New Amplifier In The House!

hochpt21
hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
edited January 2017 in Electronics
Actually an old amplifier, but new to me.

Krell KAV 250a

Let the auditioning and evaluation begin!!!

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2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,009
    Sweeeeet!
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    Very nice! Enjoy!
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    @Dskip might trip over that yaknow

    Congrats
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    Mikey081057 wrote: »
    @Dskip might trip over that yaknow

    Congrats

    Not as long as he isn't running in the house.

    No seriously, was he selling one? Or does he not like Krell?
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    No No nothing like that.... he has a broken toe from bumping into a big heavy Usher floorstander.
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    edited January 2017
    Oh that's right... Sorry @DSkip Hope the toe is getting better.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • MrBuhl
    MrBuhl Posts: 2,419
    Wow! Congrats!! Nice amp!
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
    VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
    Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000

    Polk SDA1c modded
    Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
    Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
    A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
    SACD Marantz DV8300
    Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
    Yamaha YP-D6
    Soundcraftsmen PCR800
    Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
    Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
    Pho-700 Phono Pre
    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    Well? How is it compared to the A308's amp?

    Very cool, always exciting to bring gear into the house. B)
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • polk500
    polk500 Posts: 1,171
    Enjoy the new to you gear.

    Cheers
    Roger

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited January 2017
    Your idea of "an old amplifier" and mine are -- rather at variance.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    Nice space heater lol....
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Your idea of "an old amplifier" and mine are -- rather at variance.
    Ok, maybe a 'young adult' amplifier. :)
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,047
    Looking forward to a review!
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
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  • Thorton
    Thorton Posts: 1,324
    Very nice! Let us know how it sounds.
    _____________________________________________________________________________________________
    Ethernet Filter: GigaFOILv4 with Keces P3 LPS
    Source: Roon via ethernet to DAC interface
    DAC: Bricasti M1SE
    Pre/Pro: Marantz AV8805
    Tube Preamp Buffer: Tortuga TPB.V1
    Amp1: Nord One NC1200DM Signature, Amp2: W4S MC-5, AMP3: W4S MMC-7
    Front: Salk SoundScape 8's, Center: Salk SoundScape C7
    Surround: Polk FXIA6, Surround Back: Polk RTIA9, Atmos: Polk 70-RT
    Subs: 2 - Rythmik F25's
    IC & Speaker Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, Signal Cable
    Power Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, PS Audio
    Room Treatments: GIK Acoustics
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    edited January 2017
    Just some preliminary thoughts

    Amazing control over the PSB's. Gives them whatever they ask for immediately.

    Separation of instruments is the best I've heard by far. Space and definition in spades.

    Solid and punchy bass. Not a hint of bloat.

    Not as musical or involving as the MF integrated.

    This wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea by any means. A bit of a hard-edged/forward presentation. But it's getting closer to the sound that I, personally, am looking for.

    IMO the PSB's need an amp like this to own them and bring out what they are capable of.

    I just gotta find the right pre and make magic happen.

    Close...so close. :)
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,965
    hochpt21 wrote: »
    Not as musical or involving as the MF integrated.

    That's why they call themselves Musical fidelity. :)

    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    Beautiful amp!! What are you using for a pre with it?
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,965
    Hate to sound like a broken record, but...if your looking to add some musicality to that Krell, A tubed pre is your obvious choice. Along with some warmer sounding cables, I think you might be on a path that suits you.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    I'm so glad I grabbed that A308 before Paul could think twice about it. :#
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,965
    Ricardo wrote: »
    I'm so glad I grabbed that A308 before Paul could think twice about it. :#

    LOL....good deal too you snagged it for. Those 308's are keepers, which is why you hardly see them up for sale. Same with the Tri-vista and nu-vistas.

    Wasn't a good fit for him though and those PSB's I guess. That's the way the audio cookie crumbles.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    erniejade wrote: »
    Beautiful amp!! What are you using for a pre with it?

    Like Tony said, I'm looking for a tubed pre. I've been pretty close on a couple BAT's and Carys. In the $1,000 to $1,400 range depending on if it includes a phono.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    Ricardo wrote: »
    I'm so glad I grabbed that A308 before Paul could think twice about it. :#
    tonyb wrote: »
    Ricardo wrote: »
    I'm so glad I grabbed that A308 before Paul could think twice about it. :#

    LOL....good deal too you snagged it for. Those 308's are keepers, which is why you hardly see them up for sale. Same with the Tri-vista and nu-vistas.

    Wasn't a good fit for him though and those PSB's I guess. That's the way the audio cookie crumbles.

    Outstanding unit that I'll miss. I had it for a couple years, though, and have the opportunity to try something different.

    It was the pinnacle of a journey for me. But now I'm starting another one. :)
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    Definitely needs a tubed pre. I had a tubed pre paired with a Krell KAV 2250, that's definitely where the magic happens
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    Finding the right pre can be a journey. Back in my busy days I tried a few, and for my system and my ears I found a keeper in an older Belle's. I think it was the 21a. Throwing that in just to make your life more difficult :)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,965
    Good suggestion, those are very nice musical pre's....that also don't show their face very often. I might also direct your attention to some older units from Vac, VTL, Joule, Cary. I'm pretty frickin' happy with my older Joule LA-100.

    Don't put too much emphasis on the HT pass through option most seem to deem as a necessity. Mine doesn't have that option but passes the signal just fine while in standby mode.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    And Rogue tube preamps as well! The 99 Super Magnum is fantastic! I haven't heard them personally, but I've been reading great things about the new RP-5.
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    Where a true HT Bypass/Direct feature works to its best is when you have sub in the hybrid rig that has separate LFE and line level inputs (not a dual function LFE/line level).

    With the MF int amps, the HT Direct features truly bypasses the preamp section and the preouts are inactive. This allows your AVR to drive the sub via the LFE input.

    But when using the int amp for 2-channel music listening, the preouts will send signals to the sub's line level inputs.

    You can have your sub hooked up both to the AVR and the Int Amp and not have to swap cables or buy a clumsy switch.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,561
    hochpt21 wrote: »
    erniejade wrote: »
    Beautiful amp!! What are you using for a pre with it?

    Like Tony said, I'm looking for a tubed pre. I've been pretty close on a couple BAT's and Carys. In the $1,000 to $1,400 range depending on if it includes a phono.

    You don't want a BAT if you're looking to warm up the Krell.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    F1nut wrote: »
    hochpt21 wrote: »
    erniejade wrote: »
    Beautiful amp!! What are you using for a pre with it?

    Like Tony said, I'm looking for a tubed pre. I've been pretty close on a couple BAT's and Carys. In the $1,000 to $1,400 range depending on if it includes a phono.

    You don't want a BAT if you're looking to warm up the Krell.

    Was going to say the same thing. BAT, while excellent tubed gear definitely has more of a solid state sound. A bit to lean for tubed gear. It's a fine line, but I wouldn't pair it with Krell if you are looking for a bit more body and warmth.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    heiney9 wrote: »
    ...

    Was going to say the same thing. BAT, while excellent tubed gear definitely has more of a solid state sound. A bit to lean for tubed gear. It's a fine line, but I wouldn't pair it with Krell if you are looking for a bit more body and warmth.

    H9

    A bit, yes.


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