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Post by basquiat on May 4, 2014 11:59:51 GMT -5
what would you buy and what are your thoughts about these two amps.....which one would you buy
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Post by pedrocols on May 4, 2014 12:32:24 GMT -5
Well this is the Emotiva forum some you will potentially get some bias recommendations....just saying
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,223 
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Post by novisnick on May 4, 2014 12:37:52 GMT -5
Are you comparing amps that are both new with warranty?
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Post by garbulky on May 4, 2014 12:41:25 GMT -5
Depends on what you are looking for.....
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Post by basquiat on May 4, 2014 12:47:27 GMT -5
what would you buy and what are your thoughts about these two amps.....which one would you buy a used krell mda-500 used and a new xpr-1 |
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Post by garbulky on May 4, 2014 13:20:56 GMT -5
They are very different products imo. I think the krell has less power but is stable to 1 ohm. Depends on your needs.
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Post by moko on May 4, 2014 13:24:25 GMT -5
if you can compare both of them side by side with your system that would be great. but if that's not possible maybe you can order xpr-1's, use 30 days trial, drive them to krell owner home and compare them side by side and see which one do you like. well, i hope he's not too far from you  |
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bootman
Emo VIPs 
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
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Post by bootman on May 4, 2014 13:31:23 GMT -5
They are very different products imo. I think the krell has less power but is stable to 1 ohm. Depends on your needs. +1. If you are driving Apogee Scintillas then I would lean towards the Krell. (I want to see pics first!) If you own any modern day 8 or 4 ohm speakers then get the cheapest amp. Either one will drive them fine. |
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Post by frenchyfranky on May 4, 2014 15:25:04 GMT -5
what would you buy and what are your thoughts about these two amps.....which one would you buy Don't you already have two XPR-1? Are you satisfied? Ref: The answer to the original question is YES! You can definitely use it this way. Also the sound will be WAY BETTER on the condition that your speakers and amplifier are good enough. What are your speakers and amplifier? Even better, unless you need it for something else other than streaming music, the XSP-1 is unnecessary with the DC-1. The DC-1 has got a pre-amplifier in it. Anyway with your current setup Computer via USB->DC-1->(using DC-1 analog RCA output)-> XSP-1 analog input (where you currently have your PC's RCA jacks connected)->amplifier-> speakers. i have the xpr-1 monoblocks, erc-3 cd player, acoustat model 4 full range electrstatic speakers, caldera speaker cables, mogambi balanced cables, xsp-1 pre amp, pro-ject genie 1.5 turntable, with a laptop.....can i hook the dc-1 up to the xsp-1 to use with my laptop with out having to keep diconecting my amps from my system to use sepretly from the xsp-1 |
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,223
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Post by novisnick on May 4, 2014 16:20:50 GMT -5
Hi, I have my PC running USB running to my DC-1 then to the XSP-1 and then to my XPR-1s and there is no reason to do it any other way. IMHO
Just run out from DC-1 to XSP-1 and there's no problem.
My whole set up runs through the XSP-1, cable box, DC-1 , TT,
Inputs to DC-1 are; Apple TV, Oppo 103, Yamaha AVR, HTPC
All one big happy family
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Post by willcycle on May 5, 2014 6:46:54 GMT -5
If the Krells have not been recapped they will likely need to be. I have 2 KSA-250 amps for my biamped system and an XPR2 in my home theater. I have compared the KSA-250 to the XPR2 in my stereo system both in swapping bass amps and midrange-tweeter (MT) amps. Driving the MT the Krell is clearly more neutral - there is a greater difference in recording quality of various albums evident. The XPR2 by contrast has a warm coloration to it which is enjoyable, helps make poor recordings sound better, and has a nice 3D quality. I could easily live with it as a replacement but I prefer the Krell. As for bass, the Krell is far superior having more control and impact. The XPR2 sounds a little soft by comparison.
The MDA-500 is basically a mono version of the KSA-250. The Krell has an enormous power supply with the transformer alone weighing almost as much as an entire XPR1 (85 lbs. 4.5KVA). It is definitely more powerful than an XPR-1 capable of delivering 4000 watts into 1 ohm, however, as long as your speaker impedance is above 4 ohms the XPR1 can deliver a higher maximum voltage thus a little more power.
Class A operation of the Krell is the first 100 watts after which it reverts to AB. Heat radiated into the room is a concern (as is power consumption). Since I do not use air conditioning, on really hot days I do not turn my stereo on during the day due to the heat (luckily I have another small system to listen to).
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Post by basquiat on May 5, 2014 9:10:54 GMT -5
If the Krells have not been recapped they will likely need to be. I have 2 KSA-250 amps for my biamped system and an XPR2 in my home theater. I have compared the KSA-250 to the XPR2 in my stereo system both in swapping bass amps and midrange-tweeter (MT) amps. Driving the MT the Krell is clearly more neutral - there is a greater difference in recording quality of various albums evident. The XPR2 by contrast has a warm coloration to it which is enjoyable, helps make poor recordings sound better, and has a nice 3D quality. I could easily live with it as a replacement but I prefer the Krell. As for bass, the Krell is far superior having more control and impact. The XPR2 sounds a little soft by comparison. The MDA-500 is basically a mono version of the KSA-250. The Krell has an enormous power supply with the transformer alone weighing almost as much as an entire XPR1 (85 lbs. 4.5KVA). It is definitely more powerful than an XPR-1 capable of delivering 4000 watts into 1 ohm, however, as long as your speaker impedance is above 4 ohms the XPR1 can deliver a higher maximum voltage thus a little more power. Class A operation of the Krell is the first 100 watts after which it reverts to AB. Heat radiated into the room is a concern (as is power consumption). Since I do not use air conditioning, on really hot days I do not turn my stereo on during the day due to the heat (luckily I have another small system to listen to). my speakers are 4ohm full range electrostatic acoustat .....how caqn you tell if they need to be recapped, ihave a set of xpr-1 may want o add to my system the krells.....i wont let my emo's go |
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Post by willcycle on May 6, 2014 5:23:06 GMT -5
I would say they need to be recapped. They are now at least twenty years old and because they run hot their capacitors dry out quicker. New replacements are also superior to what was available back then. I recapped both my KSA-250s and they do sound better. I also "supercharged" one by increasing the power supply capacitance from 160,000 ufd to a whopping 400,000.
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Post by garbulky on May 6, 2014 5:40:31 GMT -5
BTW, you plan to combine these amps by bi-amping? You should consider that they have different gain levels which may be tough to match the levels if you don't have the right equipment
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Post by strych9 on Sept 6, 2014 22:58:41 GMT -5
If the Krells have not been recapped they will likely need to be. I have 2 KSA-250 amps for my biamped system and an XPR2 in my home theater. I have compared the KSA-250 to the XPR2 in my stereo system both in swapping bass amps and midrange-tweeter (MT) amps. Driving the MT the Krell is clearly more neutral - there is a greater difference in recording quality of various albums evident. The XPR2 by contrast has a warm coloration to it which is enjoyable, helps make poor recordings sound better, and has a nice 3D quality. I could easily live with it as a replacement but I prefer the Krell. As for bass, the Krell is far superior having more control and impact. The XPR2 sounds a little soft by comparison. The MDA-500 is basically a mono version of the KSA-250. The Krell has an enormous power supply with the transformer alone weighing almost as much as an entire XPR1 (85 lbs. 4.5KVA). It is definitely more powerful than an XPR-1 capable of delivering 4000 watts into 1 ohm, however, as long as your speaker impedance is above 4 ohms the XPR1 can deliver a higher maximum voltage thus a little more power. Class A operation of the Krell is the first 100 watts after which it reverts to AB. Heat radiated into the room is a concern (as is power consumption). Since I do not use air conditioning, on really hot days I do not turn my stereo on during the day due to the heat (luckily I have another small system to listen to). |
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Post by strych9 on Sept 6, 2014 23:10:48 GMT -5
I agree with most of Willcycle's post. However my view point is a bit more one sided. The MDA 500's way out perform the XPR1 is terms of power and versatility. Because the have the ability to play down to 1Ω (@ 4000 watts) makes it a life time amp, Being able to handle ANY speaker you through at it.
The class A operation is less than 100w however because of its massive power supply it does not sound like an AB amplifier (KAV 250a).
Above and beyond that (if YOU like the way they sound) the 500's are a neat find and a unique set to have in your system. I have not seen any for sale in a while.
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