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67.5.103.28
...away on Jan 29th after a short illness as reported by Mary, the current head of AVA. RIP Mr Van Alstine.
JCarney
Follow Ups:
Well that's sad. I respected his philosophy and approach.
Hi, Frank let the hifi hobbiest who didn't have a fat wallet into the game.He put out this news letter called Audio Basics which shared secrets on how to get the best sound out of things that were affordable..I used to modify ARXA turntables for my friends from his instructions and built ( Long Horn Grado cartridges) with K and S metal from the hobby shop.He always answered the phone himself giving out free advise.How many audio companies did or do that? He was one of a kind and I will miss him!...-..Mark Korda
enntee
all the best,
mrh
another loss-
AVA / Frank was an incredible person and did much to keep our hobby vibrant!
Happy Listening
I met Frank at his shop, Jensen Stereo in Burnsville, Minnesota (if my memory is correct after all these years), in around 1980 while I was going to college at the University of Minnesota. I had bought a Dynaco PAT5 preamp kit and when it arrived I decided it was beyond my meager talents to assemble, so I took it to Frank.
He was quite the character and very interesting to chat with. He was using Dynaco and Hafler chassis for his amp and preamp designs at the time. He was also modifying a linear tracking tone arm turntable for better performance.
Around 1984 I sent the PAT5 back to Frank and got a Transcendence preamp back in the same chassis. He hadn't started AVA yet so it has a Jensen Stereo label on it. I liked it a lot at the time and still have it in my second system.
I have a Harman Kardon T-55C turntable modified per Frank's recommendations, with an external power supply. I got it at a time when I was getting back into vinyl. I never did get back into vinyl and the turntable will be going up for sale.
He wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but Frank had a positive influence on me, the hobby, and the industry. We could use more like him.
Regards,
Steve
Awesome company I hope they plan on keeping it going.
Edits: 01/31/25
He did mention that there were family to keep it going. He appointed a new president about 6 weeks ago....
He offered a rational alternative to high priced equipment and his business should have beome more important given the large amount of closings of stereo outlets...
though never actually used any of his equipment.
Figure I'd have even more respect for him had I.
It's never too late.
RIP.
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
Yes.
LowIQ
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