[jasonc]

Does the AVA gear do well with all styles of music?  What has been your experience? I'm interested in the new integrated but I guess my one concern is that I'm worried of a sound that may be too refined, which a lot of great gear can be accused of naturally.  I listen to a lot of rock/alternative music such as Radiohead, Superdrag, New Pornographers etc.. and I want to make sure the amp can really deliver the music with good pace/slam and authenticity.  I guess what I'm saying is I don't want the amp to be too polite or prefer other styles of music over others, i.e. YBA Integre, Creek 5350.
Don't get me wrong, I still want to hear extended highs, inner detail, wide soundstage but I want the overall performance to be musical and exciting regardless of the genre.
I know try it out and if you don't like it Frank has a return policy, I'm just trying to get more info before I take a possible plunge.
Thanks.
Jason

[rockadanny]

I own the AVA Fet Valve Ultra 550 amp. I don't listen to the groups you mention but it has NO problem kicking ass with: Yello, Back Door Slam, The Stooges, MC5, SRV, Johnny Winter, Robin Trower, Savoy Brown, Popa Chubby, Rev. Horton Heat, Motorhead, The Ramones, etc. I would think that if the music SLAMS, and your speakers SLAM, then the AVA gear would produce the recorded SLAM to satisfaction.

[martyo]

I listen to many different types of music. One of my favorites is jam bands; Grateful Dead, String Cheese.......you can see I own all AVA front end gear. Slam, dynamics, low end sock..........all terms I would use to describe the presentation with AVA gear. They excell in those areas.

Don't get me wrong, I still want to hear extended highs, inner detail, wide soundstage but I want the overall performance to be musical and exciting regardless of the genre.

That pretty well describes what you will get. However, if it ain't on the source material to begin with, can't expect it to be there on playback.  But you will hear all that is there with authority and musicality.  aa

I breifly heard the integrated at RMAF and was very impressed, especially with the $1500 price tag!

[jasonc]

Great, thanks.  Essentially what you are both saying is the AVA will not be the limiting factor in what the source can give me and I guess you can't ask for too much more than that.   

[Opus Flatus]

I listen mostly to indie/alt on my AVA rig with excellent results. I don't have the AVA integrated so I can't speak for it's merrits. But having purchased a few of AVA's products over the years, mostly used via Agon & Ebay (because I am a frugal Yankee), his products are built well and sound great. My main rig is the Ultra Pre (in small chassis), U70 Amp, modded Meadowlark E-series speakers, and Apple lossless signals or Cambridge Audio Azur 640 redbook CD's via Omegastar DAC. I still own a Rotel 972 intergrated and NAD 325 BEE integrated (primarily for Family use). Hope this helps.

[yo2tup]

When I had the 550 Ultra, I thought it was awesome for rock music.  Dynamics, slam, and bass -  as other posters mentioned - were it's strengths.

[rockadanny]

yo2tup - you have a PM

[Wayner]

I'll just add one mention here. If the source is crappy, the results will be crappy. If the source is wonderful......so shall it be. That is a definition of "a wire with gain".

Wayner  aa

[avahifi]

I want to comment on Wayne's last statement.

With good AVA equipment and bad source material, the results may be crappy, but not in the way you are used to hearing.

Way overblown highs will not come out as harsh hash, they will just sound too loud.  You will tell the mix is wrong.

Way compressed will still separate out the notes from the crud, just without lifelike dynamics.

The old Beetles records, which on most systems sound like they were done in a basement with an old Sony 360 open reel tape recorder, still sound like that, but the voices still come alive.

We can eek out ever bit of info on the disc or record, a whole lot you never knew was there.  My CDs of the original Benny Goodmen at Carnegie Hall jazz recordings made in the late 1930s play back with stunning musicality. The female voices, close to those old big mics, are just fine thank you.

Frank Van Alstine

[Crimson]

My musical tastes are similar to yours. I used to have preamp OCD, buying/selling about 3-6 times per year. Instead of medication, I tried the T-7 ECR and have since been cured.

[Wayner]

I like bands like XTC, YES, Pink Floyd and Depeche Mode. These bands know how to make music, but they also know how to make great recordings (at least in the rock genere'). I really get accustomed to the sound of AVA with well executed recordings. It is total bliss. I usually forget about the equipment altogether and find myself deep into the recording. It's interesting to listen to someone like Roy Orbison from his early recordings to his later recordings. It's amazing what emotions can spring up out of little wavy grooves, or digital dots and dashes.

W

[ecramer]

If ava gear can cure that i may have to try one 

My musical tastes are similar to yours. I used to have preamp OCD, buying/selling about 3-6 times per year. Instead of medication, I tried the T-7 ECR and have since been cured.