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Krell Amps vs others

My question relates to the powering of speakers that can handle large power loads. Krell is often mentioned as quite good at pushing these type of speakers (ie Dynaudio). What other companies make equally powerful class A amps wih high output into 4 Ohm speakers. My sense is that my Dynaudio Contour 3.3 can take a heavy power load, even more than the 450wpc into 4 ohms they are currently getting from y existing amp.
pettyfeversk
jcbtubes
400 posts
 
Check out Edge and Boulder, as well. These also offer a variable bias approach, somewhat akin to Krell, but implemented differently if I'm not mistaken. Class A operation is maintained by ensuring the bias point is high enough relative to the signal level to prevent signal distortion or class AB operation. This greatly improves amplifier efficiency, but at what sonic cost? None? A little? A lot? Listen for yourself and decide. Good luck.
gregm
3,408 posts
 
As above, regarding "clas A" & how much of it we really get.

Other than Bear's Symphony1, another amp that runs in A for a long time is the Symphonic Line Kraft 250 (stereo & monos: the latter offer ~250 A instantaneous @ peaks). BUT, like Bear's amp, they are huge and heavy (+150pds each), and UNLIKE Bear's amp, they are ugly. But they produce prodigious bass and natural harmonics in the upper end...
piet
31 posts
 
Why am I missing the 'older' Levinson gear here?
IMHO, the 20.6s still rock ....
jffyg
53 posts
 
You might also consider the sunfire amps, not exactly class A but what the hell. I have heard nothing but good things about Pass, but I have heard some krell KSA's and they are amazing. Also though not class A, what about the big Bryston amps 7Bsst? A great amp and more affordable also reliable! Since you are asking about class A amps have you experinced the Heat generated by true class A devices? It is something to consider. On the nelson pass website he claims something like for a true class A device you should expect an amp to weigh something like 2 pound for every watt of power that is very heavy and I know of two people granted they are in thier 50's that have damaged thier backs moving large amps(no joke!). Good luck!

Jeff
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
I run a krell Ksa250 0n my large power hungry speakers. jffyg is right on the money regarding weight and heat of class a high power amps. My amp is 150 lbs. and runs very warm to the touch. My book states that it can put out 2000 watts into 1 ohm load. I think that ware all these big super power amps really shine on large power hungry speakers is at low volume listening. They sound just as good at two or three watts as they do at hundreds of watts.
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