Talk to me about the Krell KSA 100

[Filterlab]

I fail to read anything negative about the KSA 100, aside from the weight of course - but who’d buy one to use as a portable headphone amp? :lol:

So, tell me about your Krell. Why on earth should I buy one?

Thanks!

[Ali Tait]

I have an agreed sale of one from a member of this parish, though I can’t pick it up yet for obvious reasons. Been doing a fair bit of research and there does appear to be little criticism about. I plan on going through the amp and recapping it, should be good for another 30 years then.��

[struth]

great build quality so dont see why not if looked after.. can only go up in value too

[Macca]

Visiting civilians will think you are insane.

On the negative side they weigh a ton.

[Lawrence001]

On the positive side any burglars will probably put it straight back down if they try to lift it and just look for your phone, laptop and car keys.

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

[Audio Al]

My opinion is and will allways be " If it's heavy it's Good "

Made from huge transformers ,heat sink's ,Caps etc

[Macca]

This is mine on the inside:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190715/0f12e4c28ee73682ae624e6bd795e94e.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190715/811d2dc3f2ba206e796750e94bbe449e.jpg

[Filterlab]

Nice. I love the heatsinks on the capacitors and inside the fan cowls; that's attention to detail.

[Macca]

That's a mark 2 so the fans blow upwards, not down as in the mark 1. Puts out 650 watts of heat through the top vents so also functions as a fan heater.

On the really hot days in summer I had to swap it out of the system as it was just too much.

I still think the later 'S' series are better amplifiers, from a strictly hi-fi angle, but that's a minority view amongst the Krell cognoscenti. Much harder to find a 'S' in Europe though.

[enrae8]

This is mine on the inside:



Is this a different model ?
I was just looking to see if there were any for sale :scratch:
http://https://i.imgur.com/Xob0j9S.jpg

[Macca]

The one I have is the KSA100 Mark 2.

With older Krells there are small differences even in the same model, as I understand it.

That picture you've posted looks like it is of a recently built clone. Looks way too 'new' inside to be from the 1980s

[enrae8]

It’s on emporium - so you’re probably correct - I wouldn’t bother,they do have lots of interesting stuff though

http://https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284127915136 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284127915136)

[enrae8]

Not working - had this before,must be doing something wrong:eyebrows:

[enrae8]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284127915136
Sorted

[enrae8]

:)

[Firebottle]

Nice. I love the heatsinks on the capacitors and inside the fan cowls; that's attention to detail.

There aren't any heatsinks on capacitors..

[User211]

I have heard a few Krells but there's only one I have thought 'now that's a good amp'.

The Krell KSA300S.

[Lawrence001]

There aren't any heatsinks on capacitors..I've always assumed the metal bars were to stop vibration affecting the capacitors?

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

[anthonyTD]

The blue heatsinks have devices bolted to them underneath, not easy to see from the picks, hence i can understand why some may think they are there for cooling the gold coloured electrolytics near them! :)

[Macca]

It’s on emporium - so you’re probably correct - I wouldn’t bother,they do have lots of interesting stuff though

http://https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284127915136 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284127915136)

The outside looks correct but it all looks so new inside. Mine is a later model and you can see from the pictures I posted the internals don't look like it just came off the production line. An original KSA100 would be at least 33 years old.

Short article by Steve Guttenberg on the KSA100 here https://www.soundandvision.com/content/krell-ksa-100-stereo-amplifier

''I worked as a salesman at a high-end store in NYC (Sound by Singer), and I sold literally tons of Krells. The audiophile buzz was tremendous, so without a single ad or review those early Krell amps were in such high demand we couldn't keep them in stock, so every amp sold for full retail price! Krell's build and sound quality were irresistible, it was as simple as that.''

original price was $2200 in 1981, that would be $6500 today even if you don't take into account the Veblen pricing of high end kit that exists now.

[walpurgis]

I've always assumed the metal bars were to stop vibration affecting the capacitors?

The bars complete the circuit. Good idea, aluminium is an excellent conductor and provides bracing.

[Pharos]

They illustrate dual functioning of parts in design, both economic in terms of parts, and effectiveness.

The thick bars complete a cct, and also are heat sinks for the bridge rectifiers on top.

[Filterlab]

There aren't any heatsinks on capacitors..

Ahhh, must be the angle of the photo.

[Filterlab]

The outside looks correct but it all looks so new inside. Mine is a later model and you can see from the pictures I posted the internals don't look like it just came off the production line. An original KSA100 would be at least 33 years old.


Refurbished perhaps, maybe overhauled? Looking at other images of KSA 100’s it all looks fairly straight to me, but one can imagine what happens to components over a thirty year journey.

I’ve bought from Emporium before. Never had a problem. They have some very interesting stuff. Packed to the rafters with top end gear it is (one the near Bungay is anyway).

Nice chaps at that branch too.

[Macca]

Refurbished perhaps, maybe overhauled? Looking at other images of KSA 100’s it all looks fairly straight to me, but one can imagine what happens to components over a thirty year journey.

I’ve bought from Emporium before. Never had a problem. They have some very interesting stuff. Packed to the rafters with top end gear it is (one the near Bungay is anyway).

Nice chaps at that branch too.

Everything on it looks brand new though even the clips holding the wiring down. If it was refurbished it looks like they changed everything, yet it has a dodgy power switch?

I'd want a bit more conformation first if you are thinking of going for that one. There are clones about and you can the buy boards for them from China on eBay.

[Patrick Dixon]

I have heard a few Krells but there's only one I have thought 'now that's a good amp'.

The Krell KSA300S.

Yeah, I've got one of those. I like it.

[Filterlab]

I’m not going for that one as I’d need to upgrade the DAC/Pre first. Just considering the KSA as the next amp.