Anyone hear the Van Alstine CA1 Control Amplifier or NP1 amp demoed?

I kind of agree with Gano on the amps looks and connectivity.  It looks good in real life but minimalist.  I would have preferred a different array of connectivity. Made a modular compartment for Phono stage if anything, keeping it an RCA input.  I like the SQ but its being evaluated currently on lower end mid gear, depending on how one sees it.  

I always felt the Hegel was overkill but on 807Ws it did well, but its an easy speaker to drive. The Keces, Hegel and seemingly the CA-1 never seems lifeless like the typical brands I previously had could.  I had a HK 3490 years ago and in the daytime, could sound kind of flat, like dullish but livened up at night time listening when are ears hear differently, that I believe can be explained scientifically.

So far, I feel the Ca-1 fits between the Keces and Hegel, closer to the Hegel.  The Hegel designed in Norway but built in China, I do not think we saved anything as Hegel charges as much as possible to keep the marketing chain and their business healthy.  It's markup.  Not going to say it would be double if built in Norway. If that were the case it couldn't compete.

The CA-1 to me isn't a giant killer but a good sounding articulate performer.  It won't be everyone's preferred choice.  If you want a smooth. relaxed presentation look elsewhere.  If you want excitement and transparency, comparatively speaking it could be a good choice.  Especially if you add a dac and only listen to movies and CDs.  Simple and yes, it sounds good.  I'm sure it could compete with more expensive gear in certain cases and with certain gear.  Don't know how it measures and I just went back and forth with Nemo regarding the Totem Bisons between the reviews and how it measured, trying to figure out how it sounds and whether it could be paired with this amp.  That didn't resolve any concerns but I look at measurements to at least come up with some data for expectation. He doesn't. But his gear isn't my gear and his room isn''t my room. Same for ears and preferences.

Seemingly, the little Keces may not be powerful enough for Totems and I wanted to find a replacement for the Hegel as its 40lbs...I want something capable but lighter.

Some have stated that they had gear costing thousands and when they heard the CA-1 it impressed them. As an amplifier is designed to amplify, why don't they essentially sound the same?  Probably due to build and component quality for SNR, distortion, power on demand output, etc., and they do have different flavors.

If it does sound better or at least as good as more expensive gear then I am done.  Seems like reliability is good and should last for most of my life, what remains.  So, 20 years perhaps?  Also, I am hesitant to buy really expensive gear as my needs in SPLs wouldn't utilize what i paying for, in amps, speakers, etc.  Sure, there are pieces I would like to have and if used at an affordable price I might jump.

But in the 1000 to $2000 price category, there's alot of choices out there, new or used.  I think this amp competes, for whatever that's worth.

I think the CA-1 is a solid, albeit simple performer.  Given that, I do wish it were a bit smaller, say a few inches less wide.  Other than that and my connectivity preferences, it's good, especially for what I paid.  Say a higher end sounding but still (audiophile) "budget" amp which if it ever needs service seems simple enough to have worked on, hopefully. 

And kind of neat to have a US made Van Alstine in the system. 

@agwca there are a few hubs of audio brain power and manufacturing in the US, tend to be coastal CA, the Boston area, and the twin cities. So I have no doubt it’s a solid amp, being from Minnesota. I made a list of about 6 amps in the 1000-ish range and based on the reviews the AVA jumped out. I didn’t know why Hegel was marked up, but you explained it.

On a second thought the phono input makes sense to people who occasionally listen to vinyl and for people like me who occasionally would use a DAC, an optical input would make more sense (Hegel)

Looking at this forum and my favorite hifi youtube channels, the price is a bit too high for budget audiophiles and too low for serious spenders. And when I say too high, I don’t mean by much. But you got a good deal on it, one that I would have probably jumped on.

I think there is a lack of choices in the small output (<60 Watts), minimalist with high SQ integrated segment under a $1000. I know ~$1000 is not much these days, but for a dad in a family with a lot bills, a college student, a middle class single person with rent, etc. it’ a choice between new tires on the car or trip to grandma, or new laptop for the kid, there is no $1000 lying around. It might not happen until a big break financially.

I think Schiit does exactly what I am talking about, lower priced, high quality, modular setup. It’s the design that’s not my style but I assume they are doing great.

The Hegel costs more than twice. So I am not sure you are calling this a great value or not. (By great I mean fantastic in comparison to similar amps. Is it as good as an amp twice the price?)

Van Alstine is factory direct. With Hegel, you have a US distributor markup and a 50 point dealer markup. 

If Van Alstine attempted to sell in Europe at dealers....prices would double. 

We are lucky in America that we can buy Van Alstine, Odyssey, & Schiit amps at such low prices. I would exhaust those types of options before looking at imported amps sold at dealers. 

If one can consider themselves a budget audiophile, say someone who has had the typical introductory receivers, integrated and such, these 50 to 80 watt amps open some doors into a level that could satisfy for a long time.  While there isn't alot there's still some, typically the larger brands but fewer among the more boutique manufacturers.  

So far I like it and still its an adjustment from what I have had.  Paired with good speakers and a decent dac is all I need.  I have the dacs covered and the Opticon for a budget speaker is pretty decent.

I may get that SVS sub woofer connector which I take from the phone call converts the signal output to a voltage a powered sub can take rather than buying a better sub and without changing the power output to your speakers.  I only use it for fill-in.

Looking at some other speakers. From experience there's alot I can take off the list. Somewhere around the $2K mark give or take perhaps in a size and design I want.  I can wait as well.  No rush.

I to put this amp on a short list from the reviews and talking to Frank.  He seemed pumped about it.  Who knows, it could become an American classic, if there is such a thing in audio.  Competitor amps run much higher in price in some cases.

I still stand behind the Keces E40 as a small room/office/desktop option but it drove my gear well in a LR setting as well.  The CA-1 is both different and better in certain regards, and a bit more powerful.  And I feel comfortable lifting 20 lbs. 

Budget audiophiles could look at the Keces. It's half the price and typically less used, but doesn't come up used that often.  Made in Taiwan by a brand known for power conditioners when they started.

Hegel like many popular brands cost. They sound good but also safe. Boring to some, exquisite to others.  It is powerful but overkill for me in spite that it has the connectivity I prefer.  I like it but this CA-1 is different and I like it so far too. 

@seanheis1 that's a big difference I guess. But then Hegel must think that they have to give something for costing twice. Norwegianness?

Sometimes when people pay more they think they get more...