Tube Integrated for Von Schweikert VR4 Gen III HSE

Yes, the new Avatar. You might give Kevin a little e-mail to feel him out a bit.
I agree with you that power cords, as well as other cabling, is system dependent. It's all about synergy, although the Trolls out there cringe when they hear the word synergy. I'm so glad that you are off the cable merry-go-round. Perhaps someday, I'll be so lucky. Good luck in your amp quest. May you find that right synergy and still be able to put a few $$$ in your pocket. And everyone said, "Amen".

The word I heard on the Avatar was that VAC shut it down until they could find a way to make it more cost effective. Evidently there wasn't enough profit margin on the older Avatar's.

Cheers,
John

04-15-06: Jmcgrogan2
The word I heard on the Avatar was that VAC shut it down until they could find a way to make it more cost effective

Wow, John. That's interesting. At $6500, you'd think there'd be some profit in it. Well, selfishly, I hope Kevin finds a way to offer a "low cost" VAC integrated that offers the outstanding sound of his other products...and I'd like to ask for a triode switch. :)

Grant, maybe you should look at the older Avatar's, pre Super, 1999-2003. The original Avatar and Avatar SE had a triode switch. 30 wpc triode, 60 wpc ultralinear.

I didn't say that there was no profit, just not enough profit. Companies count on their products to make a certain percentage of profit. From what I heard, they were costing too much to make and not enough profit. VAC didn't want to raise the price, so they suspended production until they could figure out how to build them and still realize their profit goal.
Can't blame them really, a company wants to stay in business. They could outsource to China like many others, but I don't think Kevin wants to do that.

John

I spoke with someone at VAC a couple months ago about the Avatar Super replacement & if I remember correctly, it will be in the neighborhood of $10K retail. I got the same story about not enough margin on the discontinued Super. Those used Avatars look pretty good after hearing that figure.