I was a Krell aficionado for years, well maintaining a KSA 300s and KRC HR recapping them every 5 years. On my last recap schedule my Krell dealer provided me with a Burmester 032 integrated amplifier a customer of his was selling as a loaner until service was completed Within 15 minutes of him leaving with my Krells, I was on the phone with him saying he was not getting the Burmester back, negotiating a deal for him to keep the Krells and for me to purchase the Burmester. Gone was the dark, heavy Krell signature sound. It was replaced with a clarity I never experienced before. That clarity was achieved with an a tube like midrange and treble but without tube like thickness. Compared to tubes I have experience with and with my old Krells, there was improved speed, transient response, leading edge, micro & macro dynamics, imaging and soundstage. Of particular note was improved retrieval of secondary harmonics, decay, and ambience retrieval similar to good tubes I have heard such as AR, but in a SS platform. i did not loose anything in bass response even though I went from 300 to 105 WPC into 8 ohms. My speakers are not that efficient (87db) but there is no issue in driving them. There are not many pro reviews on the 032 but the 911 power amp is well reviewed and describes the Burmester sound as I have described. It has all the inputs anyone will need. I do not know your budget. It is expensive. A used 032 will run $10 to $12k. New is $25k. If you can afford new, it is not a good buy unless you get a discount. A new model, the 232 is coming out with integrated DAC/Streamer. Other good integrated include offerings for Bolder, CH Precision, D’Augostino. Todays top of the line integrateds are more than competitive and perhaps equal or better to separates.
