I currently have a NAD 7125, hooked up with an AR-XA and some KLH 22s on the way. There's a Knight KA-55 nearby on Facebook Marketplace for $250. I'm struggling to find any information about Knight amps besides people in the midst of restoration projects. What can anyone tell me about the quality of this amp? Would it be an upgrade over my NAD? Any insight or tips would be very welcome.
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Ah, a Knight KA-55 for $250. It sounds like a good deal if it is well preserved and the tubes are included and serviceable, especially the scarce 6973 power tube set. NOS 6973s are expensive and scarce, but EH makes new ones of unknown (by me) quality.
The KA-55 is a 20 watt per channel amplifier vs. your NAD’s 25 watts, and tube watts often are perceived as louder, so you probably will not hear a difference in volume.
I have not heard a KA-55 but guess that the sound quality was on par with its peers like Dynaco SCA-35. IMHO it will better your old NAD in all respects, if it is performing as intended. The NAD was superior to many of its peers of early transistor amplifiers but is no match for a well tuned tube integrated amplifier of the prior generation like the KA-55
My 5 cents. Good luck.
The KA-55 is a 20 watt per channel amplifier vs. your NAD’s 25 watts, and tube watts often are perceived as louder, so you probably will not hear a difference in volume.
I have not heard a KA-55 but guess that the sound quality was on par with its peers like Dynaco SCA-35. IMHO it will better your old NAD in all respects, if it is performing as intended. The NAD was superior to many of its peers of early transistor amplifiers but is no match for a well tuned tube integrated amplifier of the prior generation like the KA-55
My 5 cents. Good luck.
6973's are about 25$ each with 116 auctions on ebay right now.
It's a nice amp, Caps replaced 250/300$, Stock caps 200$.
It's a nice amp, Caps replaced 250/300$, Stock caps 200$.
Dswankey
Lunatic Member
See post #4
Knight KA-55 tube amp
Hi guys! New member to AK. Don’t know if this is the correct forum to post this, but does anyone have an assembly manual (or a scan) for the Knight KA-55 40 watt stereo amp? I have searched the web at least a hundred times, BAMA, eBay, etc to no avail. Can find a ton of Heathkit and Eico...
audiokarma.org
See page 18
You gotta love the old ads: "Giant Array of Front-Panel Controls..." LOL
kvflyer
Super Member
I have a Knight 83 YU 774 which is an early version of the KA-55. It's on the shelf right now. There "May" be differences between what I have and the KA-55; not sure. I have the assembly manual for my amplifier. I haven't scanned it but have a few files with parts lists, schematic etc.
we agreed on a price of $150, he pulled it out of an attic at an estate sale so I’m guessing nothing on it has been touched in years and it’s going to need some help.
Unfortunately it was in its original box but he already threw it away along with any documentation that might have been in there.
Unfortunately it was in its original box but he already threw it away along with any documentation that might have been in there.
You’d think that for a kit-based product there’d be documentation everywhere. Alas.