[d55124]

Van Alstine Ultra 550+ stereo power amplifier in mint condition, complete with owners manual.  275 w/channel.  Great sounding amp!  Serial #072310, upgraded in July, 2010 from a previous Van Alstine 550 EXR - balance of three year transferrable AVA warranty on the upgrade).

Reduced to $1299 plus shipping

[avahifi]

This amp is great value if the new owner intends to use it as is.  Yes, the factory warranty is still in effect until July, 2013 so it is a no risk deal as far as any repair costs are involved.

However, it is not a great deal if the new owner intends to upgrade it to our amazing new Fet Valve 600R amplifier.  The upgrade cost is about half of new price, $1500 upgrade, new price $2949.  The upgrade is very significant with two new audio boards, two new ground plane - output regulator boards, a new small signal multistage regulated power supply board, and all new Exicon double die mos-fets as necessary.  About the only thing remaining original is the power transformer, raw high voltage unregulated power supply before regulation, and the metal parts.  Of course the 600R upgrade (300W/Ch) comes with a new 3 year factory parts and labor warranty.

Economically, to make sense, one should add the cost of the upgrade ($1500) plus all shipping costs except final shipping from us to the new owner, to the cost of purchase of the used amp.  If this total is less than $2949 total plus $45 shipping, then buying the used amp to intend to soon upgrade it makes good sense. If the total is higher than the cost of a new amp, not so much sense,

Unless of course the new owner can only afford to do things in stages.  Then $1500 now and enjoy the amp for as long as you like and then $1500 more later to get what probably is the best sounding amp out there regardless of cost could be a good deal.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

[rcag_ils]

I may be wrong, but I think there isn't any good upgrade candidate from the Ultra to the 600R out there yet. Most used Ultra I've seen are around $1500  to $1600.

I bought a regular 550h a few years ago for $700, then upgraded it to an Ultra for $999 two years ago, so I don't know when it will make sense to upgrade it to the 600R status.

[d55124]

Bump . . . Still available!

[trebejo]

Frank explained it pretty well, if you are going for the latest and greatest you might as well just get that, but for about half the cost you still get a pretty great and not so not-latest amp. Good deal either way. 

[d55124]

Bump . . . Price reduced!

[d55124]

Bump . . . Still available!

[d55124]

Bump . . . Reduced again!

[avahifi]

Lets see, $1395 plus $1500 for the Fet Valve 600R upgrade equals $2895, a savings of $54 over the price of a new Fet Valve 600R. The upgrade includes a new three year parts and labor warranty and almost always any needed initial repairs.  This is getting to be good value now.

However, the rebuilds can't include the IEC power socket (that requires a new chassis) and does not include cosmetic repairs, such as a dinged faceplate corner.

On the other hand, this amp offers great value as is at $1395.  I don't understand why it is still available.

Frank Van Alstine

[Charles Calkins]

Lets see, $1395 plus $1500 for the Fet Valve 600R upgrade equals $2895, a savings of $54 over the price of a new Fet Valve 600R. The upgrade includes a new three year parts and labor warranty and almost always any needed initial repairs.  This is getting to be good value now.

However, the rebuilds can't include the IEC power socket (that requires a new chassis) and does not include cosmetic repairs, such as a dinged faceplate corner.

On the other hand, this amp offers great value as is at $1395.  I don't understand why it is still available.

Frank Van Alstine

 Frank:
  I'm saving my $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for the 600R amp. I've decided to take you up on your saying that after I hear the 600R I'll take a hammer to my Mac MC352 amp. We shall see.

                                                   Cheers
                                                  Charlie

[MerRev]

sounds like a lot of hyperbole and not so nice hijacking the original for sale ad.

[kip_]

sounds like a lot of hyperbole and not so nice hijacking the original for sale ad.

All frank did was describe the parts that go into the 600R. He didn't say, wow, the sound quality difference between the two is enormous, or the 550 was obsolete. How exactly does that qualify as hyperbole?

[Charles Calkins]

sounds like a lot of hyperbole and not so nice hijacking the original for sale ad.

   Hyperbole. "Exaggeration used as a figure of speech" I didn't know that!! Learn something new everyday.

                                         Cheers
                                       Charlie

[d55124]

bump  . . . price reduced (again)!!!

[trebejo]

On the other hand, this amp offers great value as is at $1395.  I don't understand why it is still available.

Frank Van Alstine

sounds like a lot of hyperbole and not so nice hijacking the original for sale ad.

 

Maybe he meant parabolic or elliptical. It's hard to keep those conic sections straight!

Anyways, I still think it's a great deal as-is, you can read my own review of it here,

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=74220.msg700506#msg700506

[d55124]

Bump - still available.