Thinking Of Going All Krell...Thoughts?

[allen_bh]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Why are you unhappy with what you have ? What exactly are you trying to improve? What makes you think the new amps will sound any better ? Why don't you upgrade your speakers ? Look at Sonus Faber and Wilson

I don't really expect to get much better from changing amps. Rather it's really about the pre/pro, but the rest of the gear is coming along for the ride. I'm looking for what the S1200 provides and there's not much out there that comes anywhere near as close.

Agree about the speakers. Wilson's however are so intimidating. I just don't have the patience to set them up and care for them. I've heard (from a friend who owns Alexandra's that went through several other's) that they're fussy.

I do like the Sonus Faber's. They're on my list to audition for sure. First things first, I'd like to deal with the pre/pro issue though. In the end, the solution I choose may be to just get a nice preamp like the C1000 or C500 and just stick with McIntosh. Only problem there is that listening to multichannel SACD's will not sound their best.

[1KW]

Your electronics are not the weak link

[BlueChiaro]

Originally Posted by allen_bh

Agree about the speakers. Wilson's however are so intimidating. I just don't have the patience to set them up and care for them. I've heard (from a friend who owns Alexandra's that went through several other's) that they're fussy.

Hi...I can speak to N802 vs. Wilson Sophia 3 as the B&Ws are what I replaced with my Wilsons. The Sophias are significantly better in all respects (for my ears), and they were better right out of the crates,still on wheels, and with hardly any attention to setup. They're more resolving in the mids & uppers, and provide better quality and quantity of bass. I guess what I'm trying to say is...don't be intimidated, they're just speakers...you're higher on the food chain.

Good luck in your quest...great system, already!

Sent from my DROIDX using A.Aficionado

[allen_bh]

Originally Posted by BlueChiaro

Hi...I can speak to N802 vs. Wilson Sophia 3 as the B&Ws are what I replaced with my Wilsons. The Sophias are significantly better in all respects (for my ears), and they were better right out of the crates,still on wheels, and with hardly any attention to setup. They're more resolving in the mids & uppers, and provide better quality and quantity of bass. I guess what I'm trying to say is...don't be intimidated, they're just speakers...you're higher on the food chain.

Good luck in your quest...great system, already!

Sent from my DROIDX using A.Aficionado

And they should be at twice the price of the new 802 Diamonds. I'd expect nothing less.

[allen_bh]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Your electronics are not the weak link

Respectfully disagree. The MX150 does not sound anywhere near as good as my W4S DAC2 direct to my amps (as a preamp). That in itself tells me that the MX150 is the weak link - thus the desired change to the S1200.

FWIW - I know this unfortunately won't go over very well on this forum since the majority of members are McIntosh fanatics, but the S1200 is significantly better than the MX150 in two channel. I've now had the chance to compare the two (I actually took my MX150 over to the friends house and inserted it into his Krell system and we made quite a few comparisons actually, but I digress). Now, I wasn't about to haul my MC601's over to his house to compare them to his Krell amps, but I don't think my amps are the weak link. In fact I'm very hesitant to even consider getting rid of them.

[jfray]

Originally Posted by allen_bh

Thanks for the feedback. I agree that upgrades are in order for my speakers. That said, I'm not exactly satisfied with the MX150 when it comes to multichannel (and 2 channel) music. The Krell S1200 has such a nice DAC and implementation which is why I'm mostly interested in getting rid of my MX150. I love my amps, but am not not totally sold (especially after hearing the Krells on 800 D's).

Here's really why I'm considering Krell. For two channel music, I listen to my W4S DAC2 direct to my amps (using the DAC2 as a preamp) -- and the sound is great, but the MX150 just can't keep up with that. I took my DAC2 to a friends house and listened to his setup (S1200 with out-of-my-league Wilson Alexandras) and the Krell as a preamp was just as good as my DAC2 as a preamp. He also had a Evo 2 channel preamp, but I wasn't very interested in hearing it as much as the S1200. I never thought I'd be saying that, but it's true. The Krell S1200 is an awesome preamp. I don't believe I'll always have my DAC2; I'd certainly like to listen and try out other DAC's. But, if my preamp isn't up to snuff there's no sense in trying to improve.

I suppose I could just get rid of the MX150 and get the S1200, but it's not exactly a combination that people are happy on (most say that McIntosh and Krell do not mix very well).

Have you thought of using a MCD1100 as your DAC and pre for your two channel system. This is how my system is setup and the sound is incredible. However, I do think you should spend most of your upgrade budget on new speakers......of course I am partial to SF.

[jeffkrag]

Bryan, couple of thoughts. Even though I now have Revel Salon 2's as my mains, I love B&W. I came from N803's, and I really wanted the new 802Di, but the Revel deal was too good to pass up so I went for them. Truthfully, if I could do a swap, I might still swap for the 802Di, although the Revels are sure sounding good now with the MC452 powering them. With all due respect to the other posters who are quick to suggest a replacement for your speakers, I think you are on the right track based on what you've experienced, since you've noticed a difference between preamps. However, I do know that the Nautilus line was famous for being a little ruthless and bright if not tamed by the surrounding electronics. Mac of course has exactly that effect, so I think the amps you have are the right match, and Krell is known for being aggressive and potentially analytical and bright, although amazing in bass power. A good match for Sonus Faber and other less top-end aggressive speakers, but i think the Krell amp might be a mismatch for your Nautilus series B&Ws. if you did move up to first or second generation Diamonds, probably a different story and a better match.

As far as preamp/prepro, I assume you are really focused on mch music because you have lots of mch SACDs (and like that more than the 2 ch version of these SACDs?)? As you know, I too am looking at the same options, and the Krell does seem like an amazing piece, and will probably do great in your system (any chance you can borrow your friend's S1200 and try it in your system? That could end your search right there). The Bryston SP3, which is much newer than the Krell, has just gotten a killer review from Kal at Stereophile, and appears to be another excellent option (although without any EQ options). I asked Kal on the bryston board if it beat the Mac and the Classe, and he said yes. Pretty strong endorsement. I am surprised that the Classe SSP-800 didn't ring your bell, as that is universally praised as both a processor AND a preamp. In fact it may be the only prepro I've never read a bad word about, and I've done a ton of Internet research on prepros. If you want another mid priced option, the Arcam AV888 is a very good prepro that is also considered an excellent analog preamp.

Just my two cents. Good luck.

[BlueChiaro]

Originally Posted by allen_bh

And they should be at twice the price of the new 802 Diamonds. I'd expect nothing less.

I think you have your prices mixed up. Sophia 3 and 802 Diamond both are between $15-20K, aren't they??? (at least in US)

Of course, I'd expect the Diamonds to be better than the N802s in all respects, as well.

Sent from my DROIDX using A.Aficionado

[Masterlu]

I own both the MX150 and a S1200, I think you may have a bad MX150.

[jeffkrag]

Ivan, you have an MX150, a Krell S-1200, and a Bryston SP3. How do they compare?