Pre Amp Upgrade - Krell KRC-HR w/Reference MC Phono

SCompRacer
SCompRacer Posts: 8,497
edited July 2014 in 2 Channel Audio
Ever since Ed "SRT King" Savinon took his back, I've been looking for one of these. A Krell KRC-HR pre amp (late 90's). Since Mark Levinson no32's are scarce and very pricey, this will have to do. This is a one owner pre and it is in fine shape. This is a later build with rounded edge face plate, the earlier ones had squared edges. It has been recapped by Krell. The Krell KRC-HR with external power supply is still a highly regarded pre amp. It made the Stereophile Class A recommended list. The Krell KRC and its variants used either a motorized Spectrol or P&G potentiometer volume control. The HR is equipped with a R2R (resistor) Ladder Network volume control. It has two gain stages. This one was equipped with a Krell Reference MC phono stage. It has four selectable gain stages from 58dB to 76dB of gain. Now I have remote capability; no more getting up to change volume when I play vinyl.:biggrin:

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Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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Comments

  • Irrenhaus
    Irrenhaus Posts: 1,090
    edited July 2014
    Very Nice

    Enjoy!!!!

    Cheers
    HTAVR-Pioneer SC99XPA-DR3 Differential Reference AmpPolk R-700Rear- RT150Side- RT150Center-CSi5Sub-Rythmik audio F25Player- Panasonic DP-UB9000Projector- Optoma CinemaX P2Screen- Silver Ticket Products STR Series 6 120"Audio Room 2ch rig.Cary AE-3, Onkyo M-504, Marantz SA8005, Azur 851NWharfedale - Linton, SVS SB12-NSDMinis Forum PC (streamer) and Panamax MX5105Headphone rig;Schiit JOTUNHEIM and different headphones.Samsung 42" flat screen TV.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited July 2014
    Hey Rich.....

    http://stlouis.craigslist.org/ele/4542167533.html
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    edited July 2014
    That's a badass looking pre-amp.

    I'll be looking forward to your reviews of this sucker...especially the phono stage!!
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited July 2014
    Sweet preamp! I like having a remote too. I've gotten to a point in my listening that I require a specific volume level for the most enjoyment and sometimes a click up or down makes all the difference in the world to me.

    I don't recall being that way before this convenience. I think that it has been caused by those stupidly loud commercials on broadcast TV.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited July 2014
    Having tried so many diff solid state pre's only to be disappointed I think I may give an older krell a whirl. I bought a krell showcase 5 channel from a member on here and though it sounded good but then I decided to try one of the older class A 5 channel amps and was pleasantly surprised so maybe I like the krell house sound? excluding the big honking 500 integrated that I had as I never liked that.
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  • agfrost
    agfrost Posts: 2,428
    edited July 2014
    SCompRacer wrote: »
    Now I have remote capability; no more getting up to change volume when I play vinyl.:biggrin:

    Yeah, but can that effer flip to side two??

    Congrats, looking forward to hearing your crappy system again soon.

    Jay
    Jay
    SDA 2BTL * Musical Fidelity A5cr amp * Oppo BDP-93 * Modded Adcom GDA-600 DAC * Rythmik F8 (x2)
    Micro Seiki DQ-50 * Hagerman Cornet 2 Phono * A hodgepodge of cabling * Belkin PF60
    Preamp rotation: Krell KSL (SCompRacer recapped) * Manley Shrimp * PS Audio 5.0
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,963
    edited July 2014
    Nice Rich....from back when Krell built sh&t like a tank. How she sound ?
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited July 2014
    While I am not a huge Krell amp fan, their pres are awful danged sexy.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited July 2014
    So Rich....

    How long before you tear into it and start replacing caps and whatnot? Or have you already started :biggrin:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited July 2014
    I love my Krell amp!
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited July 2014
    Looks very nice Rich. A remote is a must in my opinion. Let us know what you think after you get it warmed up and settled in. Is only 2 balanced inputs enough? I have the dac and the Retro for balanced so far.
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    edited July 2014
    Nice acquisition, I mean nice SCORE! Looking forward to your review . . .

    Now if only the remote could control the tone arm a replay side B !

    G
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,554
    edited July 2014
    Now I have remote capability; no more getting up to change volume when I play vinyl.

    As if your gut wasn't big enough already. :razz:
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited July 2014
    Congratualtions Rich! Not of fan of Krell amps either (other than a high degree of detail and transparency), haven't heard very many of their pre-amps however. Enjoy your new pre-amp with vinyl capability!
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • ESavinon
    ESavinon Posts: 3,066
    edited July 2014
    Very nice score rich! Congrats and enjoy!
    SRT For Life; SDA Forever!

    The SRT SEISMIC System:
    Four main satellite speakers, six powered subs, two dedicated for LFE channel, two center speakers for over/under screen placement and three Control Centers. Amaze your friends, terrorize your neighbors, seize the audio bragging rights for your state. Go ahead, buy it; you only go around once.
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  • RamZet
    RamZet Posts: 792
    edited July 2014
    Sweet,
    Krell makes a great product, and I'm not saying that b.c. I work for a krell dealer.
    B&W CM9Classé Sigma
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  • Jhayman
    Jhayman Posts: 1,548
    edited July 2014
    Very nice, I like the look..Sexy.......
    ATC SCM40's,VTL TL 2.5 Preamp,PSB Stratus Goldi's,McCormack DNA 500,McCormack MAP-1 Preamp,Pro-Ject Xtension 10 TT,Ortofon Cadenza Red/Nordost RedDawn LS Speaker cables, Bryston BDP-2, Bryston BDA-2,PS Audio AC-3 power cables
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited July 2014
    Rich,, you have the best toys!!!
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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