A Fresh Approach to Reproducing Music -- the Vision of Frank Van Alstine
Presenting the AVA Vision DAC, our new ultra modern and versatile digital to analog converter with unsurpassed musicality.
Ultra modern - - - the AVA Vision DAC is an outstanding implementation of the brand new Wolfson 8742 digital chip set. After many hours of testing, prototypes, and listening, we are certain that this Wolfson device provides even higher musical quality than their previous 8740 and 8741 versions. Yes, we built, examined, and prototyped all three versions of the great Wolfson chips here first. It has been a three year process to bring you the best possible DAC, and we think the results will tell you immediately that it has been worth the wait.
Versatile - - - the AVA Vision DAC directly accepts 44K, 48K, and 96K bit rates. It can be user adjusted to accept 192K 24bit ultra fast input digital data streams too. Simply moving one internal jumper.
Unsurpassed musicality - - - we have designed a brand new analog filter and audio output section unlike, and better than, anything done before. The design has a 2000 volt per microsecond slew rate and less than 0.0003 percent harmonic distortion. There is no feedback in this circuit at all. There is no voltage amplification so there is no need for tubes, transistors, or op-amps, and none are used. These amazing new circuits are based upon an amazing new current amplifier device with a quarter ampere current drive and a standard (resistively set) 560 ohm output impedance. It will drive any rational load, long cables, and passive controls with ease.
The musical result is outstanding and surprising. It sounds more musical than our best previous solid state, vacuum tube, and vacuum tube hybrid DAC designs! It makes them all sound pale and flat in comparison. We did not expect that. The Vision DAC is so amazingly musical, dynamic, transparent, and easy to listen to long term that we must sadly discontinue our current Ultra, Transcendence Eight, and Insight series DACs. They can no longer stand up as the best we can do.
Two new models are available.
The basic Vision DAC. This basic model provides the best possible musicality at the lowest possible price. It has one coax digital input and stereo analog output set, all executed with gold plated RCA jacks. Any previous AVA DAC, solid state, vacuum tube, or hybrid, can be updated to the basic Vision DAC.
The premium Vision EC DAC. The Vision EC DAC provides multiple digital inputs. Two Toslink optical inputs and two RCA Jack coax inputs that are switchable from the front panel. This allows connection to any available sources, including the optical digital output of your computer at the bit rates mentioned above. Note that a USB input is not provided because high bit rate USB computer output requires software driver programs, and we simply do not want to get into the software support business. The optical inputs provide the necessary computer interface. Of course, diehards can add a separate USB to optical or USB to coax converter box if they desire (available inexpensively from many sources).
Great Options are available.
The Vision EC DAC is available with Balanced Line Outputs option using XLR connectors. This is a true balanced line connection, using four separate analog filters and audio output circuits internally.
Both the basic Vision DAC and Vision EC DAC are available with a built in extra gain stage option for those using a passive preamp or volume control in their system. This will provide more gain for making sure your passive preamp system will play as loudly as you could ever want
Upgrades to all existing AVA DAC models to the basic Vision DAC are possible. This is accomplished by recycling your finished chassis. Note that recycled chassis will not allow the multiple input and balanced line output options as we had to redesign our DAC chassis to provide these functions that many have requested. You save $250 when we install the complete new Vision DAC circuit set in any existing AVA DAC, solid state, tube, or hybrid, big chassis or small. Your net cost is $849.
All you need to have astonishing CD musicality is a good-tracking CD or DVD/CD player with a coaxial digital output and the basic new Vision DAC. A single interconnect cable goes from the digital out on your CD or DVD player (bypassing all of its compromised converter and analog circuits) to the digital input on the Vision DAC. Connect the left and right line outputs from the Vision DAC to a set of line inputs on your preamp or receiver and prepare to be amazed.
If your disc player or computer has an optical output, then the multiple input Vision EC DAC is for you. The Vision EC provides two optical and two coax switchable inputs. Both models are available factory wired only, 17" wide, 12" deep, 3.5" high, 12 pounds.
The Basic Vision DAC is available Right Now. The price is $1099.00 plus $30 shipping anywhere in the continental USA. The Vision EC with multiple inputs will be available in about 6 weeks. The Vision EC price is $1299. The XLR balanced line output option is $200. The extra gain stage option (available in either version) is $150.
Listen and you will hear. We think the Vision DAC, the vision of Frank Van Alstine and friends, dedicated to the most musical audio reproduction possible, has been realized here with the best sound from any digital source you have ever experienced. Our normal three year parts and labor warranty and 30 day satisfaction guarantee on new equipment applies of course. Our three year warranty applies to upgrades too, but not the satisfaction guarantee.
Frank Van Alstine