Krell Amps/preamp listeing levels -- room size


What are some of your experiences using Krell electronics -- size of amps (Watts), type of speakers, room size and listening at say average volume of 75 - 85 db. What are some of the best combos out there and why. Remember listening @ 75 db avg whether its a 100watt amp or a 900 watt amp or a 30 x 40 ft room or a 12 x 15 ft room, rock classical, anything avg 75 to 85 dbs.
Lets talk people! no ifs -- list your stuff and tell us why. Old stuff and new stuff. Have some fun. Keep it simple and to the point.

KPS-28C, FBP-200C, KCT, Krell Lat-2s
Sounds nice and full at around 60 db and above (higher the better) I have never maxed out my amp! Low level listening is not the greatest -- sounds thin! (KCT volume knob (0 to 150) -- 25 is good -- 55 is loud -- 80db to 90+ db) (Room size 15 x 20)
scoutdog

Showing 3 responses by rminsf

Well, Scoutdog you saw my other post. All of my speakers like to get loud and sound best that way,wasn't my intension just like the MBL's and B&W 801N's and they all like to rock. The issues with the speakers in my fairly large room are different, the MBL's are only 78db efficient and need a lot of amperage to bend those reeds, the B&W's are like 90 db efficient but they dip to like 2.5 ohms or something in the bass. My comment about the FPB 350mc running out of steam( about 475-485 watts@8 ohms or about 900 actually into 4 ohms) is all about cranking up the MBL's to over 100+db. At this point they will start to compress some but do I want to go any louder...No. My new room/ new house is pretty big like 25 by 40, I have not set up the MBL's yet just have the 801's in there, 801N are not a speaker for low listening levels, it does take some volume for them to wake up.

Not to be a jerk or anything, hopefully I can be helpful here. The Krell FPB amps, I don't know what it is about the 200 and 250 amps but they do not share the same sound quality with the larger amps. When the 250 is upgraded to the "x" stays and gets it's 350 status (same identical output really) they do sound better. But not as goos as the original 350 or "x" version the 450. Another thing to consider, the stereo 650 or700 are bridged amps and do not have the same sound to me anyway as the Mono amps. I own both Mono and Stereo FPB's and the Mono amps are really a lot better. At theMono amps sound stage is much better, wider deeper and so on. The FPB 650-750 both put out about 950 watts or better into 8 ohms, there is no increase in power with the 750, they are equal to the few EVO 900 at least in power. The larger mono amps generally do sound better than the smaller amps, more robust output stage and huge power supply. I know many exaggerate a lot on here but the mono amps is where it's at. The most lovable amp to me is the FPB 350m, the 350 mc and the best is the 450mcX all of which are the same amp with improved circuits. That is love, the best sounding without a doubt is the FPB 750mcX, very comparable to the EVO 900. Wonderful like from god himself bass, great lifelike midrange and a great treble too. I don't know of any amp better than these in the bass, at 5 watts or 500. I swear those big guns could push bass out of a horn tweeter if they had to, lol.

Just my 2 cents, iPads are not good on long emails...
Rob

Rob
Ronnie,
Thank you for the kind words. Sorry everyone for the spelling, it was very late at night and my iPad kept changing my wording. Too bad the iPad spelling correction does not learn.

I'm thinking seriously about picking up a pair of Sophia 2's but not sure yet? Anyone have any opinions on them?

Rob
Richard,

you obviously like the Krells my suggestion would be give a MONO pair a try, trust me you will love it. You will hear the difference right away, the sound-stage will open up more, a lot more depth and height too. I would just try the modrange or high end FPB MONO's.
FPB250M, FPB250MC, FPB350MCX = Same amp, low series, sounds ok...
FPB350M, FPB350MC, FPB450MCX = Same Amp, mid series, sounds Excellent, Love these amps!
FPB650M, FPB650MC, FPB750MCX = Same amps, top of the range, Sounds even better!

I did just order a set of FPB 750MCX's but honestly I really love the FPB350M series they sound fantastic. I was very surprised when I first played them and removed my FPB stereo amp, its a big difference, you wont regret it.

I have no idea what that gentleman is chatting about with the integrated and loudness button? I don't think an FBI has a loudness button? To me, every Krell I have heard plays just as well at low levels as it does at high levels, very little difference, these are high bandwidth, constant voltage source amps. I think speakers make a bigger difference on that subject?

Let us know what you decide?

Rob