My Krell might be in trouble!

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pearsall001
pearsall001 Posts: 5,382
edited May 2008 in Electronics
Now I'm taking my time on this one. Just recently on a whim I went to checkout a rare, vintage Nikko Alpha VI amp that's in ultra mint condition. I feel in love as soon as I saw it, it's gorgeuos with a capltal "G". Now for the good part, this beast is a true dual mono 300w old school battleship. Two pairs of speaker binding posts (for bi-amping or running another pair) separate gain controls for each channel & a headphone jack. I only have a cheap pair of Sony headphones but they sound great. Therman protection at turn on & off. Just a well engineered piece. And those gorgeous meters!!!

My first intentions were to simply flip the piece (at minimun I can double my money & then some). The guys over on Audiokarma (vintage forum) can't believe I found such a mint piece at the price I paid. To a man they all said to keep it & don't resell it. It's only going to be worth more as it ages. Hell, the things old now (manuf 3/80). From my findings, these units were manuf. by Luxman for Nikko back then. Not too shabby of a company.

I took it to Stephen Monte's shop (Quest for Sound) yesterday for his evaluation. Stephen was floored at the condition it's in (mint isn't the word for it he said) & we fired it up in one of his display rooms. He was utterly impressed with it's sonic virtues & also told me not to sell it.

I'm now in the process of many A/B sessions with my Krell KAV 250a amp. On a scale of 1-10 on the eye candy look between the two pieces...the Nikko is a 10+ & the Krell is a plain Jane 2. But, how do they compare musically???? We'll see (or should I say, hear)
Post edited by pearsall001 on
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited May 2008
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    This thread needs PICTURES :D

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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited May 2008
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    yeah, I'm calling BS until I see some megapixels.
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited May 2008
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    This was supposed to go in another thread.
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2008
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    nice find... that would be a tough decision.. but I'll almost pick the vintage eye candy over the other pieces.. esp if it's mint and sounds killer. I bet that thing is a beast. :)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2008
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    Pear -- get rid of that POS Krell and say "hello" to Nikko. With the proceeds from the sale of the Krell, buy yourself another Velo sub and some flowers for your wife.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • woofiepaws
    woofiepaws Posts: 225
    edited May 2008
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    A replacement Krell can be found any old time. Go for the rarity and have fun.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,382
    edited May 2008
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    Early B. wrote: »
    Pear -- get rid of that POS Krell and say "hello" to Nikko. With the proceeds from the sale of the Krell, buy yourself another Velo sub and some flowers for your wife.

    Now hold on there EB...I wouldn't exactly call the Krell a POS!! :eek: It has servrd me well but now finds itself in tough competiton.

    Not a bad idea though, another Velo!! And my wife loves the look of the Nikko. It's classy as hell & oh those gorgeous meters. The meters work great, they move on each beat of the music & barely go over showing 10w of power being used. This things a bear. :D
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited May 2008
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    What happened to the "I am not buying the Kool Aid"? Why not just sell the Nikko and the Krell and just use the NAD? Otherwise, tyou have just hopped back on the train with the rest of us. Was only a matter time...:)
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited May 2008
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    YUP!:D The whole lot of you are nothing but liars!:eek:

    Oh I've found my nirvana, I'm ALL DONE! 2 weeks later...Oh I found this sexy looking piece of gear & I'm going to get it!

    I don't trust or believe any of you anymore when you make this statement!:rolleyes::p
    venomclan wrote: »
    What happened to the "I am not buying the Kool Aid"? Why not just sell the Nikko and the Krell and just use the NAD? Otherwise, tyou have just hopped back on the train with the rest of us. Was only a matter time...:)
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,382
    edited May 2008
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    venomclan wrote: »
    What happened to the "I am not buying the Kool Aid"? Why not just sell the Nikko and the Krell and just use the NAD? Otherwise, tyou have just hopped back on the train with the rest of us. Was only a matter time...:)

    I hear you. But to be perfectly honest, I only bought the Nikko figureing I could flip it & make a nice little profit. What I didn't realize is that I stumbled on to a rare & beautiful piece at a price to die for.

    I was already told that if I picked the Nikko up for under $1k & if it is truly mint (which it is & even better) the damn thing looks like it just left the showroom floor, then I literally stole it. And I'm being advised by fellows that are heavy into vintage gear to hold on to it & "Don't Sell It". So just by default something has to go to keep the money tree blooming.

    As of right now I really don't know what direction I'm heading. But damn, this beast sounds liquidy smooth! :D

    Joe's got to get his **** over here for a listen. I have another audio bud coming over next week...when he heard what I bought & how much I paid for it he almost choked on the phone. He's into this kind of stuff.
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited May 2008
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    Still won't bite on the 402?

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,382
    edited May 2008
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    cfrizz wrote: »
    YUP!:D The whole lot of you are nothing but liars!:eek:

    Oh I've found my nirvana, I'm ALL DONE! 2 weeks later...Oh I found this sexy looking piece of gear & I'm going to get it!

    I don't trust or believe any of you anymore when you make this statement!:rolleyes::p

    I'm done after this...I promise. No wait, I take that back...not until after I pick up my center channel amp!! :D After that, what's left to buy???? :p
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2008
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    pearsall001 wrote: »
    I'm done after this...I promise. No wait, I take that back...not until after I pick up my center channel amp!! :D After that, what's left to buy???? :p

    Oh, good, 'cause you need to upgrade your center channel. Get a big **** monstrous, 4 ft. long center channel and be done with it.:cool: Then you're done.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,382
    edited May 2008
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    Hawkeye wrote: »
    Still won't bite on the 402?

    Gordon

    Don't worry my appetite is still there. For the time being, I'm just going to make a copy of the MC402 logo & put it on the Nikko. That should hold me for awhile!!
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  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited May 2008
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    "The 1st step in RECOVERY"....
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,256
    edited May 2008
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    Nice grab.

    Look, AK is a good place filled with a lot of good people. It's also filled with a lot of folks that have no experience with anything except access to a Blue Book. People that have never owned or even heard separates will chime in and tell you how collectible it is.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited May 2008
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    Phil,

    Perhaps this week I could come over and get me ears on your new, newer, newest rig!:D
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  • Monster Jam
    Monster Jam Posts: 919
    edited May 2008
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    pearsall001 wrote: »
    But to be perfectly honest, I only bought the Nikko figureing I could flip it & make a nice little profit.


    You haven't been involved in any real estate activities, have you? ;)
    Do you hear that buzzing noise? :confused:
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,620
    edited May 2008
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    I can't believe you put your Krell on the block and chose the Nikko. AK guys sure are enthusiastic but I've found they really are cultists and are stuck in the past and rarely have the kind of "gear" experience CP folks have.

    I'm betting you're going to regret getting rid of the Krell for the Nikko. Nikko certainly made some good pieces (not many, but they had a run for a couple years). I'm guessing "something" has been missing from the Krell for you since you bought it. Krell is a love it; hate it type of amp.

    Go back and read all the flowing positives you wrote about the Krell when you first got it. I'm guessing some of those positives don't still apply or you'd never consider getting rid of it.

    Good luck :)

    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 | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited May 2008
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    There is another Krell in the FM....
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited May 2008
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    People are naive to say they are ever done in this hobby. I made a loose claim that I wasn't looking to upgrade my home theater about 6 months ago. Then, I find some good deals on a few LSi pieces and some B&K gear, and now the whole damn thing has been changed / upgraded.

    I'm not complaining, I love upgrading and will try to never claim to be "done" with any of my rigs.

    Hope you're still loving the Nikko, but, it too shall pass eventually :)
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,620
    edited May 2008
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    venomclan wrote: »
    There is another Krell in the FM....

    Good catch Venom....................note to self don't post until after 1st cup of coffee! :)
    "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 | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • brabus420
    brabus420 Posts: 38
    edited May 2008
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    Pictures Please!!
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,382
    edited May 2008
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    heiney9 wrote: »
    I can't believe you put your Krell on the block and chose the Nikko. AK guys sure are enthusiastic but I've found they really are cultists and are stuck in the past and rarely have the kind of "gear" experience CP folks have.

    I'm betting you're going to regret getting rid of the Krell for the Nikko. Nikko certainly made some good pieces (not many, but they had a run for a couple years). I'm guessing "something" has been missing from the Krell for you since you bought it. Krell is a love it; hate it type of amp.

    Go back and read all the flowing positives you wrote about the Krell when you first got it. I'm guessing some of those positives don't still apply or you'd never consider getting rid of it.

    Good luck :)

    H9

    I never said my Krell was going anywhere. I simply said that the Nikko was a total surprise to me in how well it sounded & just might give the Krell a run for it's money.

    The Krell is a tough one to beat...but I'm still enjoying the Nikko. I'm just skocked that an amp that is 28yrs old is sounding the way this puppy does. Maybe I can enjoy both & just swap them out every so often!! :D
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2008
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    Some of my vintage McIntosh amps are 30 years old and still sound great. I also can't get over the sound out of my Dynakit and Heathkit amps. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's not going to sound good.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited May 2008
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    pearsall001 wrote: »
    Maybe I can enjoy both & just swap them out every so often!! :D


    Great idea. Why choose one when you can keep them BOTH! Maybe have two 2-ch rigs, one vintage rig and the other your current reference rig.
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