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Thread: Pre-Amp?

  1. #1
    Forum Regular quad121's Avatar
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    Question Pre-Amp?

    I wonder if someone can advise on a good PreAmp. I've acquired a Krell Power Amp and now i'm looking to replace my NAD Intergrated Amp as the Pre Amp.

    Looking to buy secondhand for no more than £800

    Thankyou for any help you can supply.
    Rega Planar 3 Turntable
    Denon TU-260 II Tuner
    Yamaha KX-580 SE Tape
    Marantz CD6000 KI CDP
    Krell KAV-500 Power Amp
    Krell KRC-3 Pre Amp
    Krell Studio DAC
    Krell KAV 300 CDP

    Red Rose 'Spirit' Bookshelf Speakers

    Chord Cobra 3 Interconnects
    Hovland Gen 3 Balanced XLR Interconnects
    Chord Chameleon XLR Interconnects
    IXOS XHD608-100 Digital Coax Interconnects
    Chord Odyssey 2 Speaker Cables

  2. #2
    Shostakovich fan Feanor's Avatar
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    Sounds good!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by quad121
    I wonder if someone can advise on a good PreAmp. I've acquired a Krell Power Amp and now i'm looking to replace my NAD Intergrated Amp as the Pre Amp.

    Looking to buy secondhand for no more than £800

    Thankyou for any help you can supply.
    Congradulations. You will surely notice a big difference with the Krell, and almost certainly for the better. Which model Krell? Are you driving it now with preamp-outs from the NAD?

    There are plenty of great solid state or tube preamps available used for £800, (US$1500-1600). Does the Krell have balanced, (i.e. XLR), inputs? If so, look for a pre that has balanced outputs. For your price you ought to be able to get a BAT tube or ARC tube hybrid pre with balanced outputs -- that's where I'd start to look. Here's an example ...
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ube&1179603178

    Or another ARC a bit more expensive ...
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ube&1181714120

    Here's a BAT example, (though this one is sold) ...
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ube&1181227516

  3. #3
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    Krell has a certain "house" sound or sonic signature, be careful mixing pre and power without being able to hear or have an idea whether they will have synergy. In your price you should be able to find a used Krell KRC-3 or KAV-250, maybe a 280, these are your best bet. Other brands where current is supreme like Bryston, Levinson or maybe Pass might also be safe bets. This is just my hypothesis but I'd shy away from an ARC/Krell marriage without first hearing it. They are pretty much different which could be great or a disaster. I'm not familiar with BAT.

    If I may make a shameless plug, I have a Krell CD player for sale here on the "classifieds".

  4. #4
    Forum Regular quad121's Avatar
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    Hi all and tahnk you for your advice.
    I purchased a used Krell KAV-500 and am using in stereo. linked four channels into two.
    It needs to be on for a good 10 mins and the sound just seems to get better!
    I'm using with the pre outs on the NAD. I need to get a good interlink also. Is chord a good cable for this?
    Sorry for not getting back to you earlier but my broadband as been temporarily stopped so i'm using dial up.
    Rega Planar 3 Turntable
    Denon TU-260 II Tuner
    Yamaha KX-580 SE Tape
    Marantz CD6000 KI CDP
    Krell KAV-500 Power Amp
    Krell KRC-3 Pre Amp
    Krell Studio DAC
    Krell KAV 300 CDP

    Red Rose 'Spirit' Bookshelf Speakers

    Chord Cobra 3 Interconnects
    Hovland Gen 3 Balanced XLR Interconnects
    Chord Chameleon XLR Interconnects
    IXOS XHD608-100 Digital Coax Interconnects
    Chord Odyssey 2 Speaker Cables

  5. #5
    Forum Regular quad121's Avatar
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    Does any one recommend a Naim NAC 282?
    Rega Planar 3 Turntable
    Denon TU-260 II Tuner
    Yamaha KX-580 SE Tape
    Marantz CD6000 KI CDP
    Krell KAV-500 Power Amp
    Krell KRC-3 Pre Amp
    Krell Studio DAC
    Krell KAV 300 CDP

    Red Rose 'Spirit' Bookshelf Speakers

    Chord Cobra 3 Interconnects
    Hovland Gen 3 Balanced XLR Interconnects
    Chord Chameleon XLR Interconnects
    IXOS XHD608-100 Digital Coax Interconnects
    Chord Odyssey 2 Speaker Cables

  6. #6
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    I'm not familiar with that Naim pre, but Naim should have good synergy with Krell. The only thing to check is what type of outputs the Naim is using, their older stuff was proprietary and adaptores, if any, would be an additional expense. It will be out of your budget but since you have the kav-500, you may want to see what used Krell Showcase preamp processors are going for. If wouldn't need the latest processing, some of the older HTS can be had pretty reasonable and the preamp section would be very good. If only interested in stereo, the KRC-3 is very good or even one of the older, originally very expensive, Krell pre's.

    I don't have a need for a kav-500, but if you had gotten the KSA, I was going to see about working out a trade for a 500i integrated.

  7. #7
    Forum Regular quad121's Avatar
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    Thankyou for all the information. I looked at reviews of both the KSA and KAV and decided to get the KAV-500. I asked the question on this site but people gave mixed inputs on both Amps. Maybe the KSA was a bit better but i'm happy with the 500 and it certainly sounds a lot better than the NAD.
    I'm looking at purchasing a Krell KSL Pre Amp for it and buy some quality interconnects!
    Rega Planar 3 Turntable
    Denon TU-260 II Tuner
    Yamaha KX-580 SE Tape
    Marantz CD6000 KI CDP
    Krell KAV-500 Power Amp
    Krell KRC-3 Pre Amp
    Krell Studio DAC
    Krell KAV 300 CDP

    Red Rose 'Spirit' Bookshelf Speakers

    Chord Cobra 3 Interconnects
    Hovland Gen 3 Balanced XLR Interconnects
    Chord Chameleon XLR Interconnects
    IXOS XHD608-100 Digital Coax Interconnects
    Chord Odyssey 2 Speaker Cables

  8. #8
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    Certainly between the 2 amps was a win win situation. The 500 will be more versatile. I believe your best synergy will be with a Krell pre for your power amp. Use a good pair of XLR interconnects. I'm not familiar with Chord. Our local Krell dealer swears bby and only carries Transparent. You are going to have a killer system.

  9. #9
    Forum Regular quad121's Avatar
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    Hi everyone. I've just sourced out a new Krell KRC-3 PreAmp. Never been used. So i think that'll be the one i'll go for. With Chord Signature interconnects.
    Rega Planar 3 Turntable
    Denon TU-260 II Tuner
    Yamaha KX-580 SE Tape
    Marantz CD6000 KI CDP
    Krell KAV-500 Power Amp
    Krell KRC-3 Pre Amp
    Krell Studio DAC
    Krell KAV 300 CDP

    Red Rose 'Spirit' Bookshelf Speakers

    Chord Cobra 3 Interconnects
    Hovland Gen 3 Balanced XLR Interconnects
    Chord Chameleon XLR Interconnects
    IXOS XHD608-100 Digital Coax Interconnects
    Chord Odyssey 2 Speaker Cables

  10. #10
    Shostakovich fan Feanor's Avatar
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    Sounds really good

    Quote Originally Posted by quad121
    Hi everyone. I've just sourced out a new Krell KRC-3 PreAmp. Never been used. So i think that'll be the one i'll go for. With Chord Signature interconnects.
    I deferred to Mr. Peabody's suggestion to go with a Krell preamp; you won't go wrong. If some day you decide to experiment with at tube preamp, keep in mind my suggestions.

    One thing's for sure, and that is that you'll hear a huge improvement over the NAD integrated.

  11. #11
    Forum Regular quad121's Avatar
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    Thankyou for all your advice and i'll try and get some XLR interconnects.
    Regards
    Rega Planar 3 Turntable
    Denon TU-260 II Tuner
    Yamaha KX-580 SE Tape
    Marantz CD6000 KI CDP
    Krell KAV-500 Power Amp
    Krell KRC-3 Pre Amp
    Krell Studio DAC
    Krell KAV 300 CDP

    Red Rose 'Spirit' Bookshelf Speakers

    Chord Cobra 3 Interconnects
    Hovland Gen 3 Balanced XLR Interconnects
    Chord Chameleon XLR Interconnects
    IXOS XHD608-100 Digital Coax Interconnects
    Chord Odyssey 2 Speaker Cables

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