I have never owned a Van Alstine amp before the Ultra 550. To me, it sounds very neutral without an upper frequency bias. In fact, it is the most liquid, non-fatiguing amp I have ever owned. The low frequencies are both tight and extended. And the abundance of power is amazing! Hope this helps...
Preamp: AVA T8, Quicksilver, Mapletree 2A SE?
Anyone heard any two, or all three, of these to compare? (The AVA T8 is Van Alstine's Transcendence 8 all-tube pre.) $1100 is my top range. Amp: AVA Fet Valve Ultra 550 - sensitivity 2v or slightly more, input impedance 1M ohms. Spkrs: EgglestonWorks Fontaines - 87dB, 8 ohms (down to 6.5 ohms). Need 3 inputs (unbalanced), 2 outputs (unbalanced), no phono. Please explain your choice. Thank you.