Van Alstine - Tube/FET Super Pas 4iSL Pre-Amp OK with RF9s?

deBunk · « **on:** 22 Mar 2006, 05:19 pm »

Jason (or anyone else in the know)

I am saving for the RF9s, having heard them at a friend's place and been mightily impressed.

I am considering purchasing a Van Alstine Tube/FET Super Pas 4iSL Pre-Amp, and am wondering if this will be completely compatible with the RF9s?

This pre is one of the Van Alstine kit range and uses Electron Tubes (Valves) for the voltage amplification and Field Effect transistors for current amplification. Would be grateful for any advice on compatibility with the NFs.

Cheers

avahifi · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Mar 2006, 03:28 am »

Actually you are kind of scrambling model names out there. The Super Pas 4i used no Fets and our hybrid-tube fet preamp circuits are in the older Transcendence Fet Valve series and newest Ultra EC and SL models.

The long out of production Super Pas 4i used tube gain stages followed by Fet Op-Amps configured as unity gain buffers outside of the tube's feedback loop. There were no discrete fet devices used.

Frank Van Alstine

avahifi · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Mar 2006, 03:29 am »

Since the Super Pas 4i had a low output impedance and high output drive current it will drive any power amplifier.

Frank Van Alstine

deBunk · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Mar 2006, 03:50 am »

Thanks for your correction, Frank. I copied the details about the preamp directly from the ad. It seems the seller has a few things confused!

I feel assured by your comments that the pre should be able to easily drive any power amp, but I'd like your assessment on this preamp in terms of sound and quality in the context of the alternatives that are around today. Does it still represent top quality today, do you think? What do you think is a fair price for this preamp assuming it is in excellent nick?

Appreciate your input.

Cheers

skrivis · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Mar 2006, 07:50 pm »

Quote from: deBunk

Thanks for your correction, Frank. I copied the details about the preamp directly from the ad. It seems the seller has a few things confused!

I feel assured by your comments that the pre should be able to easily drive any power amp, but I'd like your assessment on this preamp in terms of sound and quality in the context of the alternatives that are around today. Does it still represent top quality today, do you think? What do you think is a fair price for this preamp assuming it is in excellent nick?

Appreciate your input.

Cheers

I saw this one on Ebay and the seller did seem to have things a bit scrambled.

I think I'd pay maybe US$3-400, although I wouldn't buy this one because shipping it to the US adds too much to the final price.

deBunk · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 12:22 am »

Thanks, skrivis.