Klyne pre-amps, any experience out there?


I have seen and heard good things about some of the Klyne pre-amps but I don't know where to audition them. Are they worth it?

Any advice?
128x128nrchy
"pre-amps but I don't know where to audition them. Are they worth it? "

Yes.

System 7 is among the very best sounding Transistor gear out there.
System 7 Phono stage is first class.
I have only listened to a Klyne once in a nice setup with Neverostatic tube amps driving Avalon Eioldon's. A beautiful sounding system. I was impressed with my one time experience with the pre and I am very biased towards tubes.
Are " they " worth it ?

Thomasheisig has mentioned the current series. I can speak for the one before it.

The SK5A is a great-sounding preamp and usually a great buy. Like the current series 7 models, it is a (transistor) unit that tends to make you forget the tube-solid state distinction. If you have vinyl, its phono section will please you because it will adapt to any cartridge.

Stan Klyne still repairs the SK5A AFAIK, although some parts may no longer be available.
I have been a real fan of Klyne preamps since the mid-1980's, when Stan used to infrequently attend meetings of the Pacific NW Audio Society. He would sometimes bring a prototype of the next preamp that he was designing, and the quality of the internal parts and the assembly was always very impressive. All of the Klyne preamps that I've heard over the past 15+ years have been excellent, and in the right system they compete with the very best high-end SS preamps being manufactured.
I've owned several. They were always among the best I auditioned, and Stan Klyne is one of those manufacturers it is simply a pleasure to deal with.
Had one a regretted letting it go,one of the best sounding solid state pres.Goes well with Threshold amps.
I have spent nearly two years with the Klyne 7LX3.5b and I have to say that this is really a great product. I find it to be much more musical, less analytical than the Krells that I owned prior to the Klyne.

The Klyne has less of the solid state edge that certain people typically associate with non tube gear. It might be the right product for someone who is interested in more of a tube sound with less of the negetive things associated with tubes.

The focus seems to be more on the music and less on the details that make up the music, if that makes any sense. I just thought I'd upgrade this for the sake of anyone thinking about the Klyne product.
Just to balance things out, I had one for a while and didn't care much for it. And Mr. Klyne never responded to any of my emails.
I am still kicking myself for not buying the Klyne SK2A head amp when it was easily available; it was amazing what it did with vinyl. A few years ago I located one though Audiogon, and settled on a price, but the slimeball who was supposed to sell it to me reneged on the deal when he was offered more money.
I have a Klyne 7 LX/P 5.0 and like it very much. But i would like to compare it with very good tube preamps with phono stages. What do these units offer beyond a latest big Klyne? What does a Shindo, Audio Note, etc have, that a Klyne cannot show?
I have 2 Klyne SK5a, and SK5AL, and a Sonic Frontier Line 2 SE+ modded by PCX, I just had the SK5A repaired and upgraded by Dr Klyne, and had just plugged into the system a day ago. The Klynes with mods or without have the tranparency, pace, separation, and staging of a Solid State with touches of warm and sweetness in their presentation, but with a different flavour compare to tubes. It all depends on the individual taste. I enjoyed both the Klynes and the SF gears.
I have a klyne sk5 wt. phono stage . Best sounding pre amp for me.im currently looking for the Klyne 7 and maybe just maybe I’ll be done with the pre amp section? I have owned audio research ,Bryston,Audible illusions modulas.