Which preamp for Symphonic Line Kraft amps?

I now use the SL Kraft 250 and the SL tubed pre. I previously owned a CAT Ult MK2. I have also heard the SL SS pre with the Kraft. Bombaywalla and Jay are both right.
The SS SL with a 1 ohm output produces deeper tighter bass than the tubed SL or the CAT. The tubed SL does other things somewhat better than the SS SL. It is a matter of taste but I would choose either over the CAT. You may end up going back to the SS crossover to drive the amp correctly and may want the things tubes bring from the preamp.

Bart

Bart;

Thanks for your reply - I was hoping I might hear from you as I'd seen a couple of your posts on Audio Asylum about auditioning the SL SS preamp and then purchasing their tubed unit.

Once I get the Kraft amps I'll have to see what happens using both the tubed and stock crossovers and then make my decision about going solid state or tubes when I upgrade my preamp.

Regards,

Jonathan

Hi guys allot of good info. in this thread,

I have never heard Kraft product, when I look at pics on the site and the little bit of info. regarding the product I'm a bit confused with; the finish and actual product line it's self.

First off the finish, I see on the site a pic of a pretty industrial pro looking finish, then I see some pics of a darker chrome shiny look (which I like) and then a mat aluminum look as per the 300 for sale right now, what is the actual finish.

Secondly, are all the amps a class "A" design ....

Do the amps run warm, hot .....

The pre-amps offered are tube and solid state .....

Looking at my past set-ups I seem to favour a tube pre and solid state amps.

Jdineshk I read you actually use to have a REF3 which I currently own, what's the rest of your set-up.

This set-up is for CD playback only.

Connections are they XLR or RCA and the preference is .....

Right now I have all XLR, Stealth latest version Indra's and very happy.

My speakers are MBL 101E's, what would you recommend, I need mono's due to my set-up configuration and the space is fairly large. I had bought a pair of CAT JL3 Sig. MK2's but do to reliability issues etc. which I was not privy to prior declined to have to deal with this and sold them, while talking with Ken he mentioned the only other amp he would recomend if not CAT would be Kraft product.

Right now I'm learning more about Karan product and specifically the 1200's and look foward to hearing in my set-up in the near future.

Dev,

There is a guy from Philly that has auditioned a Karan amp
(and preamp I think) in his system. He uses Ascendo speakers (M?) and a CAT JL2. He was very unimpressed with the Karan gear. His agon moniker is ubbyglubby (Bob). Let us know what you think of the Karan gear when you hear it.

Bart

Dev,

My system is for CD playback only. I use a Marantz SA-11S2 player. Although the Kraft has a balanced input it is just connected single-ended inside. Hope that makes sense? So, when using the ARC Ref 3, you don't get the benefit of the 12 db of gain in balanced mode. Instead, you get 6db of gain, along with an output impedance that is too high to drive the Kraft amp.

The net of this is the sound lacks weight and hiss was intrusive at low level listening. At least that was my experience.

The ARC Ref 3 is a phenomenal product, but was not a optimal match with the Kraft amp for my ears. I reluctantly sold it.

I have no experience with Karan and cannot comment.

Good luck,

Jay