The attack of the Krell
nspindel
Posts: 5,343
I'm in the midst of a bunch of buying and selling and rotating, and plan on doing a much better job of documenting what I've just done. Short version is I've made a few changes to the 1C's since I did the tweeters and the XO's - replaced the inductors and put them on spikes. But then I've basically replaced the entire source chain - new balanced dac, new balanced tube pre-amp, new amp. But man, what this amp can do to the SDA's is just leaving me jaw-dropped.
It's the Krell KAV-2250. This is an angry machine. Mean and aggressive. No stone left unturned. Pure power. The bass just blows away any amp I've ever heard, and I've owned SDA's for 20 years. I notice it in all aspects of the sound, but particularly with respect to drums. Drums are kicking from the 1C's like nothing I've ever heard before. The bass that this amp pushes just astounds me. Gaara said that in my old setup, he kept looking around the room trying to find the subwoofer (his first time listening to SDA's). Now I feel like doing the same thing. Credit needs to given to the spikes and the inductors as well, both offer better bass. But the horsepower needs to come from the amp, and this thing delivers in droves.
I'm finding that it brings out the fact that Polks are definitely a rock speaker. I find classical a bit boring on the Polks, where the same recording can just take me to a completely different place with my Senn 650 balanced headphones, coming out of the tube preamp, which first and foremost is a headphone amp.:cool:
It's the Krell KAV-2250. This is an angry machine. Mean and aggressive. No stone left unturned. Pure power. The bass just blows away any amp I've ever heard, and I've owned SDA's for 20 years. I notice it in all aspects of the sound, but particularly with respect to drums. Drums are kicking from the 1C's like nothing I've ever heard before. The bass that this amp pushes just astounds me. Gaara said that in my old setup, he kept looking around the room trying to find the subwoofer (his first time listening to SDA's). Now I feel like doing the same thing. Credit needs to given to the spikes and the inductors as well, both offer better bass. But the horsepower needs to come from the amp, and this thing delivers in droves.
I'm finding that it brings out the fact that Polks are definitely a rock speaker. I find classical a bit boring on the Polks, where the same recording can just take me to a completely different place with my Senn 650 balanced headphones, coming out of the tube preamp, which first and foremost is a headphone amp.:cool:
Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
Post edited by nspindel on
Comments
-
Congrats on the amp NS. I had the Krell Kav250a, the 2250's predecessor. You have described this amp to a T. Fast and powerful. My old Krell's 250 watts outpowered a pair of 575 Carver monoblocks I had. The Krell also has a very black background and detail in droves. I ended up selling my Krell to Pear, who then sold it again. I recommend using the Krell amp with it's Krell preamp - balanced. The combo for me was very good. One thing that ended up moving on from the Krell for me was an almost too sterile sound. A tube preamp may make the difference. Sounds like you reached the perfect balance in your system. Enjoy.
Venom -
I'm pretty sure the 1C's are down to 4ohms now that I've done the inductors. That means the Krell is putting out 500 per side. Scary.Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
-
Power is KING... My Sunfire hits my 1c's with about 600wpc and the depth of soundstage, power and clarity are amazing. I am going to try a Krell or McIntosh setup when I finally get my hands on the big guns. Can anyone give me a comparison between Sunfire and Krell?The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
Congrats on the KRELL.No doubt it will put a choke hold on the voice coils of your 1C's.Testing
Testing
Testing -
nooshinjohn wrote: »Power is KING... My Sunfire hits my 1c's with about 600wpc and the depth of soundstage, power and clarity are amazing. I am going to try a Krell or McIntosh setup when I finally get my hands on the big guns. Can anyone give me a comparison between Sunfire and Krell?
John,
There are people who likes Krell and there are people who likes SunFire. Any comparison can be branded as biased so I think a fair comparison is by the ear's of the man himself.
Also, what amp sounds better depends on other variables in the system and a true A/B test needs to be performed. But again, there are some who can hear a difference and some who can't.
But I can tell both Krell and SunFire makes nice amps.Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin: -
Point taken Mega... I like The Sunfire for very different reasons than I might the Krell. The primary use for the Sunfire will be my HT rig, and for now it gets double duty as I have no place to put a 2CH set-up. The Krells look as they were described by the OP, strong powerful brutes that can also be used as a welding apparatus if needed, and I like that as well, but I have not really heard them except in passing. The likelyhood of my being able to do so prior to one showing up at my doorstep is nearly zero, hence the question about how they might compare sonically as the Sunfire is my only frame of reference at the moment.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
Bad **** amp for sure. I know you'll be more than pleased with it. Hell, you could probably launch the space shuttle with it!!!"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
-
pearsall001 wrote: »Bad **** amp for sure. I know you'll be more than pleased with it. Hell, you could probably launch the space shuttle with it!!!
It's making the 1C's do things I never knew SDA's could do. Deep, deep, deep, and I mean DEEP bass. Brutal punchiness. It's just an angry machine, out for vengeance. So cool
Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance. -
LOL! Congrats, glad you are enjoying your reinvigorated system!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
-
LOL:D I love the title for your thread. Congrats. Glad to hear you're enjoying the Krell.
-
Congrats on the Krell-Sweet:DLinn AV5140 fronts
Linn AV5120 Center
Linn AV5140 Rears
M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
Odyssey Mono-Blocs
SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
