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The KR Enterprise VT8000 was warmed up for one hour at a third of its rated maximum power. For an amplifier with a tube output stage, it runs relatively cool.

The VT8000's input impedance measured 62.6k ohms. Its measured minimum output impedance is 4.8 ohms at 20Hz; the maximum measured value is 6.6 ohms at 20kHz; and there was some dependence on the exact figure and the load impedance used to make this measurement. This amplifier's frequency response will be very dependent on the loudspeaker with which it is used. Voltage gain into 8 ohms was 26.8dB in…

Description: Hybrid monoblock power amplifier with solid-state input and driver stages, and "vacuum transducer" output stage. Maximum power: 75W RMS (18.75dBW) into 4–8 ohms. Frequency response: 15Hz–35kHz, –3dB; 30Hz–20kHz, –0.5dB. Input sensitivity: switchable 350mV, 1V, 2V, 5V. Input impedance: 100k ohms.
Dimensions: 13.75" W by 10" H by 19.75" D. Weight: 92 lbs.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: 150R, 150L.
Price: $25,000/pair (1999); no longer available (2008). Approximate number of dealers: 5. Warranty: 3 years, parts & labor.
Manufacturer…

Editor: First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Stereophile for permitting Mr. Michael Fremer to review our "top-of-the-line" monoblock amplifier, the VT8000 MK, and to visit our factory in Prague, Czech Republic.

Second, if I may, I would like to respond to a number of inexplicable points that have been raised by your test-bench results that may give erroneous ideas of our sound quality and design philosophy, despite Mr. Fremer's very enthusiastic audition.

My primary duty is to answer, point by point, the results of the curves…

I've been reviewing audio gear for 13 years now, and never, never has the discrepancy between what I heard and what was measured been so great as it was with the KR Enterprise VT8000 MK monoblocks (Stereophile, November 1999). I didn't see the amps' disappointing measurements until the final review was faxed to me for fact-checking. I almost went into toxic shock. I am much more used to having John Atkinson or Tom Norton confirm what I heard; eg, the Audio Physic Virgo review, my first for Stereophile (September 1995…

Editor: I am taking up my pen again to respond...to Mr. Fremer's...additional commentary in his "Analog Corner" feature, where he says, "I was extremely disappointed and surprised to read the discrepancy between the KR's claimed power (75W) and measured power (40W and lower, depending on load impedance and distortion)." From this statement, it is evident from Stereophile's technical testing, [that] we are still in the horse-and-buggy age. Those may have ran very well on plowed fields, but if there is a Ferrari, it certainly cannot give the same performance.…

Among the 10,000, there will doubtlessly be some who have…

Hansen chose to set the input impedance at a high 1M ohm per phase (2M ohms balanced). "You know how, when you load a moving-coil…

Music sounded especially alive through the KX-R. I noticed this as much with the MF Nu-Vista 300 as I did with the MX-Rs. Want jump factor? The KX-R had it. John Atkinson kindly hand-delivered a CD-R containing…

Description: Solid-state, line-level preamplifier with remote control. Inputs: 4 single-ended (RCA), 4 balanced (XLR). Outputs: 2 balanced (XLR), 2 balanced tape. Input impedance: 2M ohms balanced (1M ohm/signal phase), 1M ohm single-ended. Gain: variable. Frequency range: DC–250kHz. Output impedance: 300 ohms balanced, 150 ohms single-ended. Power consumption: 36W, 65W maximum (when volume control operating).
Dimensions: 17.25" (438mm) W by 3.75" (95mm) H by 11.75" (29.2mm) D. Weight: 40 lbs (18.2kg).
Finishes: Silver; add $250 for black.
Serial Number…