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D'agostino amplifiers: where's the beef?

So I've owned two of the classic monster Krell amplifiers from the distant past, the KSA 50 and later the KSA 250.  Both great amplifiers in their time and both collectible for those interested in that kind of stuff.  I'm generally a fan of D'agostino as a consequence.

I'm currently shopping for a new solid state amplifier to pair with potentially new speakers (Wilson or YG or Von Schweikert or Magico or Joseph - long story for another day).

 So recently while auditioning at my local dealer the system was powered by the current D'agostino M400 mono amplifiers.  While the sound was good I couldn't help but notice how TINY the $65K amplifiers were sitting on stands near the speakers.  OK they had nice metal work and were shiny but I couldn't help wonder WHY are these things so expensive?!  Later at home photo's of the insides of these amps on Google led me to wonder even more!!  The power supplies and interior construction in these things are nothing like the monster supplies and parts in the classic Krell's

Plus while the Krell's were expensive in their day (with great sound) the current D'agostino's have absurd pricing, far exceeding inflation.  

Are people spending this kind of money for fancy heat sinks?  Really?

I'd rather have an old Krell and a new Porsche Boxster or C8 Corvette for the same money.

Any one else have similar impressions?
bobbydd

Showing 2 responses by decathlon1991

decathlon1991
220 posts
 
The question of the day is how does it stack up to tube amplifiers. Example;
- Audio Research Reference 250SE
- Audio Research Reference M160
- VTL Wotan
- Cary Audio CAD805 AR or RS
- Jadis various monoblock 
- McIntosh MC2301 or MC901 (Hybrid)
etc.
That’s the test of the day or what you may prefer in sound. I remembered a Stereophile article with Cary Audio CAD805 AE compared to Krell KSA-300S.
check it out. You can focus on specs or how it sound in your listening environment. The choice is yours.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/cary-audio-design-cad-805-monoblock-power-amplifier-sam-tellig-a...
decathlon1991
220 posts
 
I don’t look at it that way at all. When you’re  happy with a product, you definitely don’t have to convince anyone it is a great product. I’ve owned a lot of hi dollar gear. I’ve even owned Chord and Jeff Rowland top of the line monoblock amplifiers. That’s jewelry within itself. I just Prefer tube and that’s why I currently own Audio Research Reference 250SE. Like I said, it’s a choice. Pick what you like but never feel you have to convince one to buy a product. 
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