Pre-amp for an AVA amplifier

pem · « **on:** 6 Feb 2005, 10:04 pm »

Dear AVA fans,

I have recently ordered a pair of Ellis 1801 speakers (rated at 83db). In order to drive them, many people suggested me to try an AVA amplifier. So, I am planning to order the OmegaStar 260.

Unfortunately, I am living in France. This makes the purchase more risky (high shipping cost, warranty difficult to honor, no possibility to upgrade a product).
In a first approach I was planning to order a combo amp & preamp. But I am also considering buying only the amplifier, and then try to find a pre-amp in France.
How difficult it is to find a pre-amp that matches with an AVA amplifier? Is there something to take care or can I choose any (reasonably "good") pre-amp?
Do you strongly recommend me to take an OmegaStar preamp instead of following this approach?

Many thanks for any advice

kind regards,
Pierre-Etienne

Tyson · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Feb 2005, 10:40 pm »

Hi, I think I talked to you via PM a while back, but here's my .02 - The AVA gear has a special synergy together that is not replicated with other gear I've heard it with. The amps sound good with most preamps I've heard it with, but sounded quite a bit better when paired with an AVA preamp. Same thing with the preamp - they sound good with a variety of amps, but sound especially good when paired with an AVA amp. This is not an unheard of phenomenon, as I've heard it with other manufacturers gear as well (Odyssey Audio springs readily to mind). I'd say get the AVA pre to match the AVA amp.

avahifi · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Feb 2005, 01:45 pm »

One remote possibility for the "synergy" might be that the AVA amps were simply better than the other amps used when several were tried with an AVA preamp, and maybe the AVA preamp was simply better than the other preamps tried with an AVA amplfier.

Or is that way too simple an idea? It is a logical possiblity though.

Frank Van Alstine

Wally King · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Feb 2005, 03:47 pm »

I recently purchased an AVA 550 exr, which is an absolutely wonderful power amp. More recently, I bought a VTL 2.5 preamp, which to my ears works exceptionally well with the 550 exr.

The 550 has all the power my Magnaplanar 1.6s need, and the VTL 2.5 adds a bit of tube richness to the mix while still being highly detailed and revealing. The combo is absolutely dead quiet; even with my ear pressed against the tweeter panel, I hear nothing.

I seriously thought about one of the AVA preamps, but my local dealer gave me an offer on the VTL I could not refuse. It comes with a remote, has no tone controls but does allow one to adjust the channel balance, and has plenty of inputs; highly recommended.

Wally King

pem · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Feb 2005, 09:57 pm »

Dear AVA fans,

I would like to thank you for your previous answers.

Please excuse me in advance for this irrelevant question, but I would like to know how beautiful is the SL premap in reality.
To be honest (I hope Mr Van Alstine will excuse me), I am not very enthousiated by the pictures available on the AVA web site, but I have the feeling that the pictures do not necessary reflect the reality.
Can you confirm me that the SL preamplifier looks "better" than on picture. I can imagine that the "texture" of the metal and buttons is much more impressive when you have the product in front of you.
I am already convinced by the internal and musical quality. I just have to convince my wife

Please, do not hesitate to give me any argument. (You can also send me a photo)

sincerly,
Pem

Tyson · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Feb 2005, 05:57 am »

Yes, they are all very plain looking, but that is something I've grown to really like. It looks like a ford but performs like a porche. I've owned "audio jewelry" gear in the past and I like my AVA gear much better.

avahifi · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Feb 2005, 12:23 pm »

The preamp chassis is heavy gauge steel with a very good textured black powder coat finish. The faceplate is anodized aluminum, using a unique double anodize process in which the lettering and artwork are actually part of the aluminum finish and cannot ever be rubbed or worn off. The knobs are machined aluminum Alco knobs, again very high quality parts.

And finally its the music that counts.

Frank Van Alstne

budyog · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Feb 2005, 03:26 pm »

Hey Pem,
Do not buy any audio equipment under any circumstances for what it looks like or to please anyone, even the wife! Stand up for yourselve. Put her in her place! You are KING! All you want to please is your ears. I own several peices of AVA equipment with the amp and dac in a closet. All that is out for anyone to see is the preamp, cd/dvd and vhs player. I had a friend over this past Sunday to hear my new upgraded system and besides his jaw dropping, his best statement that I was hoping to hear came from him. It is like a very deep wall of sound! When you hear sound coming from everywhere but the speakers, I beleive that is "utopia" with 2 channel. It is what we strive for. Buy equipment for your ears ONLY, not anything else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy!