gagelle
Super Member
I recently purchased a Krell Duo 175. This amp made my Harbeth 7ES-3s really open up with a much fuller sound, especially in the low frequencies. My CDs, also sound much better. I've wanted a class A amp for a long time but couldn't buy one due to their high heat output. The Krell has something they call ibias technology. It allows the amp to use only 73 W at idle. Without the ibias, it would always be open all the way and use its maximum of 1500 W at all times. As my home state of California has the highest electric rates in the country and my bill is already high from my central air conditioner, the Krell was a perfect solution for my situation. It is made in the U.S. and their warranty and technical support have been excellent. I was surprised when it was shipped to my apartment on a Pallet. Krell obviously really cares that each amplifier arrives in perfect condition. Don't be put off by the retail price. It can be obtained online from an authorized dealer at a significant discount. (Although the online dealer won't give a free trial period.) I think they are allowing it to be sold online at a discount to capture more of the already crowded market of class A amplifiers. It has fans in the back that were completely silent in all the reviews I've read. (My fans never had to turn on.) It never gets even warm at high volumes. This may have something to do with the fact that my 6 ohm speakers, while not very efficient, are easy to drive compared to some difficult ones, like electrostatics. For a preamp, I'm using a completely restored GAS Thaedra. I'm very happy with this setup. Of course, this is a matter of taste, as some may want the matching Krell preamp which is supposed to be completely neutral and has the digital circuitry that allows an XLR connection.