Any Experience with Audio Valve?

I own both ppp45 monoblocks and the Assistent integrated amp. Obviously, I like Audio Valve's sound.

Audio Valve tends to be very detailed and quiet, and works extraordinarily well over a wide variety of music. Their products are also self-biasing (the newer ones also have LED's next to each tube that tells you when the tube is bad) and beautiful to look at.

I haven't heard the Challenger 160's but can only assume that they are outstanding, as well.

Good luck!

Michael

David at David Lewis Audio in Philadelphia raved about them when I was browsing in his shop a few months ago. Sure he'd be worth talking to about them. He often runs big ads in Stereophile.

Spencer

I own the challenger mono's they are wonderful. Plenty of power, detailed, and built like tanks

Sbank, Michael(Sufentanil) is definitely going to have something to say about Dave Serota at David Lewis Audio. Our boy Dave has the social skills of the lowest order. Wonder how he has kept from going out of business.

I have heard Michael's AudioValve setups, and have to agree the brand is definitely not getting the exposure it should. Very good sound, at what seem to be bargain prices, at least on the used market. I agree with the low noise floor, and they seem to offer an engaging sound.

One concern I have is the reliability of the product, as he has seen some issues there.

I have only heard great things as well.

But as Trelja says, there have been reports of reliability issues. I have heard OF this for their amps, but mainly for their Headphone amp, one of which I own.

Due more to shipping, but exacerbated by perhaps lesser design, there were transoformer/PC board problems. With the company in Germany, it would tough to rectify were it not for a great dealer who sold the headphone amp.

Subsequent redesign of the amp inards resulted in different placement of the transformer to alleviate the problem.

So take my commets with SOME salt grains, they ARE hearsay. My headphone amp does have the change in it, so it is fine. And as for the sound, no complaints at all ! Beautiful, clear, detailed, dynamic, open, etc etc etc.

And it LOOKS pretty neat, too :-)

Todd - chams_uk