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krell kct, pass labs xp 10 or 2.5, spectral?

Hello All, my current system is:
* B&W 801Nautilus (not diamond version)
* MIT speaker cables
* Mcintosch MC500 power amp
* Accuphase DP500 cd
* Levinson 38 preamp

The sound is not bad at all, never unnerving but it just does not emotionally involve me enough, the system doesn't dissappear enough and seems a bit slow. (I had active speakers before). I would like to hang on to my power amp and cd player (which I know are rather warm sounding both).
I just got the speakers, so could another preamp do the trick? I had Mcintosh c46 preamp in the same system and it sounded more open but more coloured? as if the same sauce was added to each music cd?
I can buy (all used) a Krell KCT for 2800 euro, a Pass Labs XP10 for 2700 euro, or a XP 2.5 for 1500, or a spectral dmc 12 for +-1400... O yes and a Nagra PLP for 4000 euro...
Which would u recommend to make me feel drawn emotionally into my music, where there seems to be no more system? I read many reviews but next to that there is also imput impedance that plays a big role? Please help. As all my options are used market ones, I dont have too much time to chose :)
THX guys!
blueskywalker
danielk141
489 posts
 
Blueskywalker,

Can you audition any of these, in your system?
That will give you the most important opinion, yours..
blueskywalker OP
91 posts
 
The only way I can audition anything in my system is if I buy it :)...
I am however listening with accuphase directy to power amp and then to the whole system but with different smaller hifi speakers to identify the component in the chain that is the culprit... I feel Dgad may be right :(
I think I either have to change speakers, or the all the rest... as the B&W's are great speakers but not so intended for soft evening listening, then they are indeed inherently slow by nature...
A faster amp, preamp and less warm cd could help but changing speakers might be easier and better in the end.
Which doesn't mean I cannot improve upon the Levinson with preamps suggested but then I need to allocate the money first elsewhere I guess (speakers)...
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Hi,The Krell KCT works well without cast with nearly eanything,considering you have high quality cables!,How ever,the newer Krell phatom 2 pre-amp is far superior than all that is being discussed here!cheers!
blueskywalker OP
91 posts
 
I am sure the newer gear will sound even better then the one in my question but it's out of my budget, but back to that question...if I keep speakers and amp, which pre af the above would help me the most going to a faster and more involving system? or is it hopeless :)
blueskywalker OP
91 posts
 
One of the reasons my system lacks air maybe impedance mismatch?
MC 500 has imput impedance of 10kOhms (not specified if it doubles for balanced or not). The levinsons (331 etc and 432) all have 100k balanced and 50k single ended... so this is what their preamps are best suited for, included my 38?
If my theory holds a ground then the KCT is not good as the whole FPC cx range of power amps has 100kOhms input impedance.
The spectral DMA 180 and 150 also have 100kOhms (partners for the DMC 12... (but their own DMA 90 has 10kOhms with 100pF in parallel, this confuses me!)
Best suited seems the pass X 2.5 which partners the X250 has 22K balanced (no specs for single ended) and XA160 (think it was still the same preamp line) has 22k balanced and 11 k single ended... Newer pass line with the XP 10 preamp range mates with the XA .5 line and the X .5 line which all have 30k/20k input impedance...
Can someone point me out if this theory of mine is correct and the pass X 2.5 (or X1 and X0) are best suited to my MC500? Or of course the respectable partners for the MC402 with 10K balanced and 22k unbalanced (newer mac 452 is 22k balanced and unbalanced!!) which were C46 and C2200 (I sold the C46!! It did indeed have no rolled of highs and much air, but seemed to have its own sonic signature on all records?)
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