Are Nakamichi amps any good?


I currently have a Krell KST 100 amp with a YBA 2 preamp driving my Vandersteen 2's but Threshold amps have caught my attention.

1) Would a Threshold amp be a step up from the Krell?

2) Are Nakamichi amps any good or are they Threshold wannabes?

I'm trying to keep the upgrade below $1000 and I'll recap amp if needed.
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Showing 3 responses by jollygreenaudiophile2

Just in case.....I have several of the PA-7 and a few PA-7ii amps. Also a PA-5. These will be available soon. The "Stasis tech", was indeed, "used for a time", "Under license", from Nelson Pass. Until he left Nakamichi.
  He left, "Threshold", "Quite disgruntled" I hear. Over some disputes with his partners to go to Nak.. He did go back to Threshold for a time. Leaving finally to form, "Pass Laboratories", and then also, "First Watt". He also designed amplifiers for "Denon" back in the day! And probably for other companies as well.

These amps did NOT have horrible design issues by any stretch of the imagination! As far as any issues that I had with them?
 A nice corollary would be;

{My Ferrari must have design issues because two people stated here, that, "their", "Ford Station-wagon's"? Did not need as many tune up's as the Ford Wagon's did.....}

Fine Audiophile grade Amplifiers like these actually were? NEED servicing now and again. Just as my, "Pass Labs", "Krell", and also my "Manley Lab's", amps do in order to stay healthy and perform at the high levels they were designed to achieve. These were not, "Throw away", amps like many Crown, Pioneer and others were. "Once issues were found in that gear".
 And like a Ferrari, the Nak amps have also held their value "As Well As", Their sound!
 Whereas that old Ford wagon I owned? Who care's? But, It is In the junk yard, I am sure....
And , "Oh Yeah", The PA-7, Mkii amps are NOT a better amp than the PA-7. And do not sound as nice.
 Also, "Mr. Pass", "Invented" , "Stasis" tech. And- He did not, "Re-license", to Nak after he left. And that is when Nak built the PA-7, Mkii.
. This at about the time of Nak's, "Fall from Grace". Which began in earnest after Mr. Pass left, The orig. owner died and "Marketing", took over. "Onkyo" took the Japanese thrown for a bit and now?
 Sound united! Yipee!
 "Pukes"....
 "Yes", It IS just that