Rare beast from the east: DIY clone of Krell KSA100MK2 First Look video!

[@tweakerman]

It looks brilliant, these clones are getting better & better 👍

[@jonnyberggren4598]

Btw for all those out there complaining about clones. I've've said it before, and I say it again. Even if this one can't compare to the original. Specs or sound. I bet there's not much, if any, that can compare in this price range. If you have the money, buy the original. And for all of us not so fortunate economicalwize. Are we very happy that we can get something so well built and well sounding like this for 1000 bucks. That goes with all the well-built clones. Gettin tired about those who complain. Just go buy the original then. Just saying.....

[@MarkHulbert-j3r]

Exactly! Look for value price ratio. Don't get so obsessed about authenticity - relax and enjoy the music! Haven't had so much fun in 40 years of hifi. Thanks China!

[@pkal244]

Have you seen the measurements from the dartZeel 108 clone? Everything pretty much matches exactly with the originally marketed specs, down to the THD and power output per ohm. I'm curious how close this Krell clone matches up to the original KSA100 as the internals look VERY different than the original.

[@pandstar]

Well said. I happen to have a FM Acoustics 255 clone preamp I bought about 3 years ago for about $350 including shipping, and I can't say how it compares the original, but I have compared it to about half a dozen other preamps currently on the market, the least expensive was a $1100.00 Schitt Freya. There was also a Musical Fidelity, a Nuprime, and a couple of others, all at least $2000, the most expensive about $2500. And my FM Acoustics clone bested them all. Especially with regards to soundstage size, and imaging. So, I can't say how good it sounded compared to the original, but I can say it sounded as good as preamps at several times the $$$.

[@Anatoly_Panchenko]

If you looking for price performance ratio, take a look at Honey Badger amp. Quite few amps like Bryston, Classe, Benchmark AHB2 could be compared to it. Cost of the project $900-1500 Next design called Wolverine, could to challenge conventional measurement equipment with it’s PPM level of SINAD. 240w at 8ohm per channel output. Assembled and tested boards costs depending on build around $1000. The project isn’t cheap, but in terms of performance, only several amplifiers, could be compared to it, and only 3 of them costs below $10k. $30 blameless amp of D Self, can be completed around $500. 75-80w per channel, THD below 0.006% within range of output power from 0.05 to 75w, -117dba noise floor with 45000uf caps per rail. Compare this to Bryston 2.5B SST3. Bryston has almost 2 times more output power, while other parameters are similar, except the price;it costs like 4-6 well crafted blameless amps. So much good new designs, that outperforms those Chi-Fi clones, of decades old devices, while not asking to much money

[@Anatoly_Panchenko]

If you looking for price performance ratio, take a look at Honey Badger amp. Quite few amps like Bryston, Classe, Benchmark AHB2 could be compared to it. Cost of the project $900-1500 Next design called Wolverine, could to challenge conventional measurement equipment with it’s PPM level of SINAD. 240w at 8ohm per channel output. Assembled and tested boards costs depending on build around $1000. The project isn’t cheap, but in terms of performance, only several amplifiers, could be compared to it, and only 3 of them costs below $10k. $30 blameless amp of D Self, can be completed around $500. 75-80w per channel, THD below 0.006% within range of output power from 0.05 to 75w, -117dba noise floor with 45000uf caps per rail. Compare this to Bryston 2.5B SST3. Bryston has almost 2 times more output power, while other parameters are similar, except the price;it costs like 4-6 well crafted blameless amps. So much good new designs, that outperforms those Chi-Fi clones, of decades old devices, while not asking to much money

[@renzorainz]

Greetings. There are many with the Accuphase logo aesthetically identical to this one but which are the clone of the Accuphase A 60, these also declared stable at 2 ohms. Greetings.

[@welshnutterz]

I wonder if the price of this one is creeping just a bit too high for what you get? Compared to others available.

[@johnshaw359]

Lets see the idle power please. For the money, seems another no brainer.

[@raynerstuelgalid]

Quite a few owners of Krell (the originals) have complained that the amps were "harsh." Hope to hear that this clone is not one of those.

[@markwroblewski6500]

I'm sure the opposite is true.Having the flat frequency response,using a lot of electricity the pure class amps are the best sounding always compared to the best in tube amplification -Jadis/Audio Research.

[@abijeetrs6522]

Don't know but multistage amplifiers do sound harsh.

[@markwroblewski6500]

@@abijeetrs6522 Simply we need double blind tests to find out.Which amps according to you sound not harsh?Give us the brands/models.

[@MsSasuke0pl]

You sure having fun, unpacking all of that, so many boxes. I hope you have enough space to contain all that toys. It will be years of burn in in da house.

[@robert37321]

WHEN will we finally find out HOW this equipment souns ???

[@karelhagemans8694]

No CE logo?

[@mddawson1]

I have a non-clone recommendation for driving your electrostats, a Sunfire TGA7401. They have been out of production for a few years now but new ones are sometimes still available. They have a slightly warm sound and put out 400w x 7 into 8 ohms, 800w x 7 into 4 ohms and can power 1 ohm loads. You can also bridge amp modules doubling the power output.

[@erichill5328]

Very nice. I’m curious on how this one sounds vs your TPA 3255 on your Martin Logan’s 👍🏻

[@impuls60]

Martins Logans often have very low impedance so having the tpa3255 in mono mode is highly recommended since its 2 ohms stable if the Psu brick is up to the task..

[@danieleturrin5625]

Hey! Is this amp good for driving he6sev2 with speaker taps and a preamp? What other cheap solution drive them well?

[@jonnyberggren4598]

Did you say the techspecs ? Class A ?

[@jonnyberggren4598]

Aha saw the link now. All the specs there at Ali... Thanks

[@markwroblewski6500]

Kubek szefa 😀 Czy jest to prawdziwa klasa A?- tranzystory mocy dopasowane komplementarnie itd.

[@roberthart9886]

Sadly only RCA inputs when it appears to be balanced guts

[@Jacques-wh9me]

Thank you for sharing...👏

[@annebokma4637]

I guess it is going to take an intervention 😂

[@stillaliveandwell5291]

I will do it. I'll clear the house out.😂

[@annebokma4637]

@@stillaliveandwell5291 as long as you put half in my car 👍😜

[@peterpipe9015]

Wow this looks really nice , you must have quite a large collection of hifi gear bro

[@annebokma4637]

Lets just say he is looking for a bigger house 😂

[@henrikl1394]

The Original Is 100w 8Ohm Class A doubling down to 1 Ohm where it put out 800w Class A.

[@thelowprofile9767]

How come this guy sounds like Normcore?

[@jonnyberggren4598]

Is Normcore a thing or a guy? When google says it's just an unisex style of fashion :)

[@thelowprofile9767]

@ there’s a channel called Virtual HiFi. The name of the guy is Normcore if I’m not mistaken and he sounds like this guy.

[@NormcoreGreg]

thelowprofile9767, you probably mean me :) If we sound similar to you, it maybe because we're both Polish. And so is the guy from Virtual HiFi.

[@thelowprofile9767]

@@NormcoreGreg oh ok. Thanks for the clarification. I’m subscribed to both if you. 👍

[@TheRockerxx69]

But Krell was class A only. 100 watts enormous heat.. That s not.

[@didierelchardus3472]

Well…this is by no way any close to a KSA100. The KSA100 is designed for 100W over 8 Ohm, that is 200W over 4 Ohm, and 400W over 2 Ohm if its power supply is dimensioned to support 2 Ohm loads correctly. Well, 3 evidences that this amp is very far from being able to do it : Its power transformers are by far under-dimensioned. Please ask yourself what VA rating should be the power supply of a 400W rms class A power amp… Its power supply capacitors will not be able to sustain the continuous current demand of a 400W over 2 Ohm class A amp. The minimum current rating for these should be around 15 amps…so only high quality electrolytic cans can do this. Last but not least, the heatsinks are far two small AND only forced air cooling solutions can work fior a pure classA 400W 2 Ohm amp.

[@surfmisa180]

The Krell is 100kg

[@carlitomelon4610]

I was expecting to see a huuge planet sized power supply if this is a Krell amp clone. How else could it summon up the musicians of the ID?? (Go watch The Forbidden Planet" for context;-) 🎵🎶🌍🎶🎵

[@TheRockerxx69]

Data. Measurements. Or listening recirdings.

[@paulburton9904]

do it yourself you ungrateful demanding plantpot....who do you think you are ?

[@D1N02]

This video might give you some insights, it seems legit despite being AI narrated. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6S7opSJad1sh8k

[@bernardmueller5676]

Looks great. But I can't buy it. AliExpress said no.

[@radusorin3401]

no where near original, also for 2x200w@8ohm respectively 2x400w@4ohms aka over 2x500w@2ohms it's impossible with those 400chinese va transformers......also the "nice ceramic resistors" are the lowest and cheapest quality cement resistors, those elna for audio if u are extremely lucky are rated 2khours@85° , witout mention about ripple handling and esr +oem elna quality

[@Anatoly_Panchenko]

The original KSA 100 was 100w at 8 Ohm class A amp. The math is simple: to supply 100w class A amp, you need around 500w power supply. The transformers here definitely doesn’t look as 500w each. But this is not all, if we want to drive 4 ohm speakers with such amp, the power consumption will be higher by factor of 2…. The original amp came with 2 1100w transformers and 160 000uF power bank. It’s not a clone or copy, it’s a parody. Regardless of all: krell ksa100, got all of its scores and epithets, at 1985. When it was compared to regular commercial amps, that we’re just a little bit better than pocket radio of today…

[@Luis-eh1cf]

GOOD VIDEO, THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!