Levinson or Krell

I have heard your speakers with a Krell FPB 200, ARC VT 200s and Reference 300 Mk IIs, VTL 150s and Lamm ML1s. Quite frankly, any of these will give you a lot of musical enjoyment; I thought the Krell to be too analytical for my tastes, but I'm a tube lover so you should recognize my bias (I thought the Lamms and ARC 300s were the best with them, FWIW). Given your preamp, the Levinsons might be a better choice than the Krells, simply for the synergy of the same manufacturer's sound. However, if you liked the way the Krells reproduced the bass with the Watt/Puppies and that was what you liked best about them, I'd say go with the Krells, because none of the amps I've heard seem to be able to control bass as well as the big Krells do (others may reproduce a fuller bass, but not have that absolute control over the speaker in the deep bass).

IMHO the Wilsons sound more like live music with Krell. The Levinson doesn't seem to have the speed and dynamics that the Krell provides. Just my opinion. You should be able to audition both with out to much effort. At these prices, I'd listen to a lot of alternatives as well. I haven't heard the Wilsons with as many other electronics as the previous posts. Though I haven't heard the Wilsons with them, I have always liked the Pass gear!

People who say that the new Krell amps are not musical and are fatiguing haven't listened to them. They are some of the best sounding amps I have ever heard and I have heard and owned almost everything from OTL tube amps, Audio Research tube and solid state, Conrad Johnson, VTL, BAT, Levinson, McIntosh and many more I can't begin to list. And in addition they will drive any speaker out there to it's fullest potential.

I went down the same route I think levinson is warmer and smoother than krell but krell is straight forward, super fast and very revealing and very much so with watt puppys. I ended up with linn klimax solos they split the difference so well speed of krell and detail and warmth of levinson. You cant go wrong with either of your choices it depends on your stlye of music, your associated equipment and what (sound) you are looking for. good luck

Seems like the consepts of amplifier design is into a phase
where it is developing rapidly.Perhapes both the current
models from Krell and Levinson will be overtrawn by some
cleverly designed digital amps. An exampel: the German
magazin Stereoplay reviewed( in their current issue)a pair of monoblocks called Audio Physic Strada, and they ranked
it above their former reference, which was Krell FPB 650 M.
I´m sceptical to ranking systems, but the Krell amp got
59 points and the Stradas 60 points.
The Strada monoblocks seems to use some innovative curcuits,
and are not based on the "usual" Tripath moduls.
They deliver 270 W into 8 ohms and will cost about 15000 Euro/pair.
Krell or Levinson? Well, I will take my time and explore
the alternatives.
Seems to me, that we are a long way still from the perfect
amp.Heard the Wilson Watt Puppy 6´s driven by Pass X 350´s
in someone´s home, and then shortly afterwards some live music,of different sorts. There is a difference, you know.