Peachtree Nova 150 as a pre only?

I think it is great but I am also selling it so my opinions may sound crooked. As I type this I am listening to Fela Kuti and it just sounds great on the Thiel CS3.7. The KRELL is very smooth along with what I think is above average power in the bass region. It is a unit that will not give you fatigue. I do not have much prior experience with KRELL but do so with Bryston and I can tell you that it is much smoother than the Bryston, even the Cubed line.

The internal DAC on the K-300i is OK and the ROON READY integration is my favorite of all the ROON READY units I have used. I love the volume adjustment made available on the ROON client. This is done only on the NETWORK source of the internal DAC and it adjusts the analog volume control.

I am currently listening via XLR on my Gustard X26 Pro DAC and it is great with the KRELL as was the Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE tube DAC. I found that tube and Class A really went well with the KRELL. I liked these 2 DACs on the KRELL over my Benchmark DAC3B (which was also good).

I like the sound of my Benchmark stack DAC3B | HPA4 | AHB2 a little more than the KRELL. I think the BM is also smooth sounding but it has more clarity. The KRELL is more rounded. I think most would prefer the KRELL sound. 

The KRELL on the Thiel CS3.7 is a better match than the Benchmark stack. I was using the AHB2 monos in a configuration that it was not ideally suited for (or officially rated). It sounded great but the KRELL is a little bit better with a bit more bass. It seems to fit the Thiel like a glove. A perfect match actually.

I had the KRELL on my KEF LS50's for a few weeks and now replaced that with the Benchmark stack. I prefer the BM stack on the LS50's and the amount of bass was the same on both. I think the KRELL is more flexible with speaker options whereas the AHB2 needs a proper match. Once a proper match I think I would prefer the BM stack by a hair.

I am selling the KRELL because a system that I had planned to do did not materialize and I cannot use an integrated in the office with the Thiel. I need to have the preamp section away from the speakers where my rack and I am sitting. I am getting CODA separates to go into the office. I had the CODA CSiB integrated for a while and it was also a great integrated like the KRELL K-300i. Very similar sound though I think the KRELL is smoother. 

U asked a simple question and look what happened.

Yep - I have the Nova 150.
I have been using it as a preamp feeding a Crown XLS 1502 driving a pair of Magnepan LRS. The Nova 150 works just fine for me as preamp. I particularly like the Loop function on the Nova. So, for that I have an IFI Tube buffer that seems to add just the right touch to the overall sound. 

@yyzsantabarbara ,  thanks for your response.  It’s never just a simple question in this hobby, lol. Appreciate the details you provided and may be in touch via mail system with other questions about the 300i, if you don’t mind?


@dougsat ,  thank you for letting me know your experience with the Nova 150.   The loop feature slipped my mind and your use of it reminded me that is an option to think about.   My concern is the 150 falling on its face if asked to play up to the next level amplification.  But you have good resolution speakers that would have told you it didn’t work that way.  I’ve had Maggies before and they will show upstream deficiencies pretty easily.   Nice to hear someone has had success with this option via the Nova 150, it keeps things more flexible and cost conscious.