2. amps-preamps
  3. 1071007468

Which surr/proc to go w/ Krell & Thiels?

I'm looking for advice? I have a Krell KAV-250a3 (3 ch. amp) w/ a pair of Thiel 3.6s and a Thiel MCS1 for the center. I'm looking for a multi-channel preamp processor that would give me balanced detailed sound without brightness. My price range is 2,500 to 3,500 used. Here's what I've currently looked up: Krell Showcase, B&K ref 50, Aragon Stage One, Anthem AVM-20, Lexicon D-8, Rotel RSP-1098, Arcam AV-8 and the Classe SSP-60. Have I left any out...yikes, too many choices. I'm curious about the Lexicon but there's no dealer near me. I'll most likely purchase the Marantz DV-8400 universal player for this system. I listen mainly to jazz (be-bop to fusion), rock (Joni to Zappa) and all types of 20th century music (Reich, Stravinsky, etc). Oh yeah, the back surround speakers are Merlins (2 way) with a Parasound 200 watt amp. Each are about 10 years old. I would appreciate any advice? thanks for looking...
gpahler
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
I have Krell amps and Apogee speakers, I use the Sunfire theatergrand from it's balanced outs to the Krells, not a bright bone in it's body!

Dave
glen's avatar
glen
714 posts
 
I use to run those same speakers through a Theta Casa-Nova with great results. You can run the front three channels balanced too if you'd like. Theta pre-amps are sweet and can be had for a song these days (less than 2k)

I never had any complaints with mine and would still be using one today if I hadn't upgraded to their Casa-Blanca II.

Be sure to give your Thiels lots of power. With Thiel to much ain't enough.

If you can find a pair of MCS1's with stands for the rear you'll have my old system, and oh what a system it was! I use to drive the whole thing with a Theta Dreadnaught (which I still use) no problemo!
gpahler OP
3 posts
 
Thanks for the tip on Theta Glen. Actually, I've never considered them due to price. But, I'm sure a Casablanca
would sound great! I'm curious, why did you get rid of your Thiel/Theta combination?
tombowlus
416 posts
 
I have a pair of CS3.6's, with an SCS3 center and some older AR surrounds. While my amplification is not up to your level (I have two Adcom GFA-555II's in bridged mono pumping 850w into each of the 3.6's, and an Adcom GFA-2535 feeding the center (bridged) and surrounds), I am very happy with the results that I am getting out of my Rotel RSP-1066. The store that I bought it from (Progressive Audio, in Columbus, Ohio) said that the Krell Showcase was their highest recommendation, but that if you didn't want to (or weren't able to) pay its asking price, the Rotel RSP-1066 was nearly as good for a far lower price. I would love to have all Krell in the preamp/amp department one day, but in the meantime, the Rotel/Adcom setup works well.

How do you like your Merlins with the Thiels? My AR's are nice sounding speakers, but their voicing is a good bit different than the Thiels. So far, in surround use, I haven't really noticed, but I would like to pick up an SACD player within the next year, and my guess is that the different voicings will become more apparent when I do.

Tom.
More to discover