I owned the KW 500 many years ago. It was good for the money with great dynamics and bass control. It lacked the ultimate detail, transparency along with best sound staging capabilities. It was a fairly neutral amp with fairly good texture. If i remember correctly, the free phono stage is decent.
I read too much stereo magazines from asia and bought the Rowland 201s and 312. Top notch fit and finish and never get hot. Detail was slightly better than MF. Very smooth high frequencies but somewhat dull, almost like when you play a record out of phase. The class D amps require a low pass filter to negating switching noise. I suspect the filter has not been optimized in the early days and possibly introduce phase shift. Poor macro-dynamics and poor tonal saturation. It did not flush out the different textures betw varies instruments. I think these were early products base on older switching technology. I have listened to newer generation switching amps and they are better. I prefer Ayre or Boulder along the same category. Pass labs lots of value of the money.
