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D'agostino amplifiers: where's the beef?

So I've owned two of the classic monster Krell amplifiers from the distant past, the KSA 50 and later the KSA 250.  Both great amplifiers in their time and both collectible for those interested in that kind of stuff.  I'm generally a fan of D'agostino as a consequence.

I'm currently shopping for a new solid state amplifier to pair with potentially new speakers (Wilson or YG or Von Schweikert or Magico or Joseph - long story for another day).

 So recently while auditioning at my local dealer the system was powered by the current D'agostino M400 mono amplifiers.  While the sound was good I couldn't help but notice how TINY the $65K amplifiers were sitting on stands near the speakers.  OK they had nice metal work and were shiny but I couldn't help wonder WHY are these things so expensive?!  Later at home photo's of the insides of these amps on Google led me to wonder even more!!  The power supplies and interior construction in these things are nothing like the monster supplies and parts in the classic Krell's

Plus while the Krell's were expensive in their day (with great sound) the current D'agostino's have absurd pricing, far exceeding inflation.  

Are people spending this kind of money for fancy heat sinks?  Really?

I'd rather have an old Krell and a new Porsche Boxster or C8 Corvette for the same money.

Any one else have similar impressions?
bobbydd
cycles2
208 posts
 
@bobbydd

Couldn't agree with you more. To me it's the same issue I have with the Ayre MX-R Twenty amps, most of the weight and cost seems to be in the aluminum casing.  
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
The best sounding amplifiers have one or two tubes or transistors per channel.

No single person or company has ever been able to beat that simple equation.
rooze's avatar
rooze
640 posts
 
Consider the cost beyond the constraints of 'practical value.' Think of them as 'functional art', and as with a piece of fine wall-art or metal sculpture, attribute part of their monetary cost to aesthetic value.
To a small group of discerning owners their capacity to elicit emotional pleasure comes from the eyes as well as the ears. (Not to forget the bragging rights they afford in a capitalist society.)

droberson02
15 posts
 
"Where’s the beef?"

DDMAS-Dan-DAgostino-with-Relentless.jpeg (919×1280) (oracleoftime.com)

PS - if you’re gonna whine about price, find another hobby. These people have to run a company with specialty products. They didn’t choose the easy route by any stretch. The comments of some above are so idiotic I don’t know why they’re even members here.
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Tsunami Coming! 
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