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

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.

I don't feel comfortable stating it is better than something twice the price as that something at twice the price might not live up to its worth itself.  I would say, you are getting performance for your price.  Sans connectivity and add ons.  I guess thinking its holding up to the Hegel from memory says something, but unit I compare it. That was a $3500 integrated back a few years but gave you a good dac at least for CDs and Bluray rates. 

Perhaps upgrading the fuses could add to the SQ.?

I do not know abut the quality of the internals.  Seems alot of people are liking this unit but as all things, there has to be system synergy and a sound you want.  The seller gave a good enough discount for a unit only a little more than a few months old and I jumped on it.  At full retail, well that's not typically my MO.

Need to listen to some horns to hear how it does those.  I do have my old 807Ws sitting and waiting to be mailed out which were great at showing micro details and textures which could make the evaluation easier but, waiting for a potential buyer to get back to me.  It does ramp up my little Dalis and Triangles though, enough to appreciate with good separation.

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.