Classic Solid State muscle...

[Steve]

For some strange and obscure reason, nostalgia seems (to me at least!) to fill the air when it comes to Halloween time...

And in this hobby, maybe it's because the Burlington HiFi shows put on by Cloney were always during the Bank Holiday weekends..

And so following on from this tenuous link (nothing to do with a certain set of speakers en-route from a more Mediterranean climate), I've started reading up on a topic which used to be of vital importance to me, but then waned after firmly going down the valve route a considerable time ago - that topic is classic American solid state muscle.

Now when I say classic, I mean the type of Krell FPBcx and Mark Levinson 334-6 models that were around during very early noughties.. And indeed if I remember correctly used to make appearances during the afore mentioned HiFi show.

The type that just kept doubling down into 2 ohm loads and and (at least in the case of the FPB Krells, but alas not in newer models) ran in Class A. And could thus heat the entire ground floor of an average house.

The type that some people used to consider the classic pairing with speakers that can at times present a difficult load. Such as perhaps Sonus Faber....

So just wondering if people have any, perhaps even many, experiences with these monster amps - specifically the likes of the Krell FPBcx and the huge ML334-336 range.

Also wondering what expected life span of the caps in these types of amp are. If the amp is at least 10 years old, then I guess it may well need to be re-capped - which is or isn't a major servicing cost??

I had started this reading up purely based on nostalgia but now wished I hadn't as genuinely very curious at this stage to hear what some of these classics sound like.....

My only real home experience with amps of this level of power was with a pair of CAM350's quite some time back. Driving B&W N802's. Incredible reserves of power. But at that time, the N802's didn't interact with the room so well. So overall impression was to move away from these speakers to others (Kharma's) which quite simply didn't need any of this level of power...

[DaveF]

Thinly veiled 'I might go SS and sell the Jadis's's' kinda thread, eh? lol

The only big SS amps I've had experience of was the CAM350's, Gamut D300Mk3 and the ML383. The CAM350's were driving a pair of old SF Cremona floorstanders. Even though they had effortless power I never really loved them although my main issue there were the old battered SF's which were devoid of much sparkle and had a boxiness to them. So not really a fair judgement of the CAM's.
The GamutD300 is the best SS power amp I've heard to date and it was partnered with huge Ushers speakers. It always sounded great and never broke a sweat. Not sure how it handles loads down at 2 Ohms though.
On the integrated amp side of things were the Krell400xi and ML383 driving some B&W's. The ML definitely had a bit more class and finesse but the Krell had the fireworks even if it ran very very hot.
Given the amount of equipment I've been through I'm sure I've left something out.

[Claus]

I started in the hobby back in the late 90s and read all the reviews of the big solid state amps. So very much a victim of the same nostalgia....

I had the Musical Fidelity M3 integrated which never ran out of steam even driving hybrid planar magnetic speakers. Currently I have Cary CAD-500MB mono blocks driving my Focal 1028b speakers. I tried valves but felt the loss in bottom end control overshadowed any gain in high end smoothness. My dream would be some Pass Labs class A or similar...

If I was to ever get a second system it would be small valve amp with easy to drive speakers. Just to have best of both worlds... ;)

[Steve]

No chance the JA80's are going anywhere Dave! They're definite keepers.

More a case of having the best of both worlds, or at least a curiousity in hearing how the really big Class A jobs sound with the Amati's. But also very much to do with nostalgia and remembering the awe when flicking through Stereophile and seeing the vastness of the Krell and ML designs at that time.

Yep, also heard the Gamut and comparable Classe power amps (I think the CA200 and some of the older models). And ss integrateds such as ML383 (owned one and loved it) and the Krell integrateds when they first came out.

Just never managed to hear the really big stuff that keeps doubling up and thus puts out serious KW's per channel when needed...

Claus, I'm sure there must be some Pass Labs Class A out there with your name on it!!

[Diapason]

If you believe that Steve is asking merely for nostalgia, I have some magic beans and a bridge here I'd like to sell you..........

[Audioq]

I have heard but never owned some monster Krell amps (FPB 600 and 300 I think?). I was never a big fan of them to be honest. Yes they had remarkable power reserves, but I always thought that Krell amps were voiced to emphasise the top and bottom octaves. Not quite boom and sizzle but a slight tendency in that direction and as I remember this extended to Krell cd players as well as amps. Always thought Levinson and Classe offered a better balanced sound although to be fair I never did direct comparisons, just an opinion based on listening in dealer showrooms which could have been affected by speakers, room etc. Never heard Gamut although they have a good reputation.

[Fran]

I've a monorail for sale going cheap!!



Seriously though, I dipped my toes into the lower wattage end of SS class A with the Pass F5. Beautiful sound, effortless power and never ran out of steam. I suppose maybe it's a little more neutral than most valve amps, but lovely none the less.

Capacitors - it varies hugely, but all caps deteriorate inversely to temperature. So the hotter it runs, the more they "wear". Replacements can be expensive enough, eg 8 caps at 50 quid each.


fran

[Steve]

Yep, also a big fan of Levinson. But the constant change in company structure might be an issue in terms of ensuring spare parts availability for the older ranges. Just a thought..

Dug out some of the brochures for the shows at the Burlington. Absolute Sounds demo for one particular show was Krell FPB700cx driving the Watt Puppy Series 7's. And in another room were the JA80's with Audioplan speakers I think. At same show, also had Lamm mono's with Kharma. Great memories! Although have a feeling that mightn't have felt so great at the time due to the night before...

Trying to cap it at nostalgia Si. Anything else would just be reckless! Wouldn't it..

[Diapason]

Steve, you're doing all this research for me!

[Steve]

Absolutely! It's all your fault Si. Conclusion of research is to procure some serious Krell along with some classic Levinson. Just to make sure we have all options (including the imperious Graaf's) available for the Elipsa's. Now where do we dig up a pair of ML 33's....