I think that the next amp amp’s I buy will be krell amps… just wondering if anyone else has any of these? Any model..

Ok, not trying to sound offensive but... why?

There are so many amps that do the same thing at less than one third of the price. Rotel, Adcom, Parasound, Bryston(well, they're up there, but nowhere near Krell).

Most of the guys here'll tell you all well designed amps sound the same when driven within their respective limits, so I wouldn't think anyone here has a Krell amp. I agree with this. I believe that any electronic part of audio equipment can be measured. When you look at frequency response, THD, damping factor, and other statistics, Krell is the same as any other well designed amp.

Even if you want to blow a lot of money on an amp - I'd suggest you go for a $4000 Bryston over a $10,000 Krell. Spend the rest of the money on a nice dual sub setup or something, it'd be a much more noticeable difference.

Amen brotha!

After that MtnBk/MarkB thread, people are saying what they REALLY think around here.

Dakkon, feel free to spend your money as you like. Just keep in mind that with the Krell amps -- as with other amps in the high-end circle -- you pay a significant mark-up for the nameplate alone.

Repeat after me: diminishing returns, diminishing returns, diminishing returns. Now, rinse and repeat.

Not here.Rotel RB1080.

You know I have owned a ton of stuff but never a Krell. They have always been so out of reach price wise for me. I also have a hard time with how there 150w amp for example is $3000.00 or $4000.00 when a Parasound can be had for $1000.00 with the same power and almost the same specs. I'm just not sure I see what the Krell would do any better then say a Bryston or the big 380 a side Rotel etc.

I would still love to have one just to give it a good work out and see what the fuss is all about. If you get one, please post back on what you think.

I’ve installed them. They truly are a beautiful looking piece of equipment. However, I just couldn't notice a difference in sound compared to the less expensive equipment that’s available. Although, I didn't have the luxury to sit back and do some critical listening.
For the money, you could buy 3 ATI amps or 6 Outlaw amps (for example) and I think you and most everyone here would be very happy.

Most people that own Krell are in a completely different equipment class than Axiom owners. They have Wilson speakers or Krell, they don’t mind spending a fortune on cable and the average Krell owner spends about 60k or more on an average system.

I’m a “Hi-End” home automation professional. I mainly do the I.T. stuff however; I do get to get involved with the audio gear when the guy’s get busy. I’ve seen plenty of krell installs.

While I have to agree with all the other comments I would also like to add the following:

You only go around once, if you want them and can easily afford them then just buy them. Enjoy them and don't justify your decision to anyone .

Your Onkyo will be worth $20 in 5 years. The Krell can be sold for a couple of thou...
My Bryston is worth $1000 even after 15 years.


Dakkon:
I know someone who has a Krell FPB around $9000 and Bryston 14B $7000 and Cary V12 $4250. And he found the Bryston to be the most dynamic...he conducted a test using some equipment SPL, some other computer program with level recording...etc.etc... and he found the Bryston to have better dynamics and higher headroom in stadium sound levels. He uses his 14B for his main system and is selling both his Krell and Cary.

If you can snag a Krell at a price you are comfortable then by all means.

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There are so many amps that do the same thing at less than one third of the price. Rotel, Adcom, Parasound, Bryston(well, they're up there, but nowhere near Krell).

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As with the general consensus going with power is power I had first hand comparisons with a Rotel receiver vs my Bryston. With the help of my almost perfect hearing fiance and another 3-4 friends they all agree my my Bryston separate sounds better than the Rotel receiver power. I was also able to compare my dad's cheaper Exposure 80w amp vs my old $3000 Rotel receiver and the Exposure sounded much cleaner with more detail. With respect to my findings I do not think all amps are created equal. And it also doesn't mean that more expensive amps can necessarily sound better than a less expensive amp.

My opinions are totally based on price, not the quality of the amp. If I could afford or justify the price, then you bet Krell or Bryston would be on my list. If I had that amount of cash I probably would buy what I wanted and never look back, why not.

I have to admit that my home theater would cost more than an average mid income type house if I had the cash maybe more. It sure would be fun ..... I would become a junkie, no doubt.

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I would become a junkie, no doubt.

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You aready are.

Hey tleigh;

My opinion is not to attack anyone in particular but just giving some facts and finding. Although Krell are expensive they hold some value over time not like some mass market products. All Krells that are in decent shape will resell...clearly seen in Audiogon.
The Bryston although may have cost $3500 originally but how many amps/receivers has one gone through in the past 15 years and still sound as good as day 1 on the Bryston. The Bryston has been serviced 3 times with minor issues such as upgrading speaker wire terminals with the new version...updating the power switch because of wear and tear in the past 15 years. And all this is included in the 20 year warrantee service and transferable to the upteenth owner.
Currently I choose to forgo a car being a Toronto (excellent transit system) downtowner which has freed up some cashflow for my hobbies such as snowboarding, mountain biking and obviously my sickness in audio and video.

cheers

Saturn,

I totally agree I don't feel attacked in any way. You are correct about resale. I never looked at the resale angle before but now that you mentioned it, I see your point.

Like I said before, if I could afford it I would definitely consider that league of equipment.

Tom

Yes, I'm a junkie. Hey does audio have Audio Anonymous? I made the first step in admitting I have a problem….

i was thinking about getting the krell, like saturn said, it will last for ever, i currently have a marantz mm9000 and it is a very nice amp.. but, i have expensive taste.... its a downfall... kind of like neverhappy, i buy, and sell stuff all the time.. right now, i live in 1 room,(I'm in the military) and have 2 home theater set ups... a tv i never use, and a projector i use almost every day... and i already have a dual sub set up, for the person that brought that up... the build quality of the more expensive gear, is infinitely better than the mass produced stuff, hence will last much longer… and it is actually worth spending the money to get repaired, vice just buying a new piece of equipment, a receiver I would never spend that kind of money on, because receiver technology is always changing, adding new features ect. But with an amp, hell, a good amp now, will be a good amp in 10-20 years… its just all about the electrical engineering that goes in to the equipment, and how close of tolerances of capacitors, resistors and transistors they use, the mass produced stuff, will use components of +/- 20% where the krell, ect, use +/- 5%, and that makes a big difference… and that is why the hold their value…


I would buy pre-owned unit/units.


Thanks for the replies guys, didn’t think this many people would be on, on the weekend.

While I have heard Krells, it was so long ago that I hesitated in replying.

I think that based on your plans (HT, music only) that you could also include a number of other, highly respected amps along with some of the ones already mentioned. Of all that are mentioned in the thread, the Bryston would be my choice. However, also look at Vecteur, YBA, SIMaudio, Linn, Classe, Rowland, Meridian, Counterpoint, Rogue Audio, Naim, Roksan, Theta, - but all of these mfg'ers have products that span the range of prices.

You could spend a great deal of time searching for better, but the above list would yield a great amp. The first 3 names on the above list, along with Bryston would be the first ones I would recommend.

Your analogy of mass market versus more expensive gear is for the most part correct. However, there are those companies that cost more and deliver less. Having engineered many products, it is amazing to see the cheap components included in gear - and not just mass market or cheaper junk! Some of this can cause performance problems, some do not. Some is measurable, some is not. Typically, a company that can and does use better equipment will need to charge more, while a price point mfg'er will need to be more efficient with the choices it makes on the internals of the products.

Oh, BTW, I recently heard a low cost speaker that I thought was very good - iliad, or something of that similar name.

YMMV.......