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Focal’s heart grew three sizes that day

Picked up what I consider a deal on a Krell KSA200s a few days ago. I’ve never heard an amp be able to totally dominate a speaker like this! My low brow Focal 836w are not known for bass exactly. The definition and slam with this Krell is just crazy. Highs are super smooth and mids are tubeish. It just sounds like a much more substantial speaker. Great beast of an amp. My ears are normally uncomfortable at low 90 spl measured via iphone. I’m at 95-96 with no ear fatigue and doesn’t sound that loud. Guess my point is even an efficient ish speaker can benefit from some crazy warm clean power and these Focals even sound great with 50watt tubes. Obviously not at these high levels. 

mofojo
erik_squires
16,057 posts
 

Hey, this is kind of a pet peeve of mine so I'll try to be nice. :)

I'm very glad you found what you like! To start, but Focals are a bad example.  I've actually gotten into the guts of some of them and they tend to have low impedance in the 80-100Hz ranges, despite the relative high sensitivity by 1 kHz.

You are absolutely benefiting from a high current amplifier, but it's not a sign that any speaker can benefit from more rated watts.  Focals are in fact unusually demanding of an amp.

mofojo OP
2,291 posts
 

Also my B&W 801 Matrix V.2 were come to life. Although it kind of brought out the fact they probably need to have the crossovers changed out as they get kinda hard and lost at higher volumes. 

I know I know it’s another bitch to drive speaker. 

jeffseight's avatar
jeffseight
574 posts
 

What was the old amp?

 

dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 

I drive my Cornwall IV’s with a Krell K-300i Class A integrated to great effect!

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