[Canman]

Saw the Audio Valve series for the first time in person today. Unfortunately, David Lewis Audio in Philly didn't have an RKV for me to listen to, but they did have an ENORMOUS pair of Audio Valve mono blocks. These things were as big as a packing box a piece, with 1/2 inch thick acrylic top so you can see the rows of tubes and fancy components. These are really beautiful.

Makes me drool over the thought of an RKV...

 

[ManiacSmile]

Yupp, RKV does look very substantially build. In fact this amp looks more expensive then what you'd pay for it , even new.

 

[Gopher]

I love how a thread like this always surfaces as I await my newest installment.

RKV comming tueday! :

D

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Can I just say...YUP!

 

[yidimsum]

A fellow Head-fier: Andrew Pielet has a pair of Audiovalve Avalon Monoblocks. He uses them to drive his MMGs.

 

[ManiacSmile]

Gopher,

In your profile it says RKV Special Edition, what kind of changes are in it ? Or did you just mean that you have the MkIII ( or Mk2,5 - whichever you prefer

).

 

[Thump]

A few months ago I upgraded my amp from a CMOY (a little bigger than a pack of cigarettes) to a used RKV bought on this board. The RKV was shipped in a large wooden crate. It definately looks impressive.

The only bad feature is that its size and beauty makes it near impossible to minimize its cost to your significant other. I'm sure this amp has already cost me its purchase price several times over in "matching" purchases made by my wife.

 

[Andrew Pielet]

Audio Valve amps are tanks. Classic German engineering. One of the few tube amp designs I was allowed to own due to a girlfriend who watches/loves/wants to have many children, where tubes need to be safe from poking fingers. Also one of the only "self biasing" amps so you can use any age tube, of any make, as long as you mirror them on both channels. Easy rolling, easy fun. 16 power tubes? Yup, thats gonna be a pretty penny to upgrade!