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Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ |
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Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ |
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In Reply to: VAC Avatar SE posted by Matt N on December 11, 2000 at 10:50:05:
I've had my Avatar for several months now, and have been very pleased with it. It's a more natural sounding unit than the Krell amp and pre-amp I replaced it with, particularly in the midrange. It doesn't do bass as well as the Krell amp (of course), but it's got a terrific sense of pace and timing, which, for me, helps make up for a lot of that-- and there's always the possibility of getting a powered sub-woofer in the future.I'm running the Avatar exclusively in triode mode (27 wpc) with a pair of Spendor SP1/2s. The facts that the Spendors are a relatively easy load, and that my listening room is on the smallish size (12'x12'x10'), make for a situation where the amp makes plenty of sound (just ask the rest of my family) without sounding strained. It is as musical a combination as I hoped for when I started looking to upgrade my system this year.
Other good points: The Avatar has a good phono section which mates well with my Well Tempered Record Player/Goldring 1042 combination. The bias adjustment set-up is easy to use-- and you don't have to resort to it much once the unit is broken in. I think it's a great looking piece of equipment, too.
As for the company, I haven't had any problems yet, so there isn't any direct feedback I can give you. But, the comments on this board about the company have been generally favorable. Also, the dealer I bought my Avatar from speaks highly of VAC-- and, yes, he's always been straight with me about such things, and, yes, he carries other tube lines.
You might also want to look at a well written review of the Avatar in the on-line magazine Enjoy the Music.
Not so good things: Actually one thing, money. The remote is a little on the pricey side ($395?). I didn't buy it. And, if you want to torture yourself a little bit, there is an upgraded version of the Avatar available for a few (hundred) dollars more that is supposed to offer more, particularly in the bass. I didn't buy that, either. And, because the tonal balance of the unit differed significantly from the Krells I had before, I wound up replacing every interconnect I own.
Bottom line, see if you can find a dealer who will let you audition the Avatar at home in your system. Good luck!
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- Re: VAC Avatar SE - Senator Blutarsky 06:10:35 12/12/00 (0)
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