My Kavent P-2200 Vs Emotiva XPA-1's

[bigbob]

Thank you JD!

Before posting my questions I contacted KAVD via e-mail and, unfortunately enough, received no answer…
I was hoping somebody would chime in not necessarily providing me with the specifications, but simply describing his experience with P-2200 or similar (i.e. 50 – 100 W in pure class A) power amplifiers…

In one of his previous posts (Reply #8 on Apr 14, 2010, 5:07pm) Carlos mentioned the Slew Rate being at ~1 V/µs level. If I am reading this correctly, P-2200 should sound quite “slow” (Pass Labs XA30.5 has, for example, Slew Rate around 50 V/µs, and Luminance Audio KTS-150 has Slew Rate around 250 V/µs) which is obviously not the case here (Apr 12, 2010, 12:52pm):

“The treble is well extended and relaxed, detailed but not etched, lithe and agile without sounding starkly clinical. These amps manage a balancing act that retains resolution and separation of musical strands while maintaining a level of detail that impresses. There's no grain or etch here, none of that 'coldness' that is sometimes evident in technically complex high-powered solid state amplifiers.”

I understand it is not an easy task to measure the parameters I am asking about, but maybe somebody could please point me to some “professional” reviews… I found, amazingly enough, none!

Bob

[Colby]

Bob,
Carlos was nice enough to refer me to a sales rep for Kavent
and we spoke a few weeks ago. The Rep told me they would have a shipment of these mono blocks coming in at the end of May.
I haven't heard from him, and he hasn't returned two phone
calls that I've put in to him.

I noticed you didn't receive a reply to your email, so their
service is becoming a concern to me.

John

[bigbob]

Hi John!

I am afraid this is the case indeed Kavent's service is leaving much more to desire recently and this is a big concern for yours truly as well.

Which leads me to the question of searching for some alternatives, but there are not too many choices available within my price range of about $3000 for a pair of monoblocks...

In case you will actually hear from them, could you please post your info?

Yours truly,
Bob

[jackfish]

Jun 11, 2010 14:38:15 GMT -5 bigbob said:

Which leads me to the question of searching for some alternatives, but there are not too many choices available within my price range of about $3000 for a pair of monoblocks...

Odyssey Stratos Extreme monoblock $3200/pair

[ny1pr2009]

Hi Bob, By coincidence yesterday I placed a call to Raeon at KAVD because I have not spoken to him in almost a month to find out if he has received the new shipment of amplifiers that he was waiting for. He was glad to hear from me and he mentioned the fact that he was on vacation for two weeks and he had just come back to work. He also told me that the shipment of amplifiers that he was supposed to get at the end of May has been delayed because they are also coming out with a new model of amplifiers besides their current models and he is expecting for everything to be finalize by the end ofthis month.

I also explained to him that John has been trying to get in touch with him and have left him a couple of messages as well. He apologized and told the that the reason he has not answer any calls or email is because he was on vacation but that he will reply to his email and calls as soon as possible.

John has been informed of what happened because I sent him an PM yesterday. I have also placed another call today to Raeon to make sure he calls John as well.

I have also mentioned to Raeon about the few questions in the forum about the P-2200 Monoblocks and I will be sending him a copy via email. I promise to post the answers here in the forum.

In the 4+ years that I have been dealing with KAVD they have been a very solid and honest company. I have never had a single problem with them nor any of my local friends that have purchsed items from them. In fact whenever I have returned any item because I feel that it has not met my expectations (within a reasonable amount of time) I have always paid the restocking fee and they have returned my money exactly the same day that they have received and inspect the item.

I have the pleasure of meeting Raeon for the first time a few months ago when he delivered to me in person the pair of P-2200 monoblocks and I found him to be a very serious ,honest and professional person. I will deal with him any time and so many of my friends that have purchased items from him.

I just want to make clear that I am in any way related to KAVD nor I have any interest in their business except of that being an very happy customer with their products for many years specially with the P-2200 monoblocks.

If you need to get in touch with Raeon at KAVD please do so at 914-815-1267 during business hours from 9am to 5pm EST. If he is not able to come to the phone please leave a message with the telephone number to get back to you and he will return your phone call and answer all your questions.

Any other questions please feel free to send me a PM.

Best regards to all,

Carlos

[jedinite24]

Hi Bob

Here are some other monoblocks that you can add to your list. I read about them in Stereomojo and an veteran audiophile by me keeps saying how Mr. Poon from Monarchy Audio is a great designer/engineer who makes a good/quality products.

Monarchy 100 SE Delux Monoblock Amps



List Price: $1,179 each, $2,358 for the Pair

Re-introductory special: $1,000 off, Net $1,358 for the pair

Review

www.stereomojo.com/Monarchy%20100%20SE%20Delux%20Monoblock%20Amps%20review/MonarchySE100DeluxMonoblocksReview.htm

Listing

www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1278785951&/Monarchy-se-100-delux-mk2-sing

Again I have no affiliation and am just sharing.

The P-2200s look beautiful and can't wait to get the rest of the specs. Especially how much they draw. Sometimes I think about the Monarchy SE 100s but both of them together draw 500 watts w/ load or 360 watts @ idle. Thoughts of my electric bill would creep into my mind as I was listening to music.

Take care. JD

[ny1pr2009]

Hi Bob, As promised here is the explanation given to me from Raeon at Kellsie Audio and Video Designs in reference to your question about the slew rate of the Kavent P-2200 monoblock amplifier.

Hope this can be of much help.

Best,

Carlos

Hi Carlos,

"Slew rate is a parammeter that varies with measuring conditions, especially load and power. Most data obtained from theoretical calculation with ideal resistive load. For instance, the transistors used in Kavent P-2200 are Sanken LAPT power transistors that are specially designed for audio amplifiers, considered the best choice by most high-end amplifier manufacturers. The upper threshold frequency is 50MHz. At 1W output or 2,83V voltage swing, the maximum slew rate may be calculted as high as 140V/usec. However, in real application, the linear response frequency is reduced to 1MHz or so, or 2.83V/usec slew rate. With non-ideal load and feed conditions, it is considered to be top level performer with a 1V/usec slew rate (real conditions). Actually, the specification by the manufacturer is 0.85V/usec. Therefore, many manufacturers tend to exagerate their slew rate, just as those Bose or Sony home theater packages that claims 1000W power. Do you believe it ?

As for the "slow" comments, it's also a wrong interpretation of slew rate. 1MHz response frequency is more than sufficient for audio applications, which is 50 times higher than the upper audible frequency 20kHz. Therefore, no ears can actually hear the difference bewteen 1V/usec and 100V/usec slew rate, even if the latter does exist in real world audio amplifiers".

Hope it helps.

Regards,
Raeon

[ny1pr2009]

Hi Bigbob,

Here is the answer to the rest of your questions about the specs of the Kavent P-2200 Monoblock Amplifiers. Raeon at Kellsie Audio and Video Designs was able to emailed me the specs.

• Damping Factor, 20 HZ – 20 kHz: 300
• Slew Rate: 1V/usec (real-load full power), 150V/usec max.
• Gain: 25 dB, close-loop
• Power Consumption at Idle: 150W


Best, Carlos

[bigbob]

Dear Audiophiles:

Thank you very kindly for your most appreciated help!

jackfish - Odyssey Stratos Extreme monoblocks are sure quite competent power amplifiers, but I would prefer to have at least 50 W per channel in pure class A (8 Ohm loads) and they are a bit lacking in this department.

jedinite24 - Monarchy 100 SE Deluxe Monoblocks are powerful small beasts and priced extremely competitively, but I do not expect them to deliver more than 30 W in pure class A (8 Ohm loads) per channel. Please correct me here in case I am wrong…

Special thanks (from all of us, I believe) to Carlos for providing this most valuable and interesting information on the Kavents! For yours truly in particular it was a real eye-opener to see the information on the “Real World” Slew Rate vs. frequently published “theoretical” value…

Quite frankly, I am surprised to see such a low figure for Power Consumption at Idle: 150W only. Remember, we are talking about 100 W in pure class A amplifiers here! How much power do they consume at full swing than?! Could somebody please shade some light here?

Carlos, you mentioned that “… the shipment of amplifiers that he was supposed to get at the end of May has been delayed because they are also coming out with a new model of amplifiers besides their current models and he is expecting for everything to be finalize by the end of this month.” Is there any information available regarding these new amplifiers, please?

Yours truly,
Bob

[ny1pr2009]

Hi Bob, I myself was kind of surprised at such a low figure on the power consumption at idle so i decided to place a call to Raeon at KAVD and he confirmed to me that it is in fact 150 watts only.

I asked him last week about their new line of amplifiers that they are putting together to see if they had any specs or pictures on them but he told me that that they still in the process of finalizing everything and as soon as he gets all that information including pictures he will email them to me and I promise to post them here at this post as soon as I get them from them.

He also mentioned to me that they are coming with an integrated amplifier to ad to their new line. They also are going to keep their current line of amplifiers for those who like the current look and price since the new line will cost a little more that the current line.

No word yet on the prices of the new line until everything is completed but again I promise to get them out to you if I happen to get them before they put them up on their web site.

Best,

Carlos

[ny1pr2009]

Hello My Emotiva Peers,
Just wanted to share my most recent photos of my latest purchase of my Marantz Reference Series SC-11S1 Preamplifier and Marantz SA-11S2 SACD Player connected to my Kavent P-2200 Class A monoblock amplifiers.

Best to all,

Carlos

[Colby]

Hi Carlos,

Those Marantz products are beautiful !!!

What happened with the Kavent pre?

All the best,
John

[jmilton]

Carlos- sonic envy!!!

[djoel]

I had the Pleasure of listening to Carlos system about a weeks ago, along with his amazing dedicated HT system Carlos has a 2Ch rig as many of you seen in the above photos. Believe me those pic don't do any justice to feast the eyes nor what the true capabilities of SQ it's to be experience.



I immediately gravitated to the argent blocks, and couldn't keep my hands from touching the the sculpted aluminum sides,( out of character for me) with seem hundreds of brackets resembling the side battle ship.

Knowing I had limited chance to listen to these beauties, we all know how Carlos moves from gear to gear..I brought my favorite all time SACD Beck's master piece Sea Change, I handed it Carl with a Sh** eating grin! ;D I knew this was going to be special, knowing the Dali sweet, sweet mellow airy quality very well..I owned a pair of Helicon 400dies for 18 months or so..NY1PR2009 has the bigger Heli 800...
What filled the room was pure magic, I brought along non audio enthusiast for the ride, and his face just lite up...he could not shut up, and saying it sounds so Clear, it so clear!
I just shut my eyes and melted in the push leather sofa which happened to be the sweet spot! Sorry Bud, your system simpling evokes childhood bad habits. :-[I never heard, or thought the hybrid tweeter could sound milky, never edgy, just smoothness,It seem I was a spa were they specialize in some sort of New Age type eardrum massages! Awesome SQ, a touch of warmth, with an enormous sound stage, while every little detail from the plunking of the guitar to Beck's hunting melancholies heart wrench voice..came thought as if he was in front of us just a few feet from us siting on a stool drenched over a close microphone.

AWESOME realism, if i do say so myself.. I can go on and on about what I heard from these mighty monos, but I have to say is thanks to my friend Carlos for giving me the chance of hearing these well kept secrets of an amps in a home environment.



Thank you again pal for your kindness and the warmest hospitality.

Daniel

[ny1pr2009]

My Emotiva brother Daniel,

Thanks so much for your kind words. It was a great pleasure having you and your friend over my house. I am glad that you had the time to listen to your favorite SACD and song thru my system and appreciate the beauty and sound of the Kavent P-2200 monoblocks.

You know that my home is your home and whenever you feel like coming back for another more extended listening session all you have to do is ask. Feel free to bring as many cds and sacds as you wish and I know we will have a great time!!

Thanks again for your nice words and for being a great audiophile but most of all for being a great friend.

Best,

Carlos

[bigbob]

Hi Carlos!

You mentioned that “The Kavent P-2200 monoblocks are by far the best monoblocks I have ever owned” and you owned quite a few excellent amps:
“
2. Emotiva XPA-1
3.Treshold S/7000E
4.Bryston 7B SST2
5.Parasound Halo JC1
6. Krell FPB 350cx
7.Odyssey Stratos Extremes
8.Vincent SP-991
”.

After almost a year, do you still hold on to the same statement? Any reliability issues, anything you would like to share with your “brothers-in-sound”, especially the ones who do not believe equipment with the badge “Made in China” is truly designed and manufactured up to the audiophile standards?

Sincerely,
BigBob

[ny1pr2009]

Hi Bigbob, Yes, I do still own my pair of the Kavent P-2200 Pure Class A Monoblocks and there has never been a problem, glitch or hick-up with these wonderful monoblock amplifiers. They have been performing flawlessly!!!

The sad news is that due to the economy and the currently exchange between the US dollar and the Chinese Yen , Kellsie Audio and Video Designs will no longer be in business. I found this out a few days ago when I placed a called to Raeon at KAVD and he informed me of the sad news. But one thing he said to me was that they will still honor my remaining 2 year warranty in case anything will happened to my P-2200 monoblocks.

He also mentioned to me that there is an interested buyer who wants to take over their business but there is nothing conclusive yet. He will keep me inform if the take over will go through.

This is what was causing the delay of the new line of amplifiers,Cd Players and preamps. Because of the current exchange it was becoming too costly to KAVD from making these items and bringing them here to the US. Most of all they took into consideration that in order to make a profitable margin they will have to make their prices so high that it was not worth taking the risk.

It is a shame because they have been a very good company and in all the years that I have done buisness with them they have been very professional with an excellent customer service.

But Ill guess that due to the current economic situation they had taken the best decision when it comes to their business.

[Colby]

Hi Carlos,

I thought it was strange that I never heard back from Raeon regarding the P-2200 mono blocks that I wanted to buy.
Sorry to hear they are going out of business.

John

[violamahler]

Hello Everybody...My name is Jaime and I am a proud owner of 2 Kavent P 2200 since January 2011. I bought them used from a friend that had to move and he wasn't able to use them in their new set up.They are incredible monoblocks!!! I will try to take care of them as much as I can since KAVD is no longer available.

CHEERS...Nice set up Carlos.

[violamahler]

I was cleaning my new KAVEN P2200 and I discovered that it doesn't have FUSES on the inside under the capacitors...HOW IS THAT??

HOw is it working??