Mark Levinson 33H

[Lagonda]

It’s a been while since I posted about a compare of the Krell 700cx and the now completely done no 33.
the ML no 26 is a fine preamp but was a bad choice on the 700cx combo I don’t know why but clearly is. the Ktc takes a bit to understand. it maybe first perceived as darker. it takes me some time to adjust to new surroundings.
the KTC is completely re habbed many caps and some very difficulties in doing so.
it is a little brighter but to me a lower perceived noise floor.
the attack with KTC both no 33 and the 700cx is much more powerful yet stays musical. some like smooth I like music and music is not always smooth. it’s not rough but to me needs micro dynamics that smooth glosses over.
the no 33 out class the 700cx in that the krell has an attack but the no 33 seemed
To have no ceiling on an attack yet control
The attack better. I was warned my thoughts f the 700cx as better in simple
Terms was wrong. Yes I liked it better but once was competed the no 33 it’s obvious.
now my IRS V are massive and the 700cx made them have a more powerful sound.
but the no 33 / KTC is heaven.
it’s a lot of work to make new old large audio products. and I have no desire for new even if I’m sure some are better.
but what do have is legacy made audio designed and made at the then place panicle of audio.

Have you tried different preamps with your no 33 amps, maybe the 32 ? My experience with owning both KTC and its sibling Kps25scx and FPB 700cx many years, is that they are very dynamic, and will really impress in the deeper bass, but lack both tone and detail. I had them running with both cast cables and xlr, cast is a little faster. In general the 700cx is a little slow and dark, with emphasis on deep impressive bass. All my Krell gear had been re-capped, but the general tone and speed did not change. It took only a couple of minutes with a single MBL 9011 running in stereo mode, only 2x130 W to realize how much faster and more extended in the treble a more modern amp is.

 

[retired farmer]

It’s a been while since I posted about a compare of the Krell 700cx and the now completely done no 33.
the ML no 26 is a fine preamp but was a bad choice on the 700cx combo I don’t know why but clearly is. the Ktc takes a bit to understand. it maybe first perceived as darker. it takes me some time to adjust to new surroundings.
the KTC is completely re habbed many caps and some very difficulties in doing so.
it is a little brighter but to me a lower perceived noise floor.
the attack with KTC both no 33 and the 700cx is much more powerful yet stays musical. some like smooth I like music and music is not always smooth. it’s not rough but to me needs micro dynamics that smooth glosses over.
the no 33 out class the 700cx in that the krell has an attack but the no 33 seemed
To have no ceiling on an attack yet control
The attack better. I was warned my thoughts f the 700cx as better in simple
Terms was wrong. Yes I liked it better but once was competed the no 33 it’s obvious.
now my IRS V are massive and the 700cx made them have a more powerful sound.
but the no 33 / KTC is heaven.
it’s a lot of work to make new old large audio products. and I have no desire for new even if I’m sure some are better.
but what do have is legacy made audio designed and made at the then place panicle of audio.

I ended up with a Ayre k1xe as my preamplifier with the 33h s I have. I pit a tube front end. A tube tuner, tube dac, and tube phono stage. I liked the beauty that the front end seemed to add or wasn't missing. Never played with the big krells. So no way to compare I did hear a de austino setup that was a level beyond mine.

 

[Alrainbow]

I’ve only had a few good preamps per say
And each was different.
move had 7 amps
and speed I think is in part the tone a given combo sounds
As an example pass labs is warm of neutral yet if it’s in a setup environment it varies
I’ve had two Krell’s one KSA the mono blocks that had a psu on the bottom
PSU. row aragons and two gryphons
and the NO 33. each had a sound but only the 700cx and the NO 33 made them move as I liked it.
I think pre amps matter plenty but they also need to be heard not just reviewed

 

[Lagonda]

I’ve only had a few good preamps per say
And each was different.
move had 7 amps
and speed I think is in part the tone a given combo sounds
As an example pass labs is warm of neutral yet if it’s in a setup environment it varies
I’ve had two Krell’s one KSA the mono blocks that had a psu on the bottom
PSU. row aragons and two gryphons
and the NO 33. each had a sound but only the 700cx and the NO 33 made them move as I liked it.
I think pre amps matter plenty but they also need to be heard not just reviewed

Yes, to understand equipment in the context of your own system, it is best to own it and go back to previous for baseline after a while, sometimes something sound exiting in the beginning but becomes tiring after a while. Longtime exposure will get you the best impression of the synergy. I have bought and used quite a few preamps both tube and SS, and ended up back with a very old SS pre i bought new 35 years ago.

 

[niteflite]

Hoping this is an okay place to post my ML 33h reflections. Any input would be greatly appreciated for this newbie/oldbie….I returned to my adiction after a 20 yr hiatus. Fully rehabbed my ML 33h’s. Have ML 32 pre and Eggleston Andra II speakers (also have Revel Salons). Yes-all that gear from back in the day. So many people critical of these retro pieces-I get it!
I invested in a new analog front end TT (Rega P10), phono amp (Pass) as well as digital (Aurender N20 and MSB Discrete DAC).
I’m quite surprised how good the system sounds. I’ve not heard the new generations of gear and in my GAS
affliction am looking forward to listening to new amps, pre’s and speakers.
what amps/preamps/speaker combinations will be a meaningful upgrade? Would love to become more current, to learn…thx in advance!

 

[niteflite]

Oops..forgot to mention that I came from the 90’s combo of VTL 750 Tube mono blocks, VPI/Grahm, CAT pre, Andra II’s.

 

[retired farmer]

@niteflite most might not like my answer but very little out there is better than you have. Personally I believe hi-fi goes in waves of popularity and there are fads that come and go. At the moment there seems to be a trend for more top end that I would call borderline bright. If you like the tonal flavor of your system then you will be hard to find better. I put the top grade furutech plugs on the end of my cords on the 33h and that made a big difference in the noise floor and bass response. At some point I will try fuses and a total cord replacement.

 

[Gregm]

@niteflite At some point I will try fuses and a total cord replacement.

In that case, I suggest you try out single core wire. Good industrial quality copper, 2.0-2.2 mm, will do. for the experiment. You will keep the furutech connectors, of course

 

[retired farmer]

In that case, I suggest you try out single core wire. Good industrial quality copper, 2.0-2.2 mm, will do. for the experiment. You will keep the furutech connectors, of course

These are what I was thinking leaning towards the furutech one

 

[niteflite]

@niteflite most might not like my answer but very little out there is better than you have. Personally I believe hi-fi goes in waves of popularity and there are fads that come and go. At the moment there seems to be a trend for more top end that I would call borderline bright. If you like the tonal flavor of your system then you will be hard to find better. I put the top grade furutech plugs on the end of my cords on the 33h and that made a big difference in the noise floor and bass response. At some point I will try fuses and a total cord replacement.

Thanks so much for the suggestion!