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Hafler DH200 and KefQ100

MotherSauce1

MotherSauce1

Active Member
Howdy,

I recently picked up a pair of KEFQ100 and I'm powering them with a Hafler DH200. I was really impressed with the speakers in the show room but haven't liked them as much at home or maybe I am not liking the amp as much.

1. Any ideas on a better amp to match the KEFs?
2. Any speakers that the Hafler really loves?

I'm used to listening to my Klipsch Heresy II powered by a Marantz 2226; so far this combination sounds much better to my ears than the above KEF/Hafler combo.

interested to hear your all's input!
Thanks,
Kelley
 
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Klipsch and KEF are very different sounding speakers.

I suspect it's more the difference in the speakers than amplifier differences. Try the KEF's on the Marantz and you'll know for sure.

FWIW; I like just about every KEF I've ever heard. OTOH; I've never heard a Klipsch I like.

Of course if the Marantz has not been rebuilt/overhauled it most likely doesn't sound how it was intended to.

That Hafler is also getting long in the tooth and might also benefit from a little bench time.
 
Like Joe says, try the KEFs with the Marantz/Hafler with Klipsch.
Are both systems in the same room, speakers placed similarly?

It would help if the OP describes what he doesn't like about this particular combination. Just running out and buying more gear is usually not the solution
 
Thanks for those chiming in; I'm interested in getting experience with more combinations so that i'm looking at running out to buy more gear but trying other combinations and then reselling what I have left isn't out of the questions. I originally got he KEFs for the very reason that they are very different from my Klipsch. The Marantz is pretty low watts so it doesn't run the KEFs too well, but when I hook the Klipsch up to the Hafler I notice it no longer sounds as clear, is little more agressive, and lacks the warmth I am used to.

What I notice when the Hafler is running the KEFs is lots of detail in highs and lows but a lack of mid range detail. Sometimes less dynamic bass is lost in the mix, but I imagine this is due to the diffence in size nad style, booksehelf vs floor standing. It just sounds to me like neither speaker i getting to its fullest potential on the Hafler. I purchased the Hafler recently and so I'm concerned either it isn't up to snuff or maybe I just didn't like the Hafler sounds as much as I thought.

I understand the biggest difference is in speaker design and I'm interested in that discussion but even more interested in a discussion comparing amplifiers.

Any more input is appreciated and most welcome!
Kelley
 
Any piece of electronics as old as your Marantz needs to have, at minimum, the electrolytic capacitors checked for leakage. Electrolytic capacitors the age of the ones in your Marantz are almost certainly in need of replacement. The ones in the Hafler need to be checked also. This is not related to anything other than age. +20yo electrolytic capacitors almost always need replacement.
 
JoeESP9 said:
Any piece of electronics as old as your Marantz needs to have, at minimum, the electrolytic capacitors checked for leakage. Electrolytic capacitors the age of the ones in your Marantz are almost certainly in need of replacement. The ones in the Hafler need to be checked also. This is not related to anything other than age. +20yo electrolytic capacitors almost always need replacement.
Click to expand...

Thanks Joe. I bought the Marantz from a reputable shop that has a service tech a few years back. Pretty sure they went through it thouroughly. The Haflar I bought from a guy online so who knows... Any idea what the repairs would cost if the caps were failing?

Do you have much experience with Hafler amps? It is new for me so part of what I am grappling with is what to expect from it. I've only heard one other and I remember it have a bit more "guts" to it.

What kind of audible difference would I hear with new capacitors?

Thanks,
K
 
I have a DH200 on a shelf in my closet for spares. It's one I built from a kit back in the "dark ages". IME properly working capacitors will result in much better bass response.

I do all my own work so I can't say how much any work will cost.
 
Would I be able to tell if the capacitors were worn just buy looking at them myself? I am interested in this kind of work. Maybe this would be a good project for me?
 
Do a Google search for "pictures of bad capacitors". There are pictures of normal, bulging and leaking capacitors. Please note; it's possible for a capacitor to be bad with little to no outward indication.
If you don't own a multi-meter, I strongly suggest acquiring one. You'll also need a variable temp soldering station. They are both invaluable for electronic repair.
 
Buy the best preamp you can stretch your budget to meet. A preamp will have more influence on the sound of your system than any power amp.
 
Undoubtedly someone will suggest one of the usual mainstream vintage Japanese preamps. Personally, most of them are not what I would consider buying. My advice is to save your money and buy a Conrad Johnson or Audio Research preamp. Most other American made tubed preamps are IMO worth considering.
 
I love American made! What is mainstream Japanese ... how many pennies for Conrad Johnson or Audio Research should I expect to save?
 
Mainstream Japanese is from any of the most well known Japanese receiver manufacturers. I suggest $1000 as a starting point. Save your money and get something you'll not be dissatisfied with in the long term. Although many here will tout things like Kenwood Basic or some other mainstream Japanese preamp, IMO none of them sound as good as an Audio Research SP-3 or Conrad Johnson PV-10. FWIW; I've been using an Audio Research preamp (SP-9 updated three times) since the late 80's.
 
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