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McIntosh guy buys his first Krell . . .

damacman

damacman

Resident Psycho
Have I turned to the dark side? Not likely . . . but it's been a while since I owned a really nice non-McIntosh power amplifier. [Last was a Spectral DMA50 I owned in the '90s.] Let's just say I'm excited!

Steve at Audio Classics set me up with that B1 KSA-300s back-breaker they just got in . . . so I'm jumping in with both feet. I've been doing business with Steve since the early 1990s and I simply cannot say enough good about him and his company. First class all the way. I bought an MC500 and a pair of XRT22s from them in the last 5 years.

News to follow . . .
 
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Congratulations, that's excelent news! This Krell should also be a piece of audio art and I am sure that listening to it and Mac's amps will be pleasure. I am waiting for news to follow...
 
Krells are a whole 'nother world of resolution, control, and musicality than McIntosh. Absolutely recommended if you need big SS power to control your woofers.
 
bowtie427ss said:
They also have a frequency response that actually remains flat within the audible range.
Click to expand...

Now now, this is the McIntosh subforum...we can't be telling the truth about the big blue meter-father, can we? :)

OP, Prepare to have a friend help you move the 300S. I couldn't lift one by myself, and had to have help.
 
vinyldavid said:
Krells are a whole 'nother world of resolution, control, and musicality than McIntosh. Absolutely recommended if you need big SS power to control your woofers.
Click to expand...

I wasn't impressed at all the last time I heard one. But, it could have been the B&W speakers it was driving. Very sterile sounding to my ears, regardless of source material.
 
You have equivalent power and production era (1994?) Mc equpment for comparison, I'm looking forward to your comparison.

The distortion numbers aren't impressive, but it does have some impressive power.
 
Sounds like another great addition to your collection of powerful performers. As for AC - - can't say enough good things about them as well. I've been buying from Mike for what seems like forever now -- all the McIntosh stuff I have (and a couple of TT's) came from there - - and I just got a pair of JBL's that will be shipping soon. Even though I'm clear across the country they are always the first go-to. Enjoy the new 'baby'.
 
I'm looking forward to it and I'll be as honest about it as the day is long ... I'm more excited about the sliding Class A part than anything. Never owned a Class A anything ...
 
Nothing wrong with trying something different. I've always wanted own a KSA-100. Enjoy the new amp and be sure to share your thoughts on it.
 
Speakers with moderate self damping can benefit greatly from direct couple amps with high damping factors. Krell for instance or Bryston, Boulder and others. Thats why I use Mac direct coupled amps like the older 7200 or the new MC 830's. Now my speakers don't like to high of damping factors like from Ref Crowns which are no longer made and Krell I owned some tried others, too. Krell amps can sound great with the right speakers but for me if you have something like B&W speakers or others with overly accented high ends I would have to think of more mellow amps. But thats just me expressing my preferences. Accuphase is another consideration if you have fairly efficient speakers and want a Class A. amp. I'll stick with my Mac 830's and 207's because if I need a little zing a slight adjust ment of the program eq or the graphic controls on the C-34 or tone controls of the MX 151 does just what I need for highs. But if you need tight well control bass and midrange to perk up your speakers Krell is a good way to go and Steve backs up what he sells so repairs if needed in the future shouldn't be an issue.
 
vinyldavid said:
Now now, this is the McIntosh subforum...we can't be telling the truth about the big blue meter-father, can we? :)

OP, Prepare to have a friend help you move the 300S. I couldn't lift one by myself, and had to have help.
Click to expand...
please tell me what macs you have had, and which Krell amps you have compared them to.
 
jdwk said:
please tell me what macs you have had, and which Krell amps you have compared them to.
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McPower I have listened to for greater than 2hrs: MC-30, 240, MC-75, 275, 275V, 2105, 2505, 2300, 2600, 302, MC501, Mc1.2kW.

Krell I have listened to for greater than 2hrs: KSA-50, KSA-50S, KSA-100, KSA-100S, FPB200CX.
 
I have owned a MA 230, MC 60's 240's,2505, 275's 2100's 7200's, 206, 207's and MC 830's. I have used 2200's 2250's 2150's, 6100 , and 6200, 3500's, 2300's, 7300's 7104, 7106, 754, 752, and 502's. I owned a few DC 300'a's and 150a's and P2SA, and the smaller reference crown. I tried a few Krells, B&K's Yamaha, amd Marantz basic amps. Helps that you work for a dealer. I even tried a professional Yamaha, and a few QSC amps. I heard demonstrated all the early Quad Mac amps. But anything newer than 1.2K or 452 amps I haven't heard. I have heard all the 275's thru the MK V the 2301 the 601's and the 2k amps, too. But I'll stick with what I have right now. 207's and 830's and a 2505. It might be fun to try my favorite old 1201's with the XRT 28's or a restored pair of 3500's. Thats why I bought the 28's as I loved them with 1201's, but in a smaller room the 600 watts out of the 830's is more than enough and a 1201 putting out close to 1800 watt peaks could damage a pair of 28's quite easily. Just love the center imaging the XRT 28's present. there is just a smooth wall of sound between the XRT 28's and the image doesn't drift when you move your head side to side. Yes the tone balance will shift a bit but that is to be expected because of destructive interference changes with the different listening distances as you move your head. Might be fun to have a pair of XRT 30's and an XRT 29 for the front speakers of my HT system with 1201 amps. You can tell I don't like Mac speakers with metal tweeters. IK and 2K speakers drive me up the wall and 200's aren't much better.
 
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