Krell KAV-250a. Any heard one?

CH46E
CH46E Posts: 3,591
in 2 Channel Audio
Just found out I'm getting a very nice back pay from a few seconds ago from work.

I was looking at Acurus, Adcom, Carver, Onkyo (big VU meters amps).

Now that I am getting this back pay I was thinking about raising the amount to spend on a amp to the $1,000 to $1,500 range. One amp that came to the surface was the Krell KAV-250a.

Just wanted to know if anyone has any experience with this amp. It seems to get some good reviews.

Oh they will run a pair RTA 12b and a pair of SDA SRS 2. The pre will be a Yamaha Aventage HTR RXA1050.
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Comments

  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,277
    edited August 2016
    The KAV line of Krells was there attempt of budget amps. The KSA's were the beasts and much more musical IMHO. Keep in mind these older amps will possibly need a refresh. Not a bad thing though, just don't think the KAV purchase price plus possible refresh would be worth it...IMHO

    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    Analog outs on an amplifier... as opposed to?
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,517
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    The KAV line of Krells was there attempt of budget amps. The KSA's were the beasts and much more musical IMHO. Keep in mind these older amps will possibly need a refresh. Not a bad thing though, just don't think the KAV purchase price plus possible refresh would be worth it...IMHO

    THIS
    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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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,957
    I'll second ....or third Ron's assessment. The KSA's were beastly boogers.
    HT SYSTEM-
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    Cables-
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    Ive Installed many of those amps. I can say they are incredibly detailed and super powerful. If you can get a good deal on one I'd say go for it.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,591
    la2vegas wrote: »
    @CH46E is this the one you got your eye on? No affiliation. http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/ele/5742182967.html

    No, not the exact one I was looking at. There is one on the ebay for $1,300 +85 S/H.

    How long have you lived in Vegas? I grew up there.


    As far as the KSA amps, they are way out on my price point. :neutral:

    The KVA is just about right where the max I would want to spend on a amp.

    I still have no idea how much the SRS 2 xovers are going to cost me in parts. I'll do the labor myself.

    I have my equipment running on a dedicated 10/3 line directly to the box with a hospital grade outlet. The third line (Red I think) is hooked up as an extra ground. Then the Belkin PureAV PF60 is plugged into that. I only say this because I read the KVA can pull a lot of current.
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,277
    http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649294243-krell-kav250a-2-channel-power-amplifier-250w-x-2-8-ohms/

    https://www.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-krell-kav-250a-2-channel-power-amplifier-250w-x-2-8-ohms-2016-08-18-amplifiers-92683-westminster-ca
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,591
    The one on Audiogon is the same one on Ebay for $100 cheaper. I was off on the price I quoted earlier. On ebay is $1,199 +85 And on the Gon for $1,099+ 75.

    Thanks for the links!
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  • xsmi
    xsmi Posts: 1,798
    So get it from A-gon. When they say less musical, that's relative. It's a fine amp, just not as refined as the KSA.
    2-channelBelles 22A Pre, Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2, Marantz SA8005, Pro-Ject RPM-10 Turntable, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3B, Polk Audio Legend L800's, AudioQuest Cable throughout.
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited August 2016
    I owned a KAV-250a for a little while. Very nice amp, VERY detailed, and a very nice mating with vintage Polks, IMO. That said, I'd take a Bryston 4B-ST in a heartbeat for about the same price, and you'd end up with close to 5 years of factory warranty if you found one built around 2000. In the 1K - 1.5k range, I think you'd have a hard beating the 4B-ST. Cheers!

    Ben
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • pkquat
    pkquat Posts: 748
    2 cents on the KAV-250a, check an find out if he did the fuse fix and when. Supposedly many of these were shipped with the wrong fuse which could lead to the amp running even hotter which could shorten the time span before a refresh was needed. There was actually a fire hazard recall. From what I have gathered the risk of fire was not that great, and it seams some ran hotter than others. I had read on one forum there was a user serviceable small board change besides the fuse for some models, but according to Krell it was only a fuse change. If they did the recall through Krell there is a record of the change. When proof of the change was sent back to Krell they were issued a check for somewhere around $100.

    http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2009/Amplifiers-Recalled-by-Krell-Industries-Recalled-Due-to-Fire-Hazard/
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  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,414
    I've had mine a couple years on my rta12c's and it a wonderful amp. Detailed, all the power you need for the polks. Sweet sounding amp so clean. It just makes what you send it LOUDER, No appreciable signiture sound. Other than the music playing you wouldn't even know it was on! Dead quiet background. It will take quite an amp to dislodge this amp from my hands.
    Main Rig:
    Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
    Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
    Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
    MIT exp 1 ic's
    Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
    AQ kingcobra ic's
    OPPO 83 CDP
    Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
    Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
    Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
    ADS L1590/2 Biamped
    MIT exps2 speaker cable
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