how stupid some people can be. I have never read the original posting, I guess I missed it four years ago. It's the first unauthorized mod I've ever seen and I think it's crazy and stupid, I would not pay $20.00 for it and I don't see how could it be a "sweet deal."

[JerryM]

I am not seriously recommending this mod, and my post is to reflect how stupid some people can be. I have never read the original posting, I guess I missed it four years ago. It's the first unauthorized mod I've ever seen and I think it's crazy and stupid, I would not pay $20.00 for it and I don't see how could it be a "sweet deal."

I'm sorry, but did I miss your review of how this modded unit performs? I'd hate to think that, in your self-proclaimed boredom, you would just randomly judge others as "stupid".

I know modding well respected gear can raise some feathers, but it has launched more than a few cool projects that some folks enjoy. Don't let your boredom override your common sense.

[trebejo]

Look, ennui is a common stimulant, no doubt, but if it's exhuming dead,

 

dead,

 

quite, quite dead threads,

 

why not quaff a quart of scotch and watch a good zombie movie instead? 

[rcag_ils]

After reading all these thumb-up responses for this mod, I am not bored anymore, it works.

[avahifi]

There was an interesting story about this "mod".  I mentioned, in a different thread, that if the folks doing the mod had only changed one resistor value on the amp, it would have made a significant musical improvement, more useful than all the stray capacitors hanging there all over the place.

Refer to the User Reviews of the Fet Valve 400R and 600R amps here at AC.  We mentioned the resistor value change here, but did not spill the beans to the guys working on the major modifications.  I guess they never looked at the amp with a square wave generator and scope to search for any issues that might be solved by better electrical engineering.  Its easier just to throw a bunch of capacitors at it.

Sadly, their parts substitutions makes it much harder to access the parts that replacement could have made a real improvement.

Oh well,   

Frank

[murf]

So like, what are "HAL-O tube dampers"?  Are they good? 

Murf

[rcag_ils]

I hope Frank didn't give people the impression that they could accomplish the same thing in a different way by throwing a bunch of high-end cap at the amp, or could they?

[avahifi]

I hope I did not give that impression either.

The only time I have ever heard a "high end" capacitor make any sonic difference at all (assuming that both the original and the "high end" replacement were both of the same measured value and voltage rating and were both in good working order and both were an appropriate type capacitor for the application) was when we tried replacing the coupling capacitors in an older solid state design of ours with all wondercap types.

We could then hear a difference.  With the wondercaps installed we could hear a definite "ping" sound from the speakers with the volume turned up and no source playing when we tapped on the case of the unit.  They were soft film capacitors and thus were microphonic!  I suspect when music was playing they acted like little reverb machines, nice sometimes, but you can't turn them off.

Frank

[strat95]

I hope I did not give that impression either.

The only time I have ever heard a "high end" capacitor make any sonic difference at all (assuming that both the original and the "high end" replacement were both of the same measured value and voltage rating and were both in good working order and both were an appropriate type capacitor for the application) was when we tried replacing the coupling capacitors in an older solid state design of ours with all wondercap types.

We could then hear a difference.  With the wondercaps installed we could hear a definite "ping" sound from the speakers with the volume turned up and no source playing when we tapped on the case of the unit.  They were soft film capacitors and thus were microphonic!  I suspect when music was playing they acted like little reverb machines, nice sometimes, but you can't turn them off.

Frank

This just gave me such a good laugh!!  Thanks Frank.