Krell vs. Classe

[See-Fu]

I've been able to track down a demo for each of these two amps, Classe CA5200 & Krell HTS/TAS (both 5x200). Both are the same price so Ii'll be considering both. What differences can I expect from the amps in terms of sound output? Also in your own personal opinion which amp would you buy?

[dknightd]

Good for you. In my past experience classe seemed to be a little smoother in the upper frequencies, but the krell seemed to hit harder in the bass. Both are very good brands, and what I heard years ago may not coincide with what they are making today. Probably either is a very very nice amp. Listen to both, choose which sounds best to you, if they sound simlar buy the one that looks best to you. Really I don't see how you can go wrong. Both are probably very nice.

[jmourik]

I listened to a Classe CA5200 and thought it was sounding GREAT. I ended buying the Rotel RB1090, which I thought was very good, and cheap :-) Didn't want to spend the extra money on the Classe, even though it sounds better. Very refined. Of course, if I ever have around $5K burning a hole in my pocket, I'll upgrade :-) But at that point I'll have to listen to the other amps in that price range too, obviously.

So what did you end up going for?

[style]

classè/krell

@ See-Fu,

my little opinion,


Krell if do you like music "hard" rock-rock-blues-... & HT. This is my personaly choice.
---
rotel RB1090 is great apli but in stereo krell/rotel is a step up.(in price and
quality /construction&prestation)

What for speakers?

Omar
switzerland

[docp]

What's your speaker setup?
I can't comment on the Krell, but I heard the 5200 with a SSP 600 running B&W 803D as fronts. The sound was amazing for HT and for 2 channel. Detailed but not fatiguing.

My vote for the Classe. I have a CA2200 with CP500 running B&W 803s and I'm very happy with the sound.

[Kobus]

My vote for the Classe. I have a CA2200 with CP500 running B&W 803s and I'm very happy with the sound.

Mmmm can not wait for my cp500 to arive.

I think that these two are so close, that if you can not listen to both, I would go on looks. Yes !!! looks do count for me.

Kobus

[Charles]

I have to agree with style. Krell for home theater and rock music, Classe and Mac for more warmth.

[jmourik]

Good to know. I really loved the B&W - Classe combination!

[gross30]

I use Classe Monoblocks for mains, and a Krell 3 chanel for HT, and I like the sound of both.

[Audiophiliac]

I have always liked the smoooth top end of the Classe amps. The Delta series seem to have a bit more detail and "crispness" than previous designs without giving up that liquid warmth.....its lovely...especially on Martin Logans.....but there is just something about that Krell sound that is so.....so.....just right. THey have gobs of authority in the low end and the midrange and high end have a lot of life and detail without being overly forward or bright. THe FPB700CX (1400W/ch!!!) on the Wilson MAXX II fronted by a VTL TL 7.5 and Krell KPS28 was just phenomenal in what it could reproduce in our demo room.....

I vote for both......but pick which one sounds best to you. If possible, go back several times for auditions....use the same music in the same order...and get used to both of them...either way you go, you will be happy!

[Charles]

Yep, as stated over and over on this forum listen for yourself, I had several listening sessions with Krell, Mac and Classe before choosing. The one I was leaning toward after reading the forums didn't end up in my room. All of them had favorable attributes which makes it a personal decision based on your ears and use.

[Kobus]

Yep, as stated over and over on this forum listen for yourself.

Might not be relevant in this case, but remember that not all of us have the oppurtunity to demo.

Kobus

[Charles]

Might not be relevant in this case, but remember that not all of us have the oppurtunity to demo.

Kobus

Sorry, I guess I should have mentioned that. In my case I really wanted to include Levinson and few others which were just too far away to demo.

[See-Fu]

I have always liked the smoooth top end of the Classe amps. The Delta series seem to have a bit more detail and "crispness" than previous designs without giving up that liquid warmth.....its lovely...especially on Martin Logans.....but there is just something about that Krell sound that is so.....so.....just right. THey have gobs of authority in the low end and the midrange and high end have a lot of life and detail without being overly forward or bright. THe FPB700CX (1400W/ch!!!) on the Wilson MAXX II fronted by a VTL TL 7.5 and Krell KPS28 was just phenomenal in what it could reproduce in our demo room.....

I vote for both......but pick which one sounds best to you. If possible, go back several times for auditions....use the same music in the same order...and get used to both of them...either way you go, you will be happy!

I have to agree. I ended up with the Krell amp and the amount of punch there is on the low end is simply amazing. I went from using a rotel rsx 1057 to a krell kav 2250 to power my fronts speakers and the change was amazing. When I took the amp to a relatives house and we swaped out his rotel 1080 with the krell kav 2250, the first thing we noticed were the mids and highs. The brightness was gone on the highs and the mids just came alive. I just hope this amp doesn't lead me to swap out my speakers anytime soon, as an upgrade would be extremely expensive for a HT setup.