Krell KSA 80 Review - Full Class A Monster Amp - Stereotypical Krell Sound Or Something Else?

Here I bring home a minty Krell KSA80 and test it in the main system. I've some experience with Krell, having lived with the Krell 300i integrated, the Krell FPB200 and FPB700cx 'full power balanced' range of stereo amps, and also a pair of Krell MDA300 class-A Monoblock amps.
I start out using the KSA80 outdoors with some inexpensive Michael Green speakers, a Cambridge Audio integrated amp's pre-outs, and a cheap CD player. I then move the KSA 80 indoors to see how it sounds and performs in the main rig, with ProAc D40R speakers and various other equipment.
Is the Krell KSA 80 worth the cost of an expensive re-cap? This amp is vintage and runs hot in Class-A, so caps dry out and need to be replaced, but is it worth it?
Please hit like and subscribe if you find this useful. Sorry about the poor production quality, I'm an old man who remembers using a slide rule in highschool!
Visit my review website at audioresurgenc... for more reviews on audiophile products, both new and vintage.
#Krell #proacD40R
#KrellKSA80 #KrellFPB

[@xianxivfx]

You got yourself a real winner here! Ive always dreamed of getting a Krell KSA250 Amp!

[@Audio-Ranch]

It would probably be a good idea to get a qualified technician to replace the electrolytic capacitors in the Krell before using it too much. They can degrade just from age and can cause the buzzing problem you mention. These older Krell amps are fantastic values. I had a KSA250 for a few years and loved it! Thanks for the vid!

[@welderfixer]

For a couple hundred bucks count me in if you decide against owning it. Absolutely that amp would be my stairway to heaven. Hopefully, the drive to your house wouldn't be too much for me. If you do keep that beautiful amp I hope enjoy it for many years to come. All the very best, Kevin

[@andrejuliomateus5969]

I think you should Recap, yes !! I got some vintage equipment, amplifyers and ALL recapped. It s becomes better than original projecta.

[@iamspyvspy3077]

Great little amps. I much prefer the older fixed bias Krells to the later sliding bias models. They sound best plugged straight into the wall, no power strips, no conditioners etc. If you do get it re-conditioned, send it back to Krell. Expensive yes but worth it. Good luck.

[@_H_2023]

I've owned the same KSA 150 using it most days for the past 30yrs and it produced an amazing sound with my Tannoys and Quad 63s ( I know odd set up but I use other gear as well) but sadly 6 months ago it wouldn't switch on and is now in storage in it's original box. The problem in the UK is no schematic drawing for the guy to repair my amp also all Krell parts would have to be purchased through official import dealer, I say no more. Your price for a refurb by Krell is cheap but that's because your in U.S

[@AllHandlesHaveBeenTaken]

I had a KSA150 in the 90s. It sounded great once after around 15 minutes or more in winter. On the weekend I would leave it on so I didn't have to wait. I ended up selling it because of this. I probably should have kept it because it sounded so good.

[@audio_resurgence_reviews]

I hear you, but most of my amps are tube amps and they also take a while to warm up, sometimes 45 minutes or more. A lot of people just leave the class-A amps powered all the time, I think that's why you see some with the purple heat discoloration on the heatsink fins, and why some amps are still OK after 25 years, and others bite the dust. I'd like to hear a KSA150.

[@xianxivfx]

It’s fantastic ❤

[@gojdartamas34]

It worth to recapped by Krell but You shoulf buy a krell preamp, and proper dac…

[@itisjustacomment]

Sadly, that cost a great deal, and the issue might arise later on anyway. Imigine the shipping alone

[@gojdartamas34]

@@itisjustacomment premium product expesive to keep, the Mark Levinson even more expensive. In Germany a 334 refurbishing cost 4000€…

[@itisjustacomment]

@gojdartamas34 Yeah, I'm going off his words . What he stated multiple times was that he didn't want to throw a lot of money at said product.

[@toupthemusicma]

Frankie Goes to Hollywood rocks 🤩🕺🙌

[@audio_resurgence_reviews]

Yup, they rock!

[@itisjustacomment]

Class A does sound special

[@darylprowell5857]

I sold Krell for years. The problem isn’t the performance of the ksa80, The problem is servicing the Amp, some of the parts are proprietary. It is also challenging finding a good technician, not impossible, but difficult.

[@audio_resurgence_reviews]

Yes. Krell quoted $1800 and shipping cost 2-ways is another $300. A non-Krell service tech quoted $900 but wasn't clear on what, exactly, parts were going to be replaced. It's a crapshoot on an amp this age.

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

​@@audio_resurgence_reviewsIf you can handle a screwdriver and a soldering iron cap replacement is easy! If that was my amp I'd do it myself! One caveat is that large power supply caps aren't cheap!

[@davidwilliams2840]

The KSA 150s is the best poweramp I've ever had

[@audio_resurgence_reviews]

Thanks for the comment. For some context, can you list a few of the amps you've owned, please. Have you heard the KSA 80?

[@nigeltrigger4499]

Have a look at the Topping B200 mono blocks - WAY cheaper and far better THD! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJWZm62gjNZres0

[@_H_2023]

@@audio_resurgence_reviews The one that got the best reviews back in the 70s was KSA50, nice amp.

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

​@@_H_2023My Bedini 25/25 was even better!

[@JingoLoBa57]

Krell company is struggling to keep up with service demands before, now the owner has past away it will need to restructure to become successful again.

[@CharlesBonham-bh8mt]

You are lucky. I bought a Krell 200 B class A amp at an estate sale along with some B&W 801 Anniversary edition speakers (which work great). The amp worked for about a week then the protection circuit kicked in a few times and now doesn’t come on at all. No one in my area wants to work on it because Krell won’t supply a schematic. Krell wants $2500 to fix.

[@audio_resurgence_reviews]

It's tough, sorry to hear that. To add to your woes the owner of Krell passed away a while back and the last I read the entire company has closed to take a 'temporary' hiatus. I hope you can get it fixed eventually....though it isn't looking good for you if it's something more than a basic capacitor replacement.

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Transistor amps don't need a rocket scientist to repair them. Apparently competent technicians are scarce these days!

[@przemysawdomaradzki4195]

Mamy te same kolumny i podstawki IsoAcoustics. Mój wzmacniacz to Moon 340i, przetwornik Musical Fidelity M6SRDAC, odtwarzacz sieciowy Eversolo DMP-A6, kable Audioquest. Wszystko gra bardzo pięknie. Pozdrawiam Przemek z Sopotu (Polska).

[@simonirvine1628]

Its in the fins, they make it sound better

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Work great for Magnepans 😊

[@audio_resurgence_reviews]

Yes they do

[@kurthill7030]

Sadly they don't make them like this anymore just excellent ampliers

[@simonirvine1628]

Sounds better outside

[@samuellord8576]

That little trick of “just plugging it in” (my words) might have cost your unit several years of life. Very bad idea. This is what variacs are for, to _slowly_ bring up AC voltage and give the main filter caps a chance of a long life.

[@audio_resurgence_reviews]

Great point!

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

Always use a Variac to slowly power up old gear that has been sitting in storage. I have and use one. A good not expensive investment!

[@aa5az423]

In January '23, I ran into a SoundStream DA-1 amplifier, which was made by Krell, from the mid-1990's. I paid $300 for it, but it didn't work, it was playing like preamp volumes out of it. I took it back to the pawn shop where I found it. I have regretted that ever since. I live five miles from a guy who does amazing work on stuff like this and he could've recapped it. It's a regret!

[@lisaseeber4447]

Briliant review!

[@ChiefExecutiveOrbiter]

Lol welcome to pleasure dome

[@simonirvine1628]

Its a fu*king party

[@mrpmj00]

Naw, Krell's not good for today's system which require trigger input, gain controls, loop out RCA for subwoofers. Not to mention Krell weighs more than 25 lbs and runs hot. I got the NAD C298 which does everything. --- source=Apple Music lossless

[@audio_resurgence_reviews]

But your NAD sounds like garbage compared to a KSA80. Do you want handy features or something that sounds great and can drive anything?

[@mrpmj00]

@@audio_resurgence_reviews You haven't listened to the NAD C298 have you armchair quarterback?

[@TonTos.Tomahawk]

How much money

[@Chokechain1111]

Save, it's a krell

[@beslemeto]

Sounds similar to Quad 303 in my opinion!

[@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw]

That's debatable! I do have a restored 303, along with a restored 405. Both are excellent sounding amps!

[@beslemeto]

@@robertjermantowicz-uw3iw Why is my 303 hissing?Is it designed to go with 33 preamp only?

[@simonirvine1628]

So Their ◀

[@kurthill7030]

Keep it becoming collectable just store it

[@audio_resurgence_reviews]

It's a nice idea but I have too many 'collectibles' already, LOL.

[@peterc3143]

Very nice sounding amplifier 👍