2. amps-preamps
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How Old is Old when considering an Amp? Krell, Bry

Greetings folks. I posted earlier in the week about wanting upgrading my system with a more musical and powerful amp. Heard a Krell system a few years back and really dug it!!! Came accross this KSA 150 and thought it looked inticing. It is my understanding that this unit could have been manufactured from 91-94 ish? How old is this in Class A Amp. years? Is there a point where all good amps must reasonably perish?

Also am curious about any used amp in the 1.5 - 2k range. How's Classe CA 200, Bryston, Plinius? Don't know much about high-end yet but am anxious to learn.

current system:
power plant: PS Audio PS-600
pre-amp: Audio Research LS3
cd: Naim CD5i
amp: Rotel RB 981 {120 wpc} weakest link!
speakers: Paradigm Studio 100's V3.
speaker cables: Transparent "The Wave"
interconnects: Interlink "The Link" 200
timtopper
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Mapleleafs3

Something tells me your not very good at building stereo systems...HeHeHe

The Ksa-150/250's are around $400 for Krell to rebuild to spec..shipping another couple hundred. 15 years is a long life for these two amps...my Ksa-250 went out at 12 years. The Ksa-150 does not run as hot as the 250 so my last longer?

Dave
jameswei
883 posts
 
I am fond of quoting Nelson Pass from my Aleph 3 owner's manual. This oft excerpted comment might be of interest:

...single ended Class A operation is the least efficient operating mode. In fifteen years the electrolytic power supply capacitors will get old. Depending on usage, you will begin to have semiconductor and other failures between 10 and 50 years after date of manufacture. Later, the sun will cool to a white dwarf, and after that the universe will experience heat death.
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
As noted above, amps that run hot tend to fail sooner, due to the degradation of the capacitors, etc. I have no direct experience with Krell, but am familiar with Classe, and currently own Bryston gear. Bryston amps tend to operate at a moderately warm state, although like any amp they do heat up more when they are driven hard. However, my two Bryston amps have never gotten so hot they are uncomfortable to touch.

Bryston's 20-year unconditional and transferrable warranty sets the standard for the industry, and their customer service is outstanding. They even pay the return shipping charge after the repair is completed.

IMO, their current "SST" line of amps will compete with just about any amp costing up to twice as much, and they hold their resale value very well.
joeylawn36111
574 posts
 
Jameswei - LOL about the Sun - but it will actually expand into a red giant swallowing the first 4 planets about 5G years from now....but back to the subject....Electrolytics all dry out eventually - the first sign is Hum caused by inadequate filtering - old ones can also leak, causing a black residue around the bad capacitor.
accent
41 posts
 
I too have been on the upgrade path as many magical units from the past have become available second-hand.
My latest foray has been with 2 ML-9's both of which have been serviced in the last 6 mo. Yes they do age and will require service,even if you hear only sonic nirvana. To those that heard it new it sounds like POOH-POOH .
When your spending those kind of bucks you have to keep that in mind. I also thought about that Krell,but think i'll be very happy with my RESTORED ML-9's biamped.
Accent
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