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Kinergetics KBA-280 power amplifier Page 3

Comparisons
While the Aragon 8008ST is less expensive than the Kinergetics, the two amplifiers are naturals to square off against each other, not least because the Aragon remains my long-term reference for a relatively affordable high-end amplifier. Directly compared, it sounded more laid-back through the midrange and lower treble than the Kinergetics. Its midbass was less rich than the KBA-280's, and it sounded less liquid overall. These qualities gave the Kinergetics a greater presence, and more rounded dimensionality on vocals.

On the other hand, the Aragon was more open on top,…

Kinergetics KBA-280 power amplifier Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Two-channel, THX certified power amplifier with a class-A output stage. Power output: 140Wpc into 8 ohms (21.5dBW), 280Wpc into 4 ohms (21.5dBW), 437Wpc into 2 ohms (20.4dBW). Rated full-power bandwidth: 1Hz-300kHz. THD: 0.02%. Input impedance: 100k ohms unbalanced, 1k ohm balanced.
Dimensions: 17.25" W by 6.75" H by 16.75" D. Weight: 55 lbs net.
Serial number of unit reviewed: KIA280G1100271.
Price: No longer available; $2795 (1998). Approximate number of dealers: 70.
Manufacturer: Kinergetics Research, 4260 Charter St., Vernon, CA…

Kinergetics KBA-280 power amplifier System

Sidebar 2: System

The Kinergetics KBA-280 was auditioned in a system consisting of the Mark Levinson No.37 transport and No.36S D/A converter, Jeff Rowland Design Group Consummate preamplifier, and Energy Veritas v2.8 loudspeakers. The interconnects were TARA Labs RSC Reference from D/A to preamp, and Cardas Hexlink from preamp to power amp. The digital link between transport and D/A converter was Kimber AGDL. Loudspeaker cables were a bi-wire hookup of Monster M1.5s (top end) and Monster M2.2s (bass).

All listening was conducted in my listening room, approximately 18' W by 26' L…

Kinergetics KBA-280 power amplifier Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

Following its 1/3-power, one-hour preconditioning test, the KBA-280's chassis was surprisingly cool, except for the fan-driven heat coming from its rear vent.

The input impedance of the KBA-280 measured 10.7k ohms unbalanced, 1062 ohms balanced. Its output impedance was a maximum of 0.027 ohms at 20Hz and 1kHz, and 0.034 ohms at 20kHz. Its voltage gain into 8 ohms measured 29dB unbalanced and 26.5dB balanced. DC offset was 2.8mV in the left channel, 5.8mV in the right. Signal-to-noise (at 1W into 8 ohms) measured 91dB from 22Hz to 22kHz, 88.4dB, 10Hz-…

Kinergetics KBA-280 power amplifier Measurements part 2

Fig.6 shows the KBA-280's spectral response to a 50Hz input at 187.6W output into 4 ohms. This is a superb result; all of the artifacts are well below -80dB (0.01%). Fig.7 shows the output spectrum with a combined 19+20kHz signal—the intermodulation products resulting from an input signal consisting of an equal combination of these two frequencies—at 164W into 4 ohms. The only artifact here above -80dB is at 1kHz (-68.3dB, or about 0.04%), though there is a lot of power-supply-related noise floor "grass," implying that the amp is working hard with this high current output. The result into 8…

Recording of September 2002: Beethoven & Mendelssohn: <I>Violin Concertos</I>

BEETHOVEN & MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concertos
Joshua Bell, violin; Roger Norrington, Camerata Salzburg
Sony Classical SK 89505 (CD). 2002. Andrew Keener, prod.; Arne Akselberg, eng. DDD. TT: 69:58
Performance *****
Sonics *****

So it's still possible for Joshua Bell to make a serious recording. How quickly we forget that Bell was once a strictly classical recording artist who, with Roger Norrington, premiered and recorded the great and massive Violin Concerto of Nicholas Maw. Since then, each of Bell's crossover recordings have him photographed in a different designer…

The Final Word: Ethics

Ethics is a subject always more easily discussed than practiced. There's been a lot of discussion recently about the ethics of retailing—or, more accurately, the ethics of buying retail.

It's always been a problem, but the Internet has raised the stakes by an order of magnitude. Customers go to the high-service shop when they're trying to figure out what to buy, then shop on the Internet for the lowest price.

You could call it a classic free-market situation—only those retailers who don't offer sufficiently higher value to compel a sale will lose out—but it's impossible to ignore…

The Final Word: Ethics Page 2

I was surprised by the car I settled on, a BMW 740il. After devoting 16 years (1967-1983) to fixing Mercedes, who'da thunk it? (My first arrival at Stereophile's new offices in the new car generated massive interest. Apostasy!)

The Internet proved surprisingly useful, though not in the way I'd expected. I had guessed that typing "BMW AND 740il" in the Find box would generate a bunch of magazine reviews and maybe a few car-finding services. In fact, the standard magazine reviews were absent from the Internet, but there were a bunch of newspaper articles (which unfortunately are usually…

The Final Word: Ethics Letters page 1

Relevant Published Letters from Rocking' Ron, John Rossmann, and Alan Anderson:

Mail-order & added value
Editor:
As a longtime subscriber to Stereophile and eight other audio magazines, I had to write—first time, by the way—in response to John Atkinson's September "As We See It." JA wrote how high-end retailers need to add value to what they sell.

In all honesty, I consider myself a knowledgeable—very knowledgeable—smart, high-performance buyer. I had to laugh at the article: Why should I support my local retailer? He doesn't support me. I pride myself on being the…

The Final Word: Ethics Letters page 2

With regard to business transactions, it seems that Mr. Bauza sees those transactions as situations where one person wins and the other loses. This view is a commonly held misconception among those who don't like capitalism and free markets. The reality is that, in a noncoerced business transaction, both parties gain. When I subscribe to Stereophile, I gain (or obtain value), and so does Stereophile. I want the magazine more than I want the money it costs me; Stereophile wants my money more than they want my copy of the magazine.

When Mr. Bauza buys a pair of speakers from his local…