Vintage Krell

I owned Krell KMA 100s. They were wonderful amps. They "fried" at about 20 years of age. The semiconductors they used back then were not as temp resistant so they used a fan driven chimney set up. Fan drew air from the bottom of the amp and exhausted it on top. They warned you not to put the amps down on carpet. Anyway, Dan D'Agustino who not longer owns Krell really pissed me off on a preamp issue so I sold the amps to a fellow who thought he could fix the one that blew and given Dan's customer support philosophy I swore off his products entirely and warn others to stay away. 
My own philosophy is that a bank full of dollars is no fun. I am sure I will die with very little. My wife will get it all and she deserves every penny for putting up with me for all these years.    

I too fondly remember the KMA 100 mono blocks. Gorgeous sound and my first real entry into the hi end world in the 80s. Had to sell them when I got married, which, upon reflect was the wrong choice.....

Spinaker you made the right choice. You get a lot more money for them before they blow then after. Every last one will blow it's output stage eventually just light an incandescent light bulb. But, they were a great performing amp. They certainly opened my eyes (ears) as to what was possible with ESLs. I discovered that ESLs had no problem going real loud and being real dynamic with the right amp. 

Yeah you’re probably right, they worked great in the 18 months or so I had them though. With a pending marriage and house costs, it was just getting too costly to keep chasing the high end. From the pictures I’ve seen of the insides over the years, they look surprising basic and possibly easy to repair compared to modern complicated units stuffed with surface mount devices. Are/were critical parts hard to source...Krell only? At the prices they go for now, I still find them tempting!

I have some Vintage Krells (3). 2 of them have been recapped and serviced (KSA-200s - KST-100) I also have a KSA-250 that I have not yet gotten recapped but was checked for running operation when I bought it at a service center. These amps are the best for me with my Martin Logan ESLs and Montis. My take is that the Class A and power reserves, output transistors from them just is superior to other amps I’ve tried.

Currently I’m in love with my KSA-200s in my system. I have to say that the bias technology in the KSA-200s runs very cool, at full power or idling. I can say that the KSA-200s is one of the best out there, and the KSA-300s is even better if you have the speakers than can handle the extra power. I may some day get one of the KSA-300s for my collection. The KST-100 and the KSA-250 are the generation before the adjustable bias on the KSA-200s. They run very hot, and can heat up a room without AC. Oh, the sound though. I bought a recapped Mark Levinson No.331 and sold it and got another Krell. Mark didn’t really gel with the Martin Logans. Shame. It was the most beautiful amp I had ever seen. KSA-200s is supposed to be the most musical of all the Vintage Krells (KSA-300s too).