Impressions of the Latest in Electronics from Dan D'Agostino

[MylesBAstor]

Could Dan D'Agostino--one of now the grandfathers of the high-end audio industry--reinvent himself after the hostile takeover and painful loss of Krell? Could Dan reach down within himself after all those years with Krell and one again find the energy, creativeness and even money to roll up his sleeves and start a new company from scratch? Could he at the same time come up with new designs and not just copy what he had been doing at Krell? The answer to that has been a resounding yes in my estimation. Dan's new electronics, in part the Progression and Momentum amplifiers, bear no resemblance to his earlier work. Part of that was as his late son Bret expressed in an interview I did with him a while back, that the two of them sat down and listened to and totally re-evaluated all the amplifiers on the market before Dan began designing new products.

That certainly seems like it was time well spent. While the first generation of Momentum amplifiers definitely had Dan's signature on them, the newest iteration of his amplifiers have taken a huge step forward. What really impressed me when I heard D amplifiers the other weekend, just how low in distortion and clean sounding the Progression and Momentum amps sounded on the Wilsons. The amplifiers are just so low in coloration. Mind you, the Wilsons aren't necessarily the easiest speakers or load to drive. There was a grip and authority on the music that went way beyond anything Dan did previously. And it seems in the latest iteration of the Momentums, even less of that Krell solid-state edge. The newest amplifiers just just seem to loaf along. In might be added, a relatively small package for a non-Class D power amplifier.

These amplifiers have impressed me mightily and while not a cheap date are arguably the best solid-state has to offer nowadays.

[Rob]

god knows I've given Dan plenty of my money during the late 80s and early 90s, it probably helped him acquire that summer home of his the very first series which were fan cooled were kinda 'cool' sounding and a touch dry. krell had its haters, many thought the were on the bright side I never thought so. I always had them powering ribbons and 'stats, both of which had a smooth or gentle treble.

in a recent interview he states his preference for bipolar SS devices from his earliest Krell years to present day. because bipolars are current devices he admits his designs typically require many more voltage gain stages than a FET based design would. I wonder how much this design philosophy contributes to the Dan D'Agostino 'house sound' if you will.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I'd love to give him my money. Those amps are just gorgeous!

[Alrainbow]

I ha w owned Krell most of my life with my IRS v setup many many years. Sold them a kit two years ago using the poor mans krells Aragon's
i heard his Amps a few times a real great sounding amp that seemed to get you close to being there in presentation
I have not heard his new ones but I can say looks they are a 12 best lookijg amp I even seen mono , preamp and all.
Onky negetinve is the hockey puck remote lol. Round buttons like Krell clearly show you his claim to Krell.
If things were a bit different for me I would love those next to each tower. What is the new ones called do they look the same ?

[Alrainbow]

Does he use onky npn or pnp onky I forget witch one sounds better ?

[Stringreen]

I happened to be in a coffee shop about 1 mile or so from my house in Arizona, looked across the parking lot and saw Dan D'Ag"s name above a group of small stores. I looked inside, and sure enough, there he was with his wife and 3 or 4 others building his expensive boxes. He took me around the place for a look see....very nice. No listening, but that's ok - I'm an Ayre guy anyway.

[bonzo75]

I wonder how much this design philosophy contributes to the Dan D'Agostino 'house sound' if you will.

I don't think D'ag is anything like a Krell. Someone I know who was a diehard Krell Evo fan swapped over to the Momentums on his Alexandria X2S2 and likes them much more - they are the best amps I have heard on the Alexandria (heard the Spectral 400 and VTL S450 on the XLF, and Lamm and Viva on X2S2). The thing is that the Viva guy preferred the Krell Evo to Momentums on his X2S2 and went with the Viva (Solista, 845s and 20w). Having heard the FPB 600 and FPB 650 with 750 upgrades, I could not identify any 'house sound', but can't be sure. The Momentums are superb.

[MylesBAstor]

I don't think D'ag is anything like a Krell. Someone I know who was a diehard Krell Evo fan swapped over to the Momentums on his Alexandria X2S2 and likes them much more - they are the best amps I have heard on the Alexandria (heard the Spectral 400 and VTL S450 on the XLF, and Lamm and Viva on X2S2). The thing is that the Viva guy preferred the Krell Evo to Momentums on his X2S2 and went with the Viva (Solista, 845s and 20w). Having heard the FPB 600 and FPB 650 with 750 upgrades, I could not identify any 'house sound', but can't be sure. The Momentums are superb.

There definitely seems to be a synergy between Dan's amplifier and the Wilson speakers.

[Alrainbow]

I think all Amps have a sound meaning a varying wire with gain sound
I think the sound varies with each speaker it's conceited too making things a moving target to pick from. Lastly what we like further confuses things. His Amps must be of the best made past and present and for looks no one can touch them.
A good question to ask in this is how much does looks play into our hearing them lol.

[Alrainbow]

My old krells I felt shouted at times but more likely the source then them we never do know sometimes what is causing what that happens. But many here have much more experience then I do may have a better understanding then I do.

[MylesBAstor]

I think all Amps have a sound meaning a varying wire with gain sound
I think the sound varies with each speaker it's conceited too making things a moving target to pick from. Lastly what we like further confuses things. His Amps must be of the best made past and present and for looks no one can touch them.
A good question to ask in this is how much does looks play into our hearing them lol.

Good question. I think Dan's amplifiers look Great. I wouldn't put them in the eye candy category though others might. Something like say Jeff Rowland's amplifiers might sway me say. To me looks are a bonus, but necessary for high-end audio to break into the mainstream.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Don't ban me for this, but I think those patterned striped faceplates on the Jeff Rowland gear is hideous. They sound good, but I wouldn't buy one.

[tom_hankins]

I ha w owned Krell most of my life with my IRS v setup many many years. Sold them a kit two years ago using the poor mans krells Aragon's
i heard his Amps a few times a real great sounding amp that seemed to get you close to being there in presentation
I have not heard his new ones but I can say looks they are a 12 best lookijg amp I even seen mono , preamp and all.
Onky negetinve is the hockey puck remote lol. Round buttons like Krell clearly show you his claim to Krell.
If things were a bit different for me I would love those next to each tower. What is the new ones called do they look the same ?

Two lines below the Momentum amps. The Master Power and the Progression. Not as jewel like as far as looks go, but both extremely good looking to me. The progressions are beasts. 500/1000/2000 wpc for the monos. Less $$$ than the Momentum. To my ears, his amps are top two or three SS amps made.

[MylesBAstor]

Two lines below the Momentum amps. The Master Power and the Progression. Not as jewel like as far as looks go, but both extremely good looking to me. The progressions are beasts. 500/1000/2000 wpc for the monos. Less $$$ than the Momentum. To my ears, his amps are top two or three SS amps made.

Just like in the past too. Dan's amplifiers are ready made for those hard to drive speakers. That seems to be many today unlike just the Apogees say of yore.

[jeffy]

Bonzo what are the 750 upgrades to the FPB650?

[bonzo75]

Bonzo what are the 750 upgrades to the FPB650?

Hi I don't know the details, but Audiophile Bill on WBF, a local to me in London, had bought Krell 650s which were fully upgraded to 750s by a rebuild of parts