Best sounding Krell ?

Audiofiel:

I have had a Bel Canto S300. It was nice sounding, nothing really that special. I opened her up and saw a standard ICEPower ASC200 module. Sold the S300, bought two ICEpower ASC200 modules on ebay for $69 each. So lets get this "Value" thingy right. I built my own $2500 Bel Canto S300 for less than $250. They put it in a nice chassis and made a monster profit. This is most likely your best selling Bel Canto - admit this.

Now Bel canto make some very nice stuff on the higher end (their valve amps are excellent - so I have heard).

Now the Krell. I built a KSA-50 amp and my Magnepan MGIIIa have never sounded better. Ever. Now Krell didn't slap in a pre-manufactured module and call it their own. The Krell KSA50 is not a terribly complicated amp, but it work some special magic as far as I am concerned.

Bottom line is I think you should give Krell a little more credit. I fail to believe they are a has been as you indicate.

Audiofeil,

Your a salesman. It is not beneath you to pump and dump to suit your livelihood.

It is funny that the customer is always right only when you are able to convince him to buy something you are selling. Tell me if customer after customer came in asking about Krell, you wouldn't sway your opinion?

When I want a real unbiased opinion on anything, the last person I ask is a salesman. I trust you also do the same.

I like what I like, just like many here on this forum. Bashing what I like because you can't make a dime off me really gives me caccapants.

"It isn't always "monster profits" - high quality furniture with high quality finish costs money even if a chair is still a chair when you sit on it."

Given the choice to sit in a Lawn Chair or an Eames Chair, I know what I would choose. But lets not get to crazy on your concept. I understand your point, but an amp is a bit different than a chair.

As far as audio gear, I think people first like the sound, then the looks comes second. Those that believe the opposite are most likely just passing through this hobby.

Some manufacturers, like Rowland, Pass Labs, Manley, etc manage to achieve both. Beautiful sounding gear with looks that do not disappoint.

My wife hates big speakers, until she saw my Magnepans. Come to think of it, an Eames Lounge Chair would look perfect flanked by my maggies. They looks so perfect together. Too bad at over $3000, the Eames chair would dwarf the cost of my gear.

CLASS, CLASS, CLASS, SSHHAAATTAAAPP!

Thank you.

All kidding aside boys and squirrels, I have been on this monster Class A Kick of late. Probably why I like the old Krell KSA series, Pass Alephs, and a few others. I would guess over 95% of the amps out there are Class AB, and just don't sound as sweet. Of course these Class A amps won't be winning any efficiency awards anytime soon.

Although a few AB'ers like older Naim (NAPs) stick out as very nice sounding too.