Krell KAV-250a/3 or KAV-500?

I had a Kav-500 3-channel driving my center and rears for a couple of years...a nice little amp. I would guess that the two amps have the same sonic signature...the Kav-250 would have a good deal more, "power to spare"....you may want to consider this factor in?

The 3-channel Kav-500 has a 1 kva transformer, and is rated as 120 watts at 8 ohms load....240 watts at 4 ohm load. It's sound is highly detailed, but not, "over the top" bright (still, maybe not a good match with some tweeters)...pretty good bass too, for only a baby Krell.

Dave

I would go with more power then. The Kav-250 probably has twice the transformer size of the Kav-500...the center and mains will hit it hard, as that is where most of the sound is in movies.

I used a Ksa-250 with my Kav-500...Apogee Duettas for mains, and Apogee Centaur Minor for center, and rear duty....this was a few years back....(early multichannel SACD days).

Dave

I did hook the Kav-500 to my 4ohm Apogee Duetta Signatures while I owned it. As I stated, the Kav-500 usually drove my center, and rears...a Krell Ksa-250 drove the Duetta Signature front L+R speakers at that time.

The little Kav-500, had no problem driving the "fairly large" Apogee panels to quite hi spl's in my room. I'm not up to speed on the Thiel CS 1.5s though?

Dave

I found an old Stereophile review of your speakers, the Kav-500 will drive them with ease.

BTW...use balanced connections with Krell amps.

Dave

Donnelly asked:

"Other than power, do you think there are any differences between the KAV-250a and KAV-500?"

I don't know, my best guess would be that they sound a lot, a like. The biggest difference in sound, between amps cut from the same cloth (IMHO) is the difference between their power supply/transformer size. This would come into play (or not)...depending on the speakers used, room size, spl's required...ect. At normal listening levels (75-85db) I would expect, that the Kav amps sound similar.

The Kav-500 "does not" sound like the old Ksa-250 I had. The Ksa-250 had a relaxed tonal presentation...the Kav-500 has a more forward sound, more detailed (lots of twinkle)... I never thought it bright though. I liked mine.

As I mentioned above, though. If I had speakers with tweeters, that were "a little over the top" in the treble area of reproduction....they would now be, more so.

You could try the Kav-500?...the three channel Kav goes for around $1,300-$1,400 used...pretty easy to sell, easy to ship if you don't like it, (50 lbs or so).

I paid $1,400 for mine, sold it a couple years latter for $1,400.

Dave