Which Pre-amp. match with Krell KSA 200S Pow. Amp?


Dear all,
I had Krell KSA 200s Pow. Amp and B&W 804s, I find pre-amp for this package. So could you pls help me which pre-amp macth with this package?
Thanks
offline69
This pre-amp will work well.
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1284234779&/Krell-KCT-krell-current-tunnel
Krells sound pretty good with almost anything. They are just great amp!!

I would suggest the Cary's, Rogue's, or Shindo, or Manley's.
Check the output impedance if going with a tube preamp. IE: I found McIntosh C2200 a poor match for my FPB600. No bass, dynamics ... just flat and boring.
IMHO, the KSA-Xs series was anything but bright. If anything, these amps shaded very slightly darkish to my ear. I owned a KSA 50s and auditioned the bigger models extensively, and I might have sensed very slightly closed, diminished treble. It's true that these tended amps also toward powerful deep bass and that they could be a little lean thru the mid-bass. The net impression for me was slightly "thin" or "analytical", but overall pretty darn neutral and definitely not bright.

So, for a matching pre:

I'd agree that the balanced output is a good idea and also agree that tubes work well. I used a SF Line 3 with real success and ARC LS-25 (leaner sounding, itself) somewhat less successfully. I also used a Audible Illusions Modulus 3 (single ended) and I liked that match a lot - even it wasn't as quiet as the balanced preamps.

Bottom line: a characteristically "tubey" sounding pre might be a good idea and a balanced out would help, too. Based on my experience with their Rhea phono stage, I suspect that the Aesthetix Janus or Calypso linestage might be a good call. However, I haven't directly heard the pairing, so this is speculation on my part.

Good Luck,

Marty