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

@seanheis1 

I would like to know if it's really as good as the reviews, what makes it magical, and any specific sound, best pairing?

@grislybutter I use Van Alstine SET 120 Power amp. Check out part time audiophiles review of it. 

Re: CA1. I have not heard it. From how folks are describing it, it is not the sound that I chase ;-) 

thanks @seanheis1 

I am out of sync with part time audiophiles, don't get them usually 

@agwca that's very thorough. 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?)

I think the phono input is a mistake as well as the lack of pre out. It looks like a minimalist amp but exactly those two things would make it minimalist and practical for the budget audiophile. The design is also borderline unbearable for me, with a tiny bit more effort it could have been ok to look at (subjective of course)

I am listening to this on small Opticon 1s, looking at other speakers to figure out if they’ll work well and regardless, wouldn’t know until actually hooked up abd in my room.

What I am getting as compared to my Keces E40 on material (and now with no sub) is I think I am hearing more spatial effect say if actors or musicians were recorded in a room that gives that effect. It seems to be more resolving and transparent which my Hegel h160 does but perhaps a bit more spatial, not sure about that yet or tone either until I compare.

Is it better than the Keces? It definitely is different sounding and better in at least transparency and resolving the detail. It seems fast too. Little overhang on anything and does’t add anything to low mids or upper bass, or at least the mids seem more ramped up in comparison. In the end an articulate and exciting listen without being tiring at least to me.

I am listening for glare when there are sibilants and while there is sibilance, probably appropriate to what’s in the recording and does’t have the sH glare of the Hegel or isn’t really standing out as much. Which is more transparent I haven’t compared yet or even on enough music but it does ramp up the little Opticons.

The fact that I like it so far and am not nit picking like I did with the Musical Fidelity M2Si such as bloated, slow bass, grain in the mids and some of the highs, says something to me. Similar power, in that it comes across as having grunt but wish the turn of the dial was slower in power output but it isn’t difficult to dial in like say a NAD. Also at lowest levels, both speakers output equally to what I hear instead of hearing one before I hear the other.

As to being more spatial, holographic, the Hegel is regarded by some to sound more flattish but I never thought it was a flat stage. But I am noticing spatial cues when I thought they either were not there or more subdued on the other two amps I have. Unless I really hear something that comes across as holographic sounding and not artificially so, I can’t say how much its doing it but its not a flat wall of sound but imaging seems good. I think most of the stage is at the speaker plane and comes out into the room. Perhaps a little behind. I never understood how some could say they hear things beyond the wall as it’s never been my experience. Behind the speaker plane, yes but not the wall. At least sitting from a distance.  Up close in the nearfield I do get that, behind the speakers. But I get that on all 3 amps. I typically don't like speakers that do not have that ability. 

So far I think this is an amp for a less exciting or more neutral speaker and could be too much for say something like a Monitor Audio Silver 100 I had, always having to adjust volume due to spikes in SPL or not having enough to articulate something in the track. Unless someone likes and can tolerate that assualt on one’s senses.

I like hearing the subtle. As to tone, its not like a tube but not colorless but not sure its neutral in that regard. Not as smooth as the Hegel but no grit, just a prominence that makes it an exciting listen. Could be more is coming through at certain frequencies.

Still, haven’t listened to enough material to say 100% of what I am stating. The Keces are a more relaxing listen but I never felt it wasn’t engaging. The Hegel adds weight and excitement and so does the CA-1 but not sure yet how close, better or less so than the Hegel until I hook it up and with the same dac, the D70s. The internal dac in the Hegel is less warm than the D70s with a bit better separation perhaps due to the bloom in the lows the D70s.

But I think it will be close to the Hegel. I guess that says something. Also, there are alot of amps out there. Some class A is said to sound romantic and some think its boring. This CA-1 is not boring. I thought I read the first 10 watts could be class A but nothing really published in that regard and I would be surprised if it were.

It’s a rather Spartan amp, 3 RCA open inputs if you don’t use phono. I really only need a couple so would have liked a pre out for my small sub but its workable.

The Hegel gives you more, especially an XLR, 2 pre outs and digital connectivity in a pretty decent dac.

I bought it due to Van Alstine’s reputation, hearing mostly great things from users with VA equipment over the years and the hype of this amp. I can see if someone prefers the Set 120 to this if its made to sound more tube-ish but this amp does sound good in its own regard. Not for everyone, what is.

There’s alot out there in gear and figure if something wasn’t performing or reliable, it would be stated. As to reviews, I think they have their own preferences and ride a line between building interest and not ticking off the brands themselves. Some I feel are honest, some not or at least I don’t get anything from them.

Build quality, well it feels solid. The knobs are the least robust but good enough, nice to have heavy gauge thick steel but they’re fine.

Still working this unit out in my head and heart.