Bryston 9BST vs Krell KAV-500
wk...@my-dejanews.com
home-theater equally well continues. I have narrowed my search to the Bryston
9BST and the Krell KAV-500. Has anyone had the opportunity to listen to
the Bryston 9BST yet? How does it compare to the Krell KAV-500?
The Bryston 9BST is the first true 5 channel multi-monaural amplifier
consisting of 5 separate toroidal transformers (Proceed only uses 3), whereas
the Krell utilizes one 1KVA transformer that is shared between all 5 channels.
Is there any performance advantage of having separate transformers on all 5
channels? In 2 channel stereo mode, does it make a difference in performance
or sound quality. (i.e. Will the Krell utilize the full power of its 1KVA
transformer to the 2 channels, since the other 3 channels will be unused?) I
feel pretty uncomfortable spending $4500 on a high-end multi-channel amp and
getting a relatively small power supply that is shared between all 5 channels
(even the Krell KAV-250a uses a 2KVA transformer and its a 2 channel amp).
The Bryston also offers the 20 year transferable warranty, the Krell only 5
years. Based on their retail prices, the Bryston also costs $800 less than
the Krell.
The one area that Krell seems to have an advantage over Bryston is in its
implementation of its balanced circuitry. Krell uses true differentially
balanced circuits from input to output, where the Bryston essentially sums the
+ and - signals at the input. Does the KAV-500 sound considerably better when
utilizing its balanced inputs?
All suggestions and opinions are welcome.
Regards,
Will
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Johnny Y Boey
> I
> feel pretty uncomfortable spending $4500 on a high-end multi-channel amp and
> getting a relatively small power supply that is shared between all 5 channels
> (even the Krell KAV-250a uses a 2KVA transformer and its a 2 channel amp).
>
2kVA is more than enough for a class AB 250W design. The storage caps are
oversized too. One stiff, well-regulated transformer doesn't necessarily perform
worse than two smaller transformers. Check out the impressive amp modules on the
Krell too.
> The Bryston also offers the 20 year transferable warranty, the Krell only 5
> years. Based on their retail prices, the Bryston also costs $800 less than
> the Krell.
>
> The one area that Krell seems to have an advantage over Bryston is in its
> implementation of its balanced circuitry. Krell uses true differentially
> balanced circuits from input to output,
None of the KAV-series amp is fully balanced.
JB
Eric Smith
listen to both amps with the speakers you own. The amps do sound different
and it will come down to which you like better with your speakers.
wk...@my-dejanews.com wrote in article <6rkqjl$hln$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
> My search for a high-end multi-channel amp that serves both music and
> home-theater equally well continues. I have narrowed my search to the
Bryston
> 9BST and the Krell KAV-500. Has anyone had the opportunity to listen to
> the Bryston 9BST yet? How does it compare to the Krell KAV-500?
>
> The Bryston 9BST is the first true 5 channel multi-monaural amplifier
> consisting of 5 separate toroidal transformers (Proceed only uses 3),
whereas
> the Krell utilizes one 1KVA transformer that is shared between all 5
channels.
> Is there any performance advantage of having separate transformers on
all 5
> channels? In 2 channel stereo mode, does it make a difference in
performance
> or sound quality. (i.e. Will the Krell utilize the full power of its 1KVA
> transformer to the 2 channels, since the other 3 channels will be
unused?) I
> feel pretty uncomfortable spending $4500 on a high-end multi-channel amp
and
> getting a relatively small power supply that is shared between all 5
channels
> (even the Krell KAV-250a uses a 2KVA transformer and its a 2 channel
amp).
> The Bryston also offers the 20 year transferable warranty, the Krell only
5
> years. Based on their retail prices, the Bryston also costs $800 less
than
> the Krell.
>
> The one area that Krell seems to have an advantage over Bryston is in its
> implementation of its balanced circuitry. Krell uses true differentially
Johnny Y Boey
> Both are great amps. I own Bryston my girlfriend owns Krell.
thought you have B&K 4430???
Eric Smith
Johnny Y Boey <jb...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in article
<35DF1F45...@ix.netcom.com>...
wk...@jatotech.com
Johnny Y Boey <jb...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> wk...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
>
> > I
> > feel pretty uncomfortable spending $4500 on a high-end multi-channel amp and
> > getting a relatively small power supply that is shared between all 5
channels
> > (even the Krell KAV-250a uses a 2KVA transformer and its a 2 channel amp).
> >
>
> oversized too. One stiff, well-regulated transformer doesn't necessarily
perform
> worse than two smaller transformers. Check out the impressive amp modules on
the
> Krell too.
>
> > years. Based on their retail prices, the Bryston also costs $800 less than
> > the Krell.
> >
> > The one area that Krell seems to have an advantage over Bryston is in its
> > implementation of its balanced circuitry. Krell uses true differentially
> > balanced circuits from input to output,
>
>
> JB
>
>
Johnny Boey, You stated that the KAV-series amps are not fully balanced. If
you go to Krell's website, and read the sales literature on the KAV-250a via
Acrobat, Krell states that they use full complementary balanced circuitry
from input to output. So who's right? Also, the SGHT reviewed the Krell
KAV-500 in one if their issues in February or March, and in the
Manufacturer's Comments section, Krell's sales manager talks at length about
their full-complementary balanced circuitry and indicated that the reviewer
did not take full advantage of its sound quality by not utilizing the
balanced inputs. Is Krell lying about their implementation of their balance
circuits in reference to their KAV line?
Johnny Y Boey
> Johnny Boey, You stated that the KAV-series amps are not fully balanced. If
> you go to Krell's website, and read the sales literature on the KAV-250a via
> Acrobat, Krell states that they use full complementary balanced circuitry
> from input to output. So who's right? Also, the SGHT reviewed the Krell
> KAV-500 in one if their issues in February or March, and in the
> Manufacturer's Comments section, Krell's sales manager talks at length about
> their full-complementary balanced circuitry and indicated that the reviewer
> did not take full advantage of its sound quality by not utilizing the
> balanced inputs. Is Krell lying about their implementation of their balance
> circuits in reference to their KAV line?
>
No they are not. You're just not reading it right. They never said that it's fully
balanced throughout, i.e. from inputs to outputs to transformer windings etc. Yes,
the current mode gain stage is balanced, maybe the input stage too. I have looked
into the cover of all the KAV components, owned a few myself, and I take
photographs. Just look at the circuit, clearly not fully balanced throughout. Not
even the KRC3 or the KPS20i/l is.
JB
Avalonav
>home-theater equally well continues. I have narrowed my search to the
>Bryston
>9BST and the Krell KAV-500. Has anyone had the opportunity to listen to
>the Bryston 9BST yet? How does it compare to the Krell KAV-500?
They are both great pieces. The Bryston has the advantage of the 20 year
warranty and being a better value. You have to listen in your system in the
end. I will finally have the 9BST on display next week, though it is sonically
identical to 3BST/5BST.
Bob@Avalon AV, Medford,NJ Home Trials Shop Local 609-654-7752
Lexicon,Chiro,Aragon,Bryston,Sunfire,B&K,Velodyne,Hales,Rega,EAD
Acurus,Parasound,Meadowlark,Tandberg,NEAR,Genesis,Camelot,IEV
Seleco,Toshiba,Vidikron,EC,Tributar,M&K,RBH,SW,Monitor,Plinius
76231...@compuserve.com
-JimG.
Avalonav
>> They are both great pieces. The Bryston has the advantage of the 20 year
>> warranty and being a better value. You have to listen in your system in
>the
>> end. I will finally have the 9BST on display next week, though it is
>sonically
>> identical to 3BST/5BST.
>> Bob@Avalon AV, Medford,NJ Home Trials Shop Local 609-654-7752
>> Lexicon,Chiro,Aragon,Bryston,Sunfire,B&K,Velodyne,Hales,Rega,EAD
>> Acurus,Parasound,Meadowlark,Tandberg,NEAR,Genesis,Camelot,IEV
>> Seleco,Toshiba,Vidikron,EC,Tributar,M&K,RBH,SW,Monitor,Plinius
>>
>Bob: Are you implying that the 4B-ST sounds different than these? How so?
Not at all !!
I simply used 3BST/5BST as examples since they were the same power as the 9BST.