Hello Folks,
Although new to actually posting here, I’ve been reading the forum for quite some time. Thanks to all for your experiences, words of wisdom and even the “strong discussions” that take place.
I had the opportunity to stop by Frank’s place last Friday while leaving the family at the Mall of America. We were in the area for a 4 day Fall get-a-way and no doubt I chose the better activity! I spent an enlightening & enjoyable two hours listening to and discussing AVA’s equipment and philosophy on audio. Frank encouraged me to write up my experience, so as thanks to him for his hospitality I’ll do just that.
It is always interesting meeting somebody you have only seen pictures of, read their words and only spoken to briefly on the phone. And to be able to do that on their turf adds to the anticipation. As Matt let me in and I walked down the steps to the listening room, the first thing I see are the shelves of equipment on the wall, the rack of system equipment and the gorgeous Salk HT3 speakers. Frank was at the computer. It looked like he may have been browsing Audio Circle
. After a brief greeting, we got right down to business.
You have all likely experienced the next few minutes when equipment hunting where you discuss what you want to do with your system, what new equipment you are interested in, what you actually own and what you perceive as the shortcomings. While I do like how my system sounds, I’ve always thought I’m not getting all the sound out of my speakers that they are capable of – a conscious budgetary decision I made at the time (you know, “that’s good enough for now”). I think I have untapped bass potential and clarity/resolution into the music on the recordings that is being left behind or masked. I have lots of CDs, but am often disappointed in what I hear. I have lots of albums that I really enjoy and gravitate towards vinyl. I’ve made improvements there, but expect I can get even better sound. I am mainly interested in the Insight line (Amp, Pre, DAC) and SL vs. EC preamp, and curious if the DAC is really worth the money over just getting a “blessed”, high quality multi-format disc player.
My goal in listening at Frank’s place was not to just pick component “A” over “B” and make judgments of quality in a shoot out fashion, but to experience what he hears when he says, to paraphrase, “It doesn’t screw up the sound and it just plays music.” Well, after getting through the music I brought along, I definitely was able to form an opinion on AVA equipment.
We started out with the Ultra 350 amp, Insight EC preamp, and Insight DAC being fed from his CD player. Frank then swapped out the Ultra 350 with the Insight 240 amp. We finished up listening to some vinyl on the HK turntable with a “longhorned” Grado cartridge played through the Insight preamp with phono stage. All listening was with the Salk HT3 speakers.
Frank did a little demonstration of the ruggedness and forgiving nature of AVA equipment. While a selection was playing at a normal listening volume, he flicked off the power switch of the Insight preamp which was feeding the Ultra 350 at the time and the music halted. He waited a few seconds and then flicked the preamp back on and the music reappeared, playing just fine at the same volume without incident. Logic tells me you don’t just turn off loud music by flicking power switches, especially if tubes & expensive speakers are in the equation, without courting disaster. However, the little demo speaks to the confidence Frank has in his designs and the equipment’s ability to behave as engineered.
Another thing I really appreciated was that I was handed the remote controls and allowed to operate the equipment, change out my own music and listen to anything as much as I liked (within reason, of course – I tried to practice some self-governance). That may seem like a “well, duh!” type statement, but I’ve had quite a few auditions over the years where that wouldn’t have been allowed, so they turned into short auditions. I felt the system was mine to enjoy for the time I was there and that I was not an inconvenience during the business day.
So, after all that, what do I think, you ask? AVA equipment does not screw up the sound and it just plays music. Good music, nice music. Wait, that’s not strong enough. How about, very impressive? Hmm, how about, Wow! I’d say it was closer to a feeling, like an experience of joy. I was getting caught up in just listening to the music and forgetting I was there to AUDITION EQUIPMENT. As we track through our various audition music, it is almost like daring the system to put up or shut up, trying to see if it can meet our internal standard of what the music should sound like. I got over that attitude quickly as track after track sounded so right.
There was real music reproduction going on and it was a treat to experience that in his setting. I sometimes experience that in my system, but more normally just nice sound. I was hoping to gain that experience so I have a reference as to what I should be listening for in my room at home. Something to shoot for. You know, the grail! Does that make sense?
Anyway, I was completely convinced that AVA gear will be a great advantage in getting closer to that musical enjoyment. Frank recommended the Insight 240 Amp, Insight EC Preamp and Insight DAC. After a bit of discussion, I ordered an Insight 260 Amp, Insight EC Preamp with RIAA Phono and remote control and the Insight DAC. I really had no intention on springing for the DAC at first, but I realized that it was an integral part of what I just heard and had traveled 300+ miles to hear, so I stepped up to the plate.
Bonus comments (like you want to read more)
How can you visit Frank and not talk about wires! Right? I noticed he had wires of appropriate length, they were connected and did not fall out while listening. Sorry, no secret expose’ – He is really not a closet, audiophile wire user, unless he hid them before I got there. Like everything else he does equipment wise, I assume he has chosen cabling that does not get in the way of the music and is appropriate for the task.
It was reassuring to see that Frank lives and breathes exactly what he writes and talks about. He does not BS about his equipment and there is no BS in his recommendations. He has no interest in overselling, only that you receive an appropriate set up. He actually thought I’d be perfectly happy with the Insight Control Amp & Insight DAC. I did want to leave the flexibility of incorporating a home theater type set up and a bit of over sizing amp wise in case (alright, when) I move to different speakers. And yes, he did not recommend bothering with anything past a 2.1 type system. Once again, the customer has stood up and spent his money as he sees fit…hmmmmm….
I know that looks are a personal thing. That said, I was quite pleased with the equipment styling. I like the color and straightforward style. Let’s pretend I recognize good vs. bad electronics layout, things sure look neat and tidy inside the equipment. The outside controls have a positive feel, not squishy-washy, but just right.
I can’t believe I sprung for a $299 remote volume control. Then I made the mistake of using it.
Now I know why Frank has chosen to offer a $299 volume control. Smooth tracking and fine adjustments. I've never had a remote like this one.
The Salk HT3 & SongTower speakers are beautiful. The HT3’s looks are only bettered by their sound, lovely! Frank felt the trade-off from going from the HT3 to the SongTower was much less than you’d think. Like going from superb to a bit less superb. I could live with that. Salk Sound is added to my short list.
This is my current system and point of reference: KEF Reference Model 2 speakers, Audiolab 8000S integrated amp, Dual CS5000 turntable w/ Grado Gold cartridge, Dynavector P75 phono stage, Sony 595 for SACD, Oppo 981HD into MSB LinkDAC III for CD, speaker wires are Tara Labs RSC Prime & homemade RadioShack Gold jumpers, interconnects are Signature Technologies SigLynx AG and RadioShack Gold, including the coax digital audio cable. Alas, no dedicated room yet, but I’ve done what I can in a shared living space.
This is the music used for the listening session:
Dick Hyman – From the Age of Swing
Track: From the Age of Swing
Holly Cole – Temptation
Tracks: Train Song; Falling Down
Paul Simon – There Goes Rhymin’ Simon
Tracks: Kodachrome; American Tune
Chris Isaak – Baja Sessions
Track: Pretty Girls Don’t Cry
The Band – Music From Big Pink
Track: Chest Fever
Songs My Mother Taught Me – Arturo Delmoni, violin w/ Meg Bachman Vas, piano
Track: Fritz Kreisler, Tempo di Menuetto in the style of Pugnani.
Stravinsky – The Firebird Pierre Boulez, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Track: From the Firebird (14) Lullaby of the Firebird, (15) Collapse of Kashchei's palace and dissolution of all enchantments - Reanimation of the petrified prisoners - General rejoicing
So ends this initial chapter. I anxiously await the equipments <safe> delivery. It’s been 11 years since I’ve done an in home addition and audition of this magnitude. I tend to be happy with my selections. Better not screw it up – hey?
Terry
