Help with Krell KSA 50-S versus Krell KSA 200-S



KSA 50-S versus Krell KSA 200-S likes and differences??

Hi
I ownd a little Krell KSA 50-S years ago back in the nineties
I ran it with a Krell KRC-3 preamps into Totem model 1 speakers
the sound was really very good, sounded like a tube amp
and even though the amp was touted as no bass, there still
seemd to be quite a bit, at least with those speakers anyway
My reason for writing is:
I have no system currently but want to purcahse a system again and was very happy with this sound , was thinking of searching for a used Krell KSA 50-S, I have already forund a mint KRC-3 preamp. I had heard that the KSA 100-S was un kind of unremarkable, but wanted to ask any Krell guys (or gals) with experience if the larger Krell 200-S at all mimicked the sound of the Krell KSA 50-S, with the sweetness of tubes in the midrange and large dynamic floor and depth, or is the Krell KSA 200-S like a completely different animal, i.e., more solid state sounding, with virtues of its own.
dustbowl
I had a 50s and it was absolutely a great little amp. I sold it because I didn't need a ss stereo amp, but that was likely a mistake. IIRC, when I was shopping, the dealer (Sound by Singer) demoed the 50s vs one of the bigger Krells (may or not have been the 200s) and we both agreed that the 50 sounded significantly better.

Long time ago, so take it FWIW.

Good Luck

Marty
As a general matter with amps, it has been my experience that the lower powered amplifiers in a manufacturer's line sound better to me, except in the case where you're driving a speaker that needs more power or current. Maybe it has to do with the signal passing through less amplifying devices? In the case of Krells I owned, my old KSA 50 MkII was the sweetest sounding one I owned, beating out the KSA 80 I owned and all the higher powered ones I listened to at the time at my dealer's. And having heard the Krell 50S and 200S, on the same speakers, I felt the 200S to be probably more neutral but clinical, pretty unremarkable really, while the 50S seemed to have a little sweeter character and seemed less fatiguing to listen to (keep in mind that I am now a tube guy, and it may well be that the 200 was a far more accurate amplifier, but I seem to like a little coloration from time to time). But neither my KSA 50 nor the 50S could drive the Duntech Sovereigns nearly as well as the big KMA or KRS200 monoblocs, as the less powerful amplifiers could not control the woofers nearly as well nor provide the dynamic headroom that the Sovereigns could deliver. So I think that the answer to your question of which amp to choose will hinge on the speakers you choose--if you like the sound of the KSA 50S, try to get a speaker that matches the characteristics of the Totems you owned.