Van Alstine power amps / looking for feedback!!

pearsall001
pearsall001 Posts: 5,093
edited March 2006 in Electronics
Hi guys,
I'm getting serious here about a new 2 channel amp. My speakers are AAD2001 monitors, 86db sen. I came across the Van Alstine web site (avahifi.com) and found it pretty interesting. It seems like the owner, Frank has been designing & building top notch gear for quite some time. I've read many great reviews on his products. He seems like a real no B.S. type of guy. I talked to Frank directly & he recommends his OmegaStar 440EX amp to fit my needs. It is rated at 220x2. It almost seems too inexpensive @ $1499. On the flip side I've also been eyeing a McIntosh MC252 which is 250X2 & around $3800. Any one here ever had one of Frank's amps & if so how was it. In comparison is the Mac delivering $2300 more in performance? I'm also open to suggestions on amps you guys can recommend. The amp will be used in both HT & 2 channel. Thanks
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
Post edited by pearsall001 on
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Comments

  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited March 2006
    I've dealt with Frank Van Alstine with other than power amp issues. The man is honest to a fault. Your ears are the only ones that can determine whether there is $2300 worth of improvement (I'm spring-loaded to the "not likely" position). I think a much bigger consideration is, in the unlikely event of product failure, who will give you better customer service? I think you already know the answer to that one, FVA.

    Have you seen Jstas? He's a Magnolia guy too.
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited March 2006
    If you are considering the MC252 for $3800, you might want to look at the MC352. Audio Classics and some Mac dealers still have them new in the box for the same amount of money. Killer amp. I'm going to buy another to bi-amp.
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • scottyf
    scottyf Posts: 129
    edited March 2006
    Also for your consideration, Micheal Elliott upgraded Counterpoint amps. I have the smaller one (NP100) and it was a watershed event in my stereo system. A long time ago I had a Mac 225 and liked it a lot and though I cannot compare the two directly, nothing in my 20 years of equipment swapping has EVER blown me away like the modified Counterpoint. The only downside is that you have to get the amp first then send it off to have it upgraded....then you have to break it in for 100 hours or so (though it sounds pretty darn good right off the UPS truck!). I paid $425 for mine and put in $1700 worth of upgrades. That's the amp I'm talking about. I've just sent my amp back to Mr. Elliott to upgrade it the rest of the way...I can tell you how that sounds sometime in April (gotta break it in after I get it back!)

    http://www.altavistaaudio.com/np100.html

    Though I haven't heard them, another option would be to check out the Aria amps designed from the ground up by Micheal Elliott. They have a free trial period to check them out, though they will set you back around $4500.

    http://www.ariaaudio.com/WT100_Basic.html

    HOME: VPI Classic/Grado Reference Master, EVS-modified Oppo BP83, Bryston DAC, Counterpoint 3000/SA-100 modified by Alta Vista, Polk LSi15

    TRUCK: Pioneer 8600MP, Soundstream 300SX, pr of Xtant 1001i, Autotek SS490.2, Polk SR6500, Polk MMC6500, pr of Polk MM2084DVC
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