which integrated amp is better

[markdi]

bel canto s 300I

Harmon kardon hk 990

krell kav 300I

a friend has al three abd I can buy one

I will be powering a set of large 4 ohm speakers

I like it loud

keeping it short

thank you

 

[darkblue94]

bel canto s 300I

Harmon kardon hk 990

krell kav 300I

a friend has al three abd I can buy one

I will be powering a set of large 4 ohm speakers

I like it loud

keeping it short

thank you

Listen to all three, pick one, buy it. Doesn't get any simpler than that.

 

[ferninando]

ditto

 

[Hyfi]

The rest of the suggestions are spot on.

The HK is decent, but I would guess that the Krell and Bel Canto are a bit more refined and robust. You also have to like the signature sound also.

 

[Mamrak1]

One caveat. If you are thinking about the Bel Canto, listen carefully. The older class D amps were not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[hifitommy]

+3 on the below canto.

 

[markdi]

I have a technics su v9

it is rated at less power than the krell or hk

but it has a bigger power supply

the bel canto has a lot of positive reviews

b@o ice power

the krell has a single 400v/a transformer
my su v9 has double that but it is 37 years old
never been to a repair shop

I remember when I was 37 ha ha

thank you

 

[darkblue94]

Specs are great, no doubt, but the actual sound can't be gleaned solely based on them.

 

[Lavane]

Listen to all three. Its as simple as that. Specs aint everything.

 

[Carraway]

Have them brought over.
Hear them from favorite chair.
Choose which drives passions.

(That's probably not helpful, but it is a Haiku.)

 

[darkblue94]

Paraphrasing a recent column in Stereophile magazine: Not everything that can be measured is important and conversely, not every that is important can be measured.

 

[hifitommy]

I will suppose that anything can be measured if you knew WHAT to measure and HOW to measure it.

Still, there will always be those elusive things.

 

[blownsi]

I'd take the Krell

 

[darkblue94]

I will suppose that anything can be measured if you knew WHAT to measure and HOW to measure it.

Still, there will always be those elusive things.

The second sentence contradicts the first sentence. Elusive ? Yes, like how a thing actually sounds eludes measurement much to the chagrin of those who fixate on numbers.

 

[hifitommy]

No contradiction at all. Objectivists always default to measurements but when actually, everything cannot be measured such as imaging and soundstaging. There are many others as well which brings up the sound of wire and cables, etc.