Krell Amps and Pre-amps

When one gets to the Krell price range, it's all pretty much a matter of taste. For me, I prefer Krell sound to the Mark Levinson. Several of my audiophile friends are running Krell gear more than a decade old. Krell quality lasts and continues to satisfy for years. The up front cost is higher but amortized over the years of useful service, and considering the proven resale value, it doesn't cost that much more for the highest quality sound.

My question: why are you switching to mono amps as opposed to say the 5-channel Krell or 3-channel Pass Labs or the Theta Digital or BAT VK6200 configured for 5 channels?

I'm interested in what you feel you're gaining by going to monoblocks. The VK6200 really is configured as separate amps in a single chassis with each channel having its own transformer, while the Theta shares a huge transformer for the 5 channels (Theta says they've tested a version of their amp with separate transformers for each channel and the single sounded better with their design).

I see where Lev335 is comming from but I am wondering about the statement on the bass. Krell is probably the most noted for their bass and slam in the entire industry. There are many arguments on "which one is the best", and it entirely relies on the synergy of cables, etc., in the system and the room it is in. This is nothing new to anyone on this site, but I think what Simancd wants to know is weather to use mono amps or multi-chanel amps. I use a KSA-300S into B&W 801 III w/North creek crossovers and the KAV-250a/3 into a HTM center and DS-6 surrounds with awesome results. I have had this system for 4-5 years and am far from tired of the sound or sonic signature. In fact, I could not even begin to think I would be getting a marginal increase in performance unless I spend 10 times the amount. I am using PAD Proteous throughout the system except rear speakers. I hear this all the time about Krell, but that is similar to when people would sell their B&W 801 matrix speakers after only running them with Adcom, B&K, etc. amps. People very rarely knew what they had before extracting the most from it. I am not saying to not try ML or anything else, but you should know what you are after before laying out this type of money. I am not sure I agree with Lev335 on the soundstage either because mine is acurate to the recording, but as for depth that might be because Krell puts you front row and ML is like row 10. As for realistic, I have played drums for 20 years, and all percussion is very realistic to say the least. Remember I am not saying this about all the Krell gear, but for my system this is the case. I have argued with others over the FPB Krell's and in my system the FPB-300 lost the synergy for me. It was at Christmas when I switched and I felt like I got a lump of caol in my stocking. I recommend for Simancd to go for monos if money is not the concern, but for these manufacturers the stereos are considered dual monos in one chasis. I know that the monos would be the best, but for a cost$$$$$$.Listen and choose.
Buy and forget the gear.......listen to the music.

Neither Krell nor Levinson have yet gotten it right enough that I can stand listening to them, although I haven't heard the latest generation stuff yet, and they keep getting closer. Krell has always been unnaturally punchy and technicolor, and Levinson always neutral to the point of sterile and lifeless. And build quality is above average, but not where it counts. My Krell amp was the singularly most unreliable piece of gear I've ever owned, and all the 100 lbs did was to make it a pain in the ass to keep shipping back and forth across the country for repairs. My advice, sure to be pooh-poohed by many: buy Bryston and be happy, it's plenty good enough for HT use and it will never break.

The earlier Krell amps were too dry and too analytical to my taste. The later ones are much better but they also cost a lot.

If you really want mono blocks, I think a better idea is to buy two high quality two-channel amp in vertical passive biamp configuration. For example, two two-channel Theta Dreadnaughts will give you a total of 400w with an over-killed 2200w power supply on each side, for a total cost of about $7000.