Van Alstine Insight+ preamp/linestage - any comments?

ls35a

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Jun 13, 2014
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No super expensive casework/knobs/etc and factory direct = looks like a lot of bang for the buck.

Anyone have any experience with one?
 
I own a couple of Van Alstine pieces and have written some reviews for Frank. I live 3 minutes from him and have been over to his house (factory) many times. I believe the Insight is a SS preamp. It sounds very good but I preferred and bought the top of the line hybrid tube preamp (the Ultra, which was upgraded to the Ultra Plus) which had much more air and transparency as well as detail and resolution. I am selling the Ultra preamp as I have since gone to a BAT VK-51se. I paid $1700 plus an additional $350 for the upgrades including a home theater bypass switch. I am letting it go for $900. It is a 9/10 condition. It was completely checked out by Frank Van Alstine himself last October. You can give him a call and he can vouch for me. The stock Electro Harmonix 6CG7 tubes have less than 100 hours on them as I used NOS Sylvania black plates and Raytheon black plates.

Best Regards,

Larry
 
Hi ls35a,

Can you explain your comment a little more?

Thanks.

I lived in Mpls twenty years ago when 'Jensens Stereo' was in Franks garage. I understand it's now in his basement. His team does nice construction work, I'll give you that. No cold solder joints, things are nicely put together. But his circuits are amateurish and his gear does not really stand up to the competition.

I'll never forgot comparing one of his pre and power setups to a five wpc Naim amp. The Naim just clobbered the Van Alstine gear. It was stunning. He has his fans, to be sure. Spend a lot of time on google and you'll find more about what I'm talking about. I think his reviews seem to get better the more advertising he buys.

I'm just some guy on the internet and this could all be nonsense. Do some research of your own. But comparing Franks stuff to things from real companies like W4S, Rogue, Exposure, Rega, etc.... it's a revelation.
 
I'm trying to get the gist of "the intention" of this thread. Did you start it to start a "kicking" fest? Pretty poor form if you did.
 
I'm trying to get the gist of "the intention" of this thread. Did you start it to start a "kicking" fest? Pretty poor form if you did.

I agree Kev. What is the purpose of the thread? And the link was from 15 yrs ago. Seems fishy to me.
 
AVA's new hybrid R series amps are a bargain and compare favorably to amps costing a quite a bit more. His FET preamp is also a bargain. His DAC's are another matter. How ever, if you are looking for eye candy then look else where.

I have had his 600R amp and FET preamp in my system for reviews. I also have a couple of friends using them with Maggie 3.7's and 1.7's. They sound great.
 
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