Looking at SS Amp for Change of Pace

[JohnMichael]

Besides the Marantz PM-15S1 that I mention at the end of Frenchie's Marantz post, I'm also looking at an Arcam FMJ A32 and a Krell 400Xi. I know Marantz and Krell have their banner wavers and their distractors here and Arcam doesn't have a big following. Just want to get some ideas on sound characteristics
( Bright, Warm, Neutral, etc) These are all used so it's kind of shooting blind and hope for a sonic match. Thanks

I remembered something about the Krell 400Xi I read in Stereophile. John Atkinson had written that in his tests the amp ran hot due to insufficient heat sinking. Of course this was a problem when he ran the amp at 1/3 power. I do not know if it would matter unless you planned to play at loud volumes for extended times. My Krell S-300i runs warm but from the Class A preamp stage and not from the heat sinks on both sides of the amp.

This is an interior shot of the S-300i.

[Jack in Wilmington]

I remembered something about the Krell 400Xi I read in Stereophile. John Atkinson had written that in his tests the amp ran hot due to insufficient heat sinking. Of course this was a problem when he ran the amp at 1/3 power. I do not know if it would matter unless you planned to play at loud volumes for extended times. My Krell S-300i runs warm but from the Class A preamp stage and not from the heat sinks on both sides of the amp.

This is an interior shot of the S-300i.

Thanks JM, that's good to know. I'm used to warm running tube amps. My Anthem MCA 20 runs very cool and it's in a cabinet.