Congratulations on your system Dave. It seems like you are a very experienced listener and music lover. When you say "the inevitable dissapointment of hearing through the gear and pulling the curtain on the performance", are you refering to your former tube units?
Cheers, |
Well, funny you should mention Tubes...I went with Audio Research gear and sold my Evo rig...I couldn't deny the magic I heard!! |
I have not heard the latest Audio Research amps, but I have owned Krell gear since the begining. mono 100s, fpb300, fpb300cx. Each one improving on the previous. My present Krell, the EVO 402, is by far the most extrordinary of them all. Each listening experience is a unique window into the source material. I have listened to many systems and non has sounded better to me. DCS Paganini CD transport(big improvement over the Verdi), DCS Elgar plus DAC(can't believe how the Verdi held back the amazing potential of this machine)running direct into the Krell, Theil 7 speakers. Downside, This amp runs hot even in standby. but its worth it. |
Ax2cohen, my post is old...sold the tube stuff and went back to previous gen Krell. I could not warm up to the Evo sound, especially the 402 (not class A anymore). It's all great stuff however..enjoy!! |
How well does the EVO 202 mate with a variety of non-Krell solid state amplifiers? One would expect synergy between the EVO 202 and the 402 (and other EVO amps). But what about high-end non-Krell amps (and especially those with low input impedance)? |
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What are your thoughts on pairing up the Evolution 202 with 700cx and Wilson Sophias? I was using a ML 380s and sold that and was going to get a KCT but am up in the air right now. And what kind of CAST cabling do you recommend you spoke of transparent someone else I know uses Tara Labs The One in CAST. And as far as power cords the 700cx has a captive power cord and I wouldn't be using the CAST front end. |
I really do not feel that the 202 is worth the price tag, especially when one can get a used KCT for about $3500 to $4000. The KCT is more organic sounding than the 202 and just as transparent. I have owned a couple of two box reference preamps and both of them suffered from a reduction in dynamic impact, perhaps due to the umbilical cord between the units. If you feel compelled to go new i would get the 222 single box unit! Krell makes a higher caliber CAST cable now as do several other manufacturers. The differences will be marginal IMHO. Between the amp and preamp I have found that a great balanced IC delivers a more natural, weighty presentation and a leaner, thinner sound in CAST mode. When connecting the 505 to the KCT or 222 the increase in dynamic range and lowered noise floor is impressive and worth considering. I am heavily biased toward MIT Oracle products for cabling and power delivery...they are simply so musical and dynamic sounding that all other cables pale in comparison:) Hope this helps. |
Actually I theoretically own both the 222 and the 202 and didn't pay full price for either one getting a hold of 202 after the 222 thinking the 202 with it's separate power supply would be a better situation wasn't think the umbilical would be a bottle neck.
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If you already own them then judge yourself. be sure to seperate the power supply from the controller on the 222 when evaluating. |
What generation Krell gear did you go back to if you don't mind me asking and did you mean seperate the power supply from the controler on the 202 as far as the front end I'm using right now would be an older Goldmund Mimesis 39 transport and a Audio Horizens TD 3.0 Dac. |
Yes, on the 202 seperate the power supply. I like the FPB stuff better, 400cx and KCT and SACD standard V3. |
What are your thoughts on pairing up the krell kps 25sc with Evolution 402 and purist dominus xlr ic ? |
Should be a nice match. The biggest problem with the 402 is finding a power cord that works well with it...what PC's are you using with the Krell gear? |
now i using the Shunyata Anaconda VX Alpha with krell kps 25sc and Mit oracle ac1 with krell 400cx (UPGRADED Furutech IEC's) |
Good stuff..may want to try cast in your situation just for yucks vs Purist. I found that source to amp cast connections can be advantagious in some situations, plus you may save a few bucks. |
Did you tried it in loud volume? The amp enter in A/B operation and the magic goes away. I think krell shoul get back to pure class A. |
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The FBP series like my FPB750MCX's have a captive 10 gauge power cord. In talking with Dan I think he prefers the captive cord? I get the sense the cable companies put a lot of pressure on him with the cast and captive cords? Personally the less connections and different types of metal in the cable the better!
Rob |
I'm not sure I agree with that. I have watched the bias level go up in the steps as the volume goes up and it is a steady draw way above the level of the music as advertised. Pushing early MBL which take gobs of power I do not here anything collapsing as you describe or any magic lost? I think you have a wall power problem if that is the case? Idealy the amps should be hooked up at 220 volts with 30 amp mains or 20 as a minimum otherwise you are just chocking them.
Rob |