2. amps-preamps
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Amp upgrade ?

I have a handful of amps in mind that I would like to upgrade to but I can't decide, #1,pass aleph 1s #2,Krell KSA 250 #3,Bat vk-500 #4,Sim w-5 #5,Mark lev 23.5 my current system is B&W 804 pre is audio research sp 16 cd player sony scd-1 I have heard all of these amps but in different system configurations even though some are much older than the others I think the krell and mark are still good units.
paulficarella
tabl10s's avatar
tabl10s
1,095 posts
 
The Pass and Krell will probably chase you out of the room in the summer. If you can find newer designs from both companies around the same price, I'd shoot for those as they'd last longer and(supposedly)sound better.
dave43
108 posts
 
For less than half the money, I chose the BAT VK-500 with Batpack option to drive my Thiel CS 6 speakers. I considered the ML and Krell amps, but don't think spending two or three times the money would have resulted in that much better sound. My pre-amp is an ARC SP9 Mk II.
paulficarella OP
43 posts
 
I agree the bat or the sim w-5 lae is still a very good choice both build like a tank and with the bat pack the power reserve is huge, I don't want to change my pre amp I think the sp-16 is still good I run it with a bryston 4 bst it sounds pretty good but not great, my brother has a krell ksa 100 the pure class a and it surprisingly sounds better than my bryston I have his krell right now and he has my bryston I don't want to give it back , anyway any suggestion would help thanks.
horseface's avatar
horseface
222 posts
 
I am still breaking in the Modwright SWL 9.0 Signature model (new caps). So far it's incredible, I hooked up the Levinson No. 27 (paid $1400 local) to my Aerial model 6's. I am pulling the 23.5 and have decided to bite the bullet - sending it back to Harmon for caps and anything else it needs.

If there is an amp out there for $700 that equals the No.27 I am all over it. I will check with my local used audio store in Portland (Echo Hi Fi) and see if he has anything from BAT for demo. I thought I saw something up on the shelf the last trip in. I have tried a few Krell amps over the years but not with the Modwright. I may try that for comparison as well. It's nice to have a local guy that lets you demo equipment in your house. I read a post a week or two ago that said there were issues with running a tubed linestage with certain Krell amps (FPB?) and there where jumpered caps that had to be put in-line before you could run a tube linestage. The caps caused a degraded sound. If you didnt run the caps you risked damaging the amp.

Anyone have any info on that?
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