Your experience in "in their day" brands/components that you remember foundly?

Krell Krell

I don't fondly remember, I stiil use.

Pure Class A (class A all the way up to full power) is a thing of the past, even at Krell.  But truth is you just can't match the sound if you're prepared to buy the watts at today's prices.

I am.  KMA200 References, upgraded for Krell dealer to 400w.  After 35 years still the best amps ever.

And KSA50.  Krell's first product from the early 80s.

@klh007   I note you like the KSA50s too.  Did you ever hear the KMA200s?

@klh007   I agree with you entirely about the KSA50.   There was something magical about it.  It is often the case that a new company's break-through product is a killer.  But the magic is  probably mainly that it is full-range Class A.

It was John Atkinson's  reference for years after he bought the test piece when testing it as editor of Hi-Fi News & Record Review (UK) before being poached by Stereophile.  in a recent piece he says he still rates it and uses it a lot.

The KRS200s have been my main amps for more than 30 years now.  I have had them overhauled and re-capped once and shall never change them.

I went Audio Research in the pre-amp department rather than CJ although both offer very similar characteristics and benefits in my view as well as unquestionable integrity as traders.  I've moved away from AR on phono amp, initiated by their not offering fully balanced in their Reference flagship.  I went van den Hul The Grail and very definitely not regretted.