I've heard the APV's several times with the Hovland preamp and amp. For some reason they are being positioned as a natural combination. As a combination they offer stunning detail and imaging and are not harsh, but every time I heard them I felt that something was missing - harmonic information or "musicality", whatever you call it. I would not be happy owning this combination and I would caution against purchasing this combination unless you have a chance to hear it and develop your own opinion. There definitely were other listeners who liked it, and some others who also disliked it, citing the same issues I did.
Art
Art