Krell anyone?

S

Steve

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Not much talk here about Krell. Anyone own any Krell product? Seems to be well made American muscle.

I'm thinking about picking up a well cared for Krell KAV 400xi for an apartment rental. Or I could go for a new one box Yamaha AV processor solution that does all of the network streaming stuff for a comparable cost.

The Krell is about 8 years old now but I think it would probably sound much better than anything else for under a grand as long as I connect it up to the right source.

Who has experience with Krell product?
 
I have experience with some of their older gear. I had a Krell KSA-250 that I had repaired and recapped at Krell. I also had the Krell KBL preamp (which I also sent back and had recapped at Krell), and the KRC-HR preamp. I think I would still put the KRC-HR up there against pretty much most of the SS contenders at semi-sane price levels. The KRC-HR and the KBL were both advanced for their times in terms of the inputs and outputs (meaning there were two balanced inputs plus SE inputs and one set of balanced outputs and one set of SE outputs) and the way the front panel inputs were marked. The KSA-250 may yet go down in audio history as one of the most powerful Class A/B SS amps (capable of 4000 watts into .5 ohm impedance) and it sounds far better than many people truly know based on their experience of what they heard it with back in the day.

I'm still currently using the Krell KPE Reference phono stage in my system. It sounds like a really good SS phono stage should sound. Very quiet with gobs of gain (up to 76dB-cringe Rob) and very good dynamics.
 
I have a KRC-HR preamp and KPE Phono pre in the system now and they are amazing for the vintage and price point. I prefer it to several other much more expensive pre's I've had in the system.
 
Etunes said:
I have a KRC-HR preamp and KPE Phono pre in the system now and they are amazing for the vintage and price point. I prefer it to several other much more expensive pre's I've had in the system.
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Stand alone KPE or the KPE board plugged into the KRC-HR?
 
I like those lil Krells. Very well built. Will drive about anything ... unlike the Yamaha, which probably can't drive anything under 6 Ohms.

Just get a streamer slightly on the warm/musical side as an companion.
 
mep said:
I have experience with some of their older gear. I had a Krell KSA-250 that I had repaired and recapped at Krell. I also had the Krell KBL preamp (which I also sent back and had recapped at Krell), and the KRC-HR preamp. I think I would still put the KRC-HR up there against pretty much most of the SS contenders at semi-sane price levels. The KRC-HR and the KBL were both advanced for their times in terms of the inputs and outputs (meaning there were two balanced inputs plus SE inputs and one set of balanced outputs and one set of SE outputs) and the way the front panel inputs were marked. The KSA-250 may yet go down in audio history as one of the most powerful Class A/B SS amps (capable of 4000 watts into .5 ohm impedance) and it sounds far better than many people truly know based on their experience of what they heard it with back in the day.

I'm still currently using the Krell KPE Reference phono stage in my system. It sounds like a really good SS phono stage should sound. Very quiet with gobs of gain (up to 76dB-cringe Rob) and very good dynamics.
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I concur the KPE was a fine piece while I had it, nothing about it made me cringe.

I've owned several krell amps and preamps, a few of them more than once! the co. ceased to exist in my mind when Dan D was ousted. I've owned several of the Mk II versions of the original fan cooled models (ca '86) then the early non-fan cooled amps w/ the massive external heat sinks (ca. '88) through to what I call the 3rd series (ca. '90) KAS-250, KMA-500 amps.

I don't think we'll see the likes of these amps again (EU req. for one). Nothing tops the early krells for build quality and the SQ of the early '90s amps were as good as it gets.
 
Many years ago I owned a Krell KPE Reference phono stage with its external power supply, and while it had very good dynamics and plenty of gain I ended up moving on since I found that it lacked musicality and was much too dry sounding. A friend purchased it from me, and in short order he also sold it with pretty much the same feeling about its performance. Interesting how user experience varies with the same piece, possibly due to system matching issues and personal preferences.
 
I have a factory recapped KSA-250. There were three revisions of the 250. Version 1 is easy to ID as the speaker binding posts are oriented vertically instead of horizontally. The difference between V2 and V3 is internal. The soft start board is different and there are a series of 5 radial lead capacitors in line near the front of the input board on version 3 where version 2 has a single axial lead cap. Version 3 runs at a slightly higher bias and the two channels have a staggered start instead of both coming on at the same time.



Also have a factory recapped KRC-HR, the later design with rounded edges. It has the internal MC only Reference phono board (four gain stages). I have boards for a nice DIY dual mono MC phono stage but no time to build it.



I still own a KSL pre (no remote, manual volume) that I recapped and tuned up. It's on loan to a friend. For what it's worth in resale, sending it back for factory recapping wasn't worth it to me.

 
The Krell KAV-400xi was a pretty musical sounding piece. Contrary to what some might think about Krell, this piece, if anything, leaned slightly to the warmer side. Now, the chassis on the other hand was substantially more than warm...that baby ran hot!
 
exactly well made american muscle.I own for 7 years krell kav500i second hand.Dynamic bass slam.This amp can sound bright or organic depending on speakers.It puts out wide soundstage.Shines on higher volume.Runs cool with 4ohms speakers like dynaudio,and becomes hot with 6 ohms speakers like monitor audio or harbeth.In future I would like upgrade to fbp 400cx or 700cx beast:happy: I was thinking abaut hegel h30,but probably will stick with krell
 
SCompRacer said:
I have a factory recapped KSA-250. There were three revisions of the 250. Version 1 is easy to ID as the speaker binding posts are oriented vertically instead of horizontally. The difference between V2 and V3 is internal. The soft start board is different and there are a series of 5 radial lead capacitors in line near the front of the input board on version 3 where version 2 has a single axial lead cap. Version 3 runs at a slightly higher bias and the two channels have a staggered start instead of both coming on at the same time.



Also have a factory recapped KRC-HR, the later design with rounded edges. It has the internal MC only Reference phono board (four gain stages). I have boards for a nice DIY dual mono MC phono stage but no time to build it.



I still own a KSL pre (no remote, manual volume) that I recapped and tuned up. It's on loan to a friend. For what it's worth in resale, sending it back for factory recapping wasn't worth it to me.

Click to expand...


Never mind the Krell that is a nice Bengal . I have a Bengal as does Myles the audiophille cat of choice. They sound better (well louder anyway)
 
The new Krell Vanguard has received a very strong recommendation from the UK's Hifi News magazine. Every Krell I've ever heard has been good, a very powerful and full-bodied sound.
 
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