Thought i would drop a note and let everyone know what happened to the unit that had the rusty screws. I happened across that thread when i was trying to decide on what i was going to do for an amp.
I never had a chance to hear any Van alstine stuff before, and i kinda had to take a plunge to see if would like this amp. I'm using a conrad johnson pv7 that i had rebuilt by Bill thalmann, and a cary 303/100 cd player right now. My speakers are Dali grand coupe stand mounted 2 ways.
This setup sounds silky and clear, and that was with the NAD 2200 that was powering the dalis. The Dalis like power, and the NAD was more than enough to bring them to life, but fishing around the net i was made aware that the NAD certainly was not the last word in resolution. That was an itch that i just couldnt scratch...enter the 550ex.
Oddly...the 550 didnt sound as powerfull as the 2200. It didnt take my breath away like i had hoped. At that time i was using a Luxman c-383 preamp while i was waiting for my CJ from Bill thalman. A few days later however, i started to hear some things i hadnt noticed before. Sound staging was so much more delineated. Everyone in the band had a place that you could easily pick out with the 2200, but with the 550ex it also added a sort of roundness or dimension. I thought that the bass had decreased, but what had happened was it became detailed. I remember in my younger days i had an apartment with my bandmates, and we had a bass drum for a coffee table, and when you would hit this bass drum you would get this big boom, but you would also get the papery thwack. I was shocked to hear this from the Van alstine. Everything really does sound real.
Now when i got my CJ back, and after maybe the longest break in period i have ever experienced, i can finally say i have a satisfying system. Finally after 15 years i have a system that can make a cymbal sound like a real cymbal. Having a tube preamp rounded out the soundstage so it sounds like music is supposed to sound.
I got a good deal on the 550ex. So from the beginning i had thought about upgrading to ultra plus double die super duper. But i have to say i am very happy with the sound so i am in no hurry. I Cant believe it can sound any better...but i love surprises.
Mr Van alstine....Thank you for building an incredibly good product. I popped the hood, rolled some tubes, put the originals back in, and marveled at how well built this unit is. Thanks. Les Hill
