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Big Krells Have Vanished From The Used Market

Once upon a time several years ago, you could always find several of the big Krells for sale on Audiogon.  I'm talking the 500-750 wpc big irons.  Now since Krell no longer makes anything bigger than 500 wpc, anyone with the 600, 700, 900 wpc amps are holding on to them because there's nothing new by Krell to replace them with.
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frankgarufi
4 posts
 

I had  a pair of MDA-300 amps that I bought new around 1990.  They ran very warm, but never too hot to touch.  They were recapped by Krell in 2005 and again in late 2016.  They delivered very good sound and for over 25 years, I saw no need for any  amplifier change.  Following the latest recap, I decided that the resale value of my  amps was at its max and I explored replacements. 

I considered PS Audio BHK Signature monoblocks but didn't like the tubes; I liked the long Bryston warranty, but there were no local dealers for an audition; The Macintosh MC-475 sounded very nice at my local dealer but they seemed reluctant to  let me borrow their demo for a weekend audition in my system, so it was scratched from my list.

I brought my local  Krell dealer's DUO-300 home for a weekend trial.  It delivered wonderful midrange and didn't exhibit the occasional higher frequency harshness that older Krell amps can  have.  Unfortunately the Duo-300 bottom end wasn't as fast and solid as the old amps. I spoke to my dealer and to Krell.  They made a pair of Solo 575's available for me to try in my system.  These new amps delivered the taught bottom end that the old amps delivered with a bigger midrange and the smooth high frequencies that I wanted.  After 3 or 4 hours driving my Legacy Focus SE's as loud as I want them, the top of the new amps is not even warm to the touch and the fans do not appear to  be running. The Solo 575's cost more than I had wanted to spend, but I bought them.  It's been a few weeks, and I am still happy with this decision.

Hopefully the new amps will provide me with many years of reliable service.  The new owner of my older amps has told me how pleased he is with them.  I believe that he will also get many years of reliable service from them.

Later this year, I may bring home an Illusion II  preamp to see how it compares to my recently  recapped KRC-3.  I'll be very surprised if it offers enough improvement to justify the cost. 

herndonb
124 posts
 
<Krell dealer disclaimer>
Those who miss big Krells haven't heard the Solo 575 mono.  frankgarufi is correct.  The Solo 575 monos deliver it all, detail, speed, precision from top to bottom, and an enormous soundstage.  When the Solo 575 monos became available, I compared them extensively to my demo pair of EV900e mono blocks.  Yes the Solo 575s are half the price, and almost a third the weight, but they were immediately less harsh, less smeared, and the bass was much tighter and less "one-notey".  The soundstage doubled in width and 50% in depth too.  The Solo 575 mono is the best sounding Krell amp to date.  Those who haven't heard them are in for a treat.  They deliver over 600W into 8 ohms and over 900W into 4 ohms.  While they don't double their output at every halving of impedance, they sound SO much better.  Give them a listen.  :-)    
chris59's avatar
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chris59
5 posts
 
The last "big" Krell amplifier that I owned was
the MRA. I had four and Dan told me that I was
the only person in the world with 4 monoblocs.
I eventually returned to tubes--(4) VTL Wotans.
As to where did all the big Krell amps go, my guess is Asia.
Fabio, the model, has an impressive collection.
He never sold when he upgraded! 
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Tubejuckie64, I already had 10 gauge copper wire in attic that I installed,  I installed the whole package myself,  krell told me to do all this to run alot cooler and sound better,  I complained about running hot with 20 amp breaker,  talking about money well spent,  the 20 amp breaker was chocking the life out of the amplifier literally!, this a very substantial up grade,  I couldn't believe it,  like a component change ,😎
beyond1000
2 posts
 
Those MRAs had to be the most impressive amps ever put out.  Huge but awesome.  Personally don't care about class D although they are better than class A or A/B for guys with bad backs.  
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