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Krell FPB 400CX, Bel Canto Ref1000 MkII

Hey Guys,

I just got a new pair of Revel Gems and was wondering what amp you thought would be a better choice in my system. I have a placette passive linestage, wadia 7 transport going into a levinson 30.5 DAC and hopefully a nice turntable soon, oh and a Revel B15 sub. I know these amps are pretty different Krell is huge class A and the Bel Cantos are tiny(in size not power) class D.

Any thoughts would be great.

Thanks
chauncey
simontju
257 posts
 
Bel Canto Ref1000 MkII is simply outstanding amplifier. At $6k/pr it provide unbeatable performance.

I don't like Placette passive preaamp, I owned it and it does not have enough dynamic range and bass extension as compared to excellent active preamplifier.

Thank you
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
15lbs...wow, that Bel Canto stuff must use pixie dust instead of real parts I guess.
kiwi_1282001
312 posts
 
03-14-09: Dave_b
15lbs...wow, that Bel Canto stuff must use pixie dust instead of real parts I guess.

15lbs? I don't suppose it helps to remind you that two of them are required?

Are you suggesting there is a causal relationship between weight and sonic performance?

Perhaps there is relationship - i mean your Krell 400xi only weighs 30lbs - right?
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
32lbs my Krell is..200w/ch into 8ohms it will do! $2k it cost me Hmmmmm. 500 into 8ohms and 1000 into 4ohms would seem to defy credibility given it's relatively demure stature:O) Any way, I thought it sounded soft on top, quick and punchy but lacking real solidity and dense images. It is an alternative however given the price of power these days, but I'll take my krell or Musical Fidelity or any number of other brands over Bel canto.
simontju
257 posts
 
"32lbs my Krell is..200w/ch into 8ohms it will do"

...for you, I am sure and its good. For many of us such light weight means nothing bad but absense of heave heatsinks and heavy transformers. This obviously imply on the diminished concern with heat generation and identifies this (very good) amp as being heavily biased in class B.

You have excellent price per performance ratio here. However, its not class A Krell amplifier we all know.

Regarding the light weight of Bel Canto - again there is no concern about heat generation - but only because this class D amplfifier is highly efficient and less then 20% of its power converted to heat.

Next, it does not have heavy transformers simly because its power supplies are switching. May be they are good or may be bad - you can argue from morning tull evening - in either case they are...light.

You would be much better off by doing sonic comparison in these audio amplfiers

Thank you
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