[Rusty Jefferson]

This is a request we get almost never, so I thought I'd ask for some clarification and insight.....

...Would it be a cost-effective modification? No. You're looking at several hours of new firmware development costs in addition to the time needed to design, fabricate, and assemble the required hardware and electronic modifications.....

Okay, sounds like it's not practical, I appreciate the reply. No reason to go deeper other than to say I prefer the AES output compared to the s/pdif output from my DDC with dacs I've been using, and my DVA dac/preamp is the only dac I've seen recently that doesn't have an AES input.

....Again, I'd love some clarification or insight on this. Why is integrating the network/streaming data extraction with the DAC attractive? Is it just about box count?....

Yes, straight up. Unfortunately, I'm in the demographic where downsizing is a reality. I'm now looking for the best performance in the smallest package. The DVA dac/preamp and M225 amplifiers are great examples of really good sound and reduced clutter.

Up until 3-4 years ago I didn't think a dac/preamp could outperform an analog preamp and dac separates. Then I got to spend time with a Chord Dave and Berkeley Reference 3 at friends homes used as dac/preamps and I changed my beliefs on this issue. I'm not in the income bracket to afford those units, that's why I'm using the DVA dac/preamp, but I'm getting superior performance and I've eliminated an analog preamp, separate power supply, and lots of cables. It would be sweet if there was also a streamer (Roon Endpoint) inside as well. That would eliminate a streamer, a DDC, and lots more cables.

Apologies for not knowing what's necessary or needed in terms of development and implementation around the AES connection or an added network streamer.

...Is there anything else AVA can do to keep the audio love flowing for you? Please let us know....

[Mithat]

Question: Is there any sonic advantage with removing the digital pre from the DAC product entirely?

I think I understand your question, and if I do, I think it may be based on a misunderstanding.

The DVA Digital Preamplifier is just a DAC. There's no separate preamp section or circuitry. Its topology is identical to a DAC without volume control. The volume control is done entirely in the digital domain in the DAC IC -- and with 32 bits to work with, you have plenty of depth to attenuate into. But when the volume is all the way up, it's 100% identical to a standalone DAC.

Most DACs with level control work this way, and it wasn't a new idea when we decided to release the DVA Digital Preamplifier. We decided to call it what we did simply to help underscore the new use cases it facilitated. In retrospect, this seems to have caused more confusion than anything else.

So, some questions and, I hope, helpful answers -- starting with the easiest one. With digital sources, is it better to drive a power amp directly off a DVA Digital Preamplifier or use it as a conventional standalone DAC with an analog preamp between it and the power amp? For me personally, I'll take the DVA Digital Preamplifier directly driving a power amp hands down any day. Any preamp, no matter how close to perfect, will still impart some coloration. On the other hand, the digital attenuation as implemented on the AKM converter we use has proven to be completely benign at the settings typically required. So, for me, this is a very easy decision.

A trickier situation arises when you want to run a system with a mix of digital and analog sources. The question now becomes whether it's better to send the analog sources through our A2D Analog to Digital Converter and use the DVA Digital Preamplifier to drive the amps directly or use the DVA Digital Preamp as a standalone DAC with an analog preamp. The answer is that it really depends on the the quality of the preamp you're using and the balance of analog versus digital listening you do. With a Vision preamp and a 50/50 mix of digital and analog listening, I think it's down to a coin toss. But with a greater share of digital listening or a lesser preamp, you'll likely be better off using our A2D Analog to Digital Converter and the DVA Digital Preamplifier directly driving your power amps.

As always, this is all based on the assumption that you're trying to build as transparent a system that's as free of editorialization as possible. And finally, these are my personal findings. Other AVA staff may feel differently!

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Thanks for explaining that.  When Mary asked me to review the DVA, we used it mainly as a DAC.  It is a wonderful sounding piece.  If and when I upgrade my DAC, I will probably buy the DVA.  I love the holographic soundstage.  It is very similar to the Exogal Comet that I reviewed a few years ago.

[Mithat]

Unfortunately, I'm in the demographic where downsizing is a reality. I'm now looking for the best performance in the smallest package.

Thanks for the information. We're seeing an increasing number of high-end audio fans with downsizing pressures, and it may lead us to reconsider the best way to support these folks.

Apologies for not knowing what's necessary or needed in terms of development and implementation around the AES connection or an added network streamer.

There's no reason at all to apologize for this! I get paid the little bucks to know these things and don't expect our clients to. I apologize if I came off as overly curt or condescending. That wasn't my intention at all. Rather, I wanted to be concise but comprehensive. And I was serious about adding an AES/EBU input to a future product if we get enough users who say it's important to them. It's easy enough to do; it's just not cost-effective as a one-off retrofit.

[Mithat]

Thanks for explaining that.  When Mary asked me to review the DVA, we used it mainly as a DAC.  It is a wonderful sounding piece.  If and when I upgrade my DAC, I will probably buy the DVA.  I love the holographic soundstage.

Thanks again for your review and for your comments here. We agree that the DVA Digital Preamp is pretty special .

[Huskerbryce]

So, I understand the business model now of AVA being in the 2 channel regime.  I don’t have a 20,000 sq ft house with the ability to separate my home theater room from my 2 channel reference stereo room.  A product I have been clamoring for and hoping would come was a “home theater bypass preamp/dac”.  I would be a buyer tomorrow if a unit could be built as a flagship preamp/dac in 2 channel with fully balanced xlr ins and outs with a “bypass” to my multi channel processor with bass managment allowing for my subs.  As it turns out……  They exist like the anthem str pre however my requirement would be bass management with minimum 3 subs if not 4.  I want to be able to bypass my multi channel stuff and do high quality 2 channel within the same room and not lose subs in the process.  If you (Mithat) could pull this off in a high quality audiophile preamp…..I am a buyer…..Tomorrow.

[hawkmoon]

On a practical note-a listing of what models you work on and any upgrades are available for those models.  Frank had many upgrades to preamps and amplifiers from Dynaco and Hafler.  What about those?  Fet-valve amplifiers-any upgrades to from early versions to the R series?  This information would be most useful.
Thanks!

[newzooreview]

I think an AVA digital amplifier would be a great complement to the DAC (DVA Digital Preamp). I currently use the Hypex Nilai stereo amp kit with WBT binding posts added by VTV Amplifiers.

The Nilai is excellent at preserving transients and harmonics, providing, to my ears, a more natural sound than other hypex and purifi amps while preserving the excellent power, form factor, and low distortion of those.

However, the Nilai kit is essentially demo hardware: there is significant scope for a US-based audio company with an excellent reputation to improve the power supplies, connectors, and internal parts to further refine the sound.

Just like a DAC chip does not define the DAC's sound, the amp module is only a part of the story in the amp and there seems to be significant room from AVA to innovate and distinguish itself in building on an excellent amp module.

This could also address some of the comments about small form factor and cool-running equipment, and could also be the basis of the two channel/multi-channel combo pre and amp described above.

[Mithat]

A product I have been clamoring for and hoping would come was a “home theater bypass preamp/dac”.

Years ago, we offered a "Home Theater Bypass" feature on our preamps, and like our adventures into multi-channel amps, take-up was minimal. But feedback like yours is important for helping us better understand the needs of our users. So, we'll definitely take your comment under consideration. It might be that the timing for these experiments wasn't right. (And, unfortunately, modifying any of our current preamps to have this feature isn't feasible.)

[Mithat]

On a practical note-a listing of what models you work on and any upgrades are available for those models.  Frank had many upgrades to preamps and amplifiers from Dynaco and Hafler. [snip] Fet-valve amplifiers-any upgrades to from early versions to the R series?

We haven't offered installing our circuits into Hafler and Dynaco chassis for many years. Once AVA started producing its own metal in the 1990s, we eliminated the need to rely on increasingly hard to source third-party metal. Over time, our clients' interests in having AVA gear built into Hafler and Dynaco chassis they owned faded as well, especially since it rarely resulted in a cost savings for the client. We do still have Dyna 70 Upgrade Bare Boards, which includes full plans for the rebuild.

As for which legacy products we are able to support, we have to take those on a case-by-case basis. We try to service everything AVA has ever built, but with very old items, there are cases where replacement parts are no longer available.

So, if you're looking for something to buy to put AVA circuits into, your only real option is the Dyna ST-70. If you have some old AVA gear and are wondering if it can be upgraded or repaired, drop us an email with the details.

[Mithat]

I think an AVA digital amplifier would be a great complement to the DAC (DVA Digital Preamp).

First, I need to put on my professor hat for a moment and be pedantic. Class D "switching" amps use binary levels but are not digital. Class D amps aren't digital because they theoretically have infinite resolution (i.e., the pulses can have any length). Digital signals on the other hand have been quantized. In other words, with class D amps, there's no discrete encoding/decoding of the signal. You can tease digital into having infinite resolution by using dither, but the signal representation is still quantized. In class D amps, the signal is never quantized.

With that out of the way, figuring out how to get the best from class D amplification is very much on my TODO list!

[hawkmoon]

Thank you-I was more interested in service for older Van Alstine equipment as many of us have earlier equipment like my Pas-3X.  I think this conversation is a great idea, keep it up!

[Dart87]

My $.02:  I would like to see a fully balanced AVA analog preamp to drive the M225 and M750 monoblocks.  No way I am converting my analog sources to digital to be converted back to analog so I must shop elsewhere.  If that preamp had a DAC and a phono stage as well as a couple XLR and SE inputs it would save me some space (and interconnects) and add flexibility. 


Oh,  and AVA logo shirts and caps!

[jandrews]

2 things for me

1) For my system 1: I’d like a straight dac with a soft start power switch and blue LED in a black RB case to match and pair with my RB10 and SET120

2) For my system 2: Can I order a DVA digi preamp with the 12V tigger out to pair with and turn on my NP1 power amp ?

[Mithat]

I would like to see a fully balanced AVA analog preamp to drive the M225 and M750 monoblocks.

Do you need differential inputs as well? If not the R2X will "differate" an AVA analog preamp output better than anything else.

Oh,  and AVA logo shirts and caps!

Mary, are you reading this? 

[NIGHTFALL1970]

Quote from Dart87: “No way I am converting my analog sources to digital to be converted back to analog so I must shop elsewhere.”

Dart87, I was skeptical about the Digital DAC/ Preamp at first. It sounds absolutely amazing! Especially when I play LPs! Converting the analog signal into digital and then back to analog sounds horrible on paper, but my vinyl sounds unbelievable! It sounds even better than my CDS. It’s the best sounding preamp that I’ve ever had or heard. Why not check it out? They have a generous return policy.

[NIGHTFALL1970]

Mithat,
My only complaint about the DVA DAC/ preamp is that I wish it had two sets of RCA outputs. I hate having to use two y-splitters to connect my four subs.

[Mithat]

1) For my system 1: I’d like a straight dac with a soft start power switch and blue LED in a black RB case to match and pair with my RB10 and SET120

What do you mean by a "soft start power switch"? We can't control how other gear starts up, and the DVA Digital Preamp starts up as gently as anything, with only a faint relay click to let you know it's turned on.

2) For my system 2: Can I order a DVA digi preamp with the 12V tigger out to pair with and turn on my NP1 power amp ?

If 20 or so other folks also say they want this, it might become cost-effective to whip up a retrofit. (It's a lot easier to do this than it is to add AES/EBU like @Rusty Jefferson wants.) Because it would involve custom work and drilling the chassis, it still wouldn't be cheap -- I'm guesstimating around $150.

[newzooreview]

First, I need to put on my professor hat for a moment and be pedantic. Class D "switching" amps use binary levels but are not digital.

Yes, my mistake. I've even made the same clarification to others!

[Mithat]

My only complaint about the DVA DAC/ preamp is that I wish it had two sets of RCA outputs. I hate having to use two y-splitters to connect my four subs.

Did you know you can use the XLR output as a second unbalanced output? The "hot" side of the XLR output is in parallel with the RCA output. So, you'd need is a cable that connects XLR pin 1 to the RCA shield/ground, pin 2 to the RCA hot, and leaves pin 3 open. The last connection, or lack thereof, is important. Most XLR to single RCA cables and adapters connect pin 3 to ground (per IEC 268-12). This will short the cold side of the differential output signal. Theoretically, the outputs should have no issue being shorted indefinitely, but we haven't tested this beyond several minutes.

I understand this approach and esp. making sure the cable makes all the correct connections may be as onerous as a y-splitter, but it's something -- which is another way of saying that it's all I've got.