canoa70

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.50 of 5, 8.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I had a friend of mine bring his krell 200c over with the krc-3 preamp, and we compared it against my Chord SPM5000E power amp and CPA4000E preamp and the result was Chord 100 - Krell -10, the chord system simply killed the Krell in every aspect the system was: Accuphase CD90/DP91 B&W Nautilus 802 Wireworld gold eclipse all over Isotek mains conditioner

Strengths:
Plays ok.

Weaknesses:
A lot

Similar Products Used:
Chord, Mark Levinson, Classe, Plinius, Bel Canto, etc

Price Paid:  $4500.00 from audiogon

Summary:
This is a fantastic amps. It provides me a strength and a high-resolution with incredible smoothness. It's perfect for the small monitor like my AE 2-signature. I used Jeff's Concentra, Mark Levincen 332. The stage that 332 made was not bad but I couldn't cast away the idea that I had something missed in the sound. One of my friends recommended me to change the power amp to krell FPB series. I thought that FPB 200C would be better for my small speakers than the bigger FPBs. Yes, It was a good choice, The sound-stage is not so close as the old krells and high and midrange is like liquid and smooth, bass is so tight and speedy and does not show off or isn't boosted. Dynamics...you know it's krell!! Sound-stage is natural. Good matched with my Pass X-1(It's well balanced and natural pre-amp.) The most different characters between Mark Levincen and Krell FPB is the distinctiveness of the sounds and naturalness of the stages.

Strengths:
The high resolution, speed, and well built.

Weaknesses:
Well..so heavy

Similar Products Used:
Mark 335

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Spearit Sound

Summary:
This is an amplifier that demands some effort and attention in how it is integrated into a complete system. I A-B tested this amp with a number of preamps, D/A, transports, and cables. I found out very quickly that the amp either exaggerated or added brightness and lost bass without a very well matched system. I found the sound I was hoping for with the Krell HTS2 A/V preamp, which surprised me since I expected an A/V preamp would sacrifice a great deal on the audio side. I found this chain supported the B&W Nautilus 802''s very nicely with a beautiful purity from top to bottom. The Krell 200c gratefully lacks the colorations attributed to the previous KSA series which I also owned. I would also recommend the use of Siltech cables which did seem to offer some benefit to the quality of reproduction.

Strengths:
Power, faithful reproduction, great sound stage.

Weaknesses:
Price, sensitivity to other components.

Similar Products Used:
The Usual Suspects

Summary:
I purchased this amp while doing some home renovations and my speakers were not in the correct listening position but I wanted to start breaking in the amp as soon as possibe. I start playing some cd's while painting a room that's on the second floor of my house. I suddenly realized that the sound was really good. I ran downstairs and just sat their for an hour in amazement that this amp out of the box was sensational. As mentioned above I owned alot of amps in search of that one that configures well with my unique listening room. They have ranged from Rotel, Levinson,Krell Kav, Classe and Sim. I think all of these products were very good however, there was something missing. I believe the FPB helped me find the missing piece. Recordings like Miles Davis "All blue" and Herbie Hancocks' "watermelon man" are life like. It's like their in my room playing their instruments.

Strengths:
Power, flexibility and soundstage

Weaknesses:
to damn heavy (but that's a good weakness)

Similar Products Used:
You name it and I owned it.