Vision SET 400 amp Review

avahifi · « **Reply #100 on:** 16 Apr 2021, 02:27 pm »

Email me at: frank@avahifi.com and I will send you a .pdf file of any of our current user manuals.

Note that we have discontinued the XLR option with our two channel stereo amplifiers. Since the amplifiers can't run balanced (that requires four active channels) this option provides no useful sonic improvement.

Our mono amps are full differential amplifiers and XLR inputs with these is standard.

Note that we will have final production prototypes of a fully balanced digital preamp available within a couple of weeks. This has both balanced XLR outputs and RCA outputs and five digital inputs.

Frank

gene9p · « **Reply #101 on:** 16 Apr 2021, 02:38 pm »

thanks Frank..sent you an e-mail.

RonN5 · « **Reply #102 on:** 16 Apr 2021, 03:28 pm »

Frank....does this mean that the digital preamp will have its own built in DAC? Also, will it have any analog inputs?

Thanks.

avahifi · « **Reply #103 on:** 18 Apr 2021, 02:01 am »

Yes, built in DAC.

If you need to use 2 channel analog sources, we will offer a low cost A to D external adaptor with two sets of analog inputs. It sounds great with our Vision Q phono preamp as an input.

Frank

Tone Depth · « **Reply #104 on:** 18 Apr 2021, 08:01 pm »

Looking forward to reviews of your digital preamp! What is the status of a new stand alone DAC?

Quote from: avahifi on 16 Apr 2021, 02:27 pm

Email me at: frank@avahifi.com and I will send you a .pdf file of any of our current user manuals.

Note that we have discontinued the XLR option with our two channel stereo amplifiers. Since the amplifiers can't run balanced (that requires four active channels) this option provides no useful sonic improvement.

Our mono amps are full differential amplifiers and XLR inputs with these is standard.

Note that we will have final production prototypes of a fully balanced digital preamp available within a couple of weeks. This has both balanced XLR outputs and RCA outputs and five digital inputs.

Frank

gene9p · « **Reply #105 on:** 23 Apr 2021, 02:40 pm »

amp shipped yesterday will be arriving Tuesday...

gene9p · « **Reply #106 on:** 27 Apr 2021, 07:50 pm »

EZ PZ set up and very back friendly..lol. What would you say is the break in time period?

PSB Guy · « **Reply #107 on:** 27 Apr 2021, 08:11 pm »

Frank has said elsewhere that his solid-state equipment needs little to no break-in, and his tube equipment needs a few minutes, just to bring the tubes up to temperature. As an owner of his solid-state stuff for ten years or so, I agree.

Cornelis

gene9p · « **Reply #108 on:** 27 Apr 2021, 08:20 pm »

thank you....excuse the disarray until I complete my Spring madness

Ledhead26 · « **Reply #109 on:** 28 Apr 2021, 12:29 am »

I look forward to reading your impressions of the amp.

gene9p · « **Reply #110 on:** 3 May 2021, 08:51 pm »

after a week of listening and comparing I have decide to send the amp back. It is quite good, beautifully built, easy on the back weight, and impressive sound to boot. However I am going to stick with the A21 with the balanced inputs, gain controls, and 12v trigger that fit my needs/wants. Sound wise both are top notch , I just feel the A21 works better with the Mac 2300 in my set up. Others might find it the other way around they are both that good. if anyone wants me to ship the amp to them instead of back to AVA let me know ASAP.

avahifi · « **Reply #111 on:** 4 May 2021, 06:55 pm »

Hi Gene,

I know you have been a user of AVA products for many years now so we regret the SET 400 did not have the features you wanted.

I might suggest our brand new M225 mono amps we are finally able to ship right now after a long development period.

These are fully differential balanced designs with XLR inputs only. They are very small for their power and authority, just 9” wide, 10” deep, 4” high and 16 pounds.

They are Class A-B designs running Class A up to about 20W. The M225 is rated at 225W/Ch into 8 ohms, near double that into 4 ohms and safe operation into 2 ohms.

Sonically, they are probably the best we have ever done. We have review samples out to Parttimeaudiophile and Audiophila right now. The Audiophile reviewer called and purchased the review samples. Expect two over the top reviews soon. Huge stable image, amazingly natural, transparent, dynamic, and resolving.

Price $1699 each and worth a hell of a lot more.

gene9p · « **Reply #112 on:** 4 May 2021, 10:48 pm »

oh boy....I will look into those..I just shipped back the 400 today...it's never easy sending back a quality product. Thanks...

2bigears · « **Reply #113 on:** 4 May 2021, 11:29 pm »

can you get the 225's single end ?

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #114 on:** 5 May 2021, 02:51 am »

Quote from: 2bigears on 4 May 2021, 11:29 pm

can you get the 225's single end ?

You can use XLR to RCA converter that Frank built and see if it is available for sale now. I reviewed the amps and they sound great.

avahifi · « **Reply #115 on:** 5 May 2021, 03:21 pm »

Stereo RCA to XLR unit is in final testing here right now.

Will be about 30 days to have chassis designed and produced.

It will take about the same time to have final PC card produced and populated.

We are putting a lot into this to make sure it is really transparent.

Frank

2bigears · « **Reply #116 on:** 5 May 2021, 05:46 pm »

one box unit with rca inputs will fit the bill. I need an amp in the worse way. Canada is like a wasteland with no shops here. But i need an amp NOW !!!! I HAVE NO MUSIC !!!!

avahifi · « **Reply #117 on:** 5 May 2021, 06:27 pm »

I have a demo SET 400 power amp with the black faceplate available at 10% off ($1799).

RCA stereo inputs and ready to go with full new warranty.

Frank

gene9p · « **Reply #118 on:** 6 May 2021, 02:27 pm »

I just shipped back a pristine 2 week old silver face plate that will be back in Frank's hands 5/7.. I never used the power chord or anything else in the box but the amp and it was used with very high end gear, Furman protection and battery backup.

decooney · « **Reply #119 on:** 8 May 2021, 04:08 pm »

Quote from: gene9p on 3 May 2021, 08:51 pm

after a week of listening and comparing I have decide to send the amp back. It is quite good, beautifully built, easy on the back weight, and impressive sound to boot. However I am going to stick with the A21 with the balanced inputs, gain controls, and 12v trigger that fit my needs/wants. Sound wise both are top notch , I just feel the A21 works better with the Mac 2300 in my set up. Others might find it the other way around they are both that good. if anyone wants me to ship the amp to them instead of back to AVA let me know ASAP.

Quote from: gene9p on 6 May 2021, 02:27 pm

I just shipped back a pristine 2 week old silver face plate that will be back in Frank's hands 5/7.. I never used the power chord or anything else in the box but the amp and it was used with very high end gear, Furman protection and battery backup.

Hi gene9p,
Saw your note on needing those other features which I don't care about or need, but wondering why you felt the A21 was worth sticking with sonically? I tried the new "+" addition A23+ reportedly designed by John Curl and was surprisingly undwhelmed, even with a really good 6SN7 tube preamp in front of it. Sold it a month after giving it a shot as a backup amp to my tube mono amps. Fwiw, I've owned many other Class A/AB SS amps to compare to in the past. Yes, we realize function and synergy is important and likely why you kept the Mac 2300 / A21 amp setup. Hope you can answer another question and no offense meant.. i would figure the SET 400 would sound better than your A21 and wondering if you felt your current Mac 2300 preamplifier was a limiting factor in not achieving the best results with the SET400. And wondering if you focused on one aspect of the sound like bass vs the entire soundstage, midrange, imaging...

Did you try any other preamps with the SET 400 amp before sending it back, anything more you care to share with us, please?