Krell KAV-300i
TroyD
Posts: 13,077
Well, Mantis would be proud. Krell have I.
Due to my impatience to get the Quad rig up to snuff and wanting to make the LR rig a bit more user friendly (ie fully remote capable), I moved out the Sunfire tube pre and the Classe 25 amp.
I'd been wanting to move to an integrated for some time and this deal worked out. So, anyhow, the Krell has been in the system for a couple weeks now.
It's a GOOD looking piece. Slim, simple and unassuming. Nice. Specs have it at [email]150wpc@8ohms/300@4...blah[/email] blah blah....Solid feeling piece.
Yeah, yeah, BDT....get to the money shot.
Ok, to the point, is it as good or better than what I had? No, it's not. However, MSRP on the Krell was around 2K. The Sunfire was 2400 and the Classe was 4500...so, probably not a fair comparison.
What IS better is bass extension and definition, long Krell strongpoints, and this amp doesn't dissapoint. I'll say it's probably the best sounding in the lower registers, I've ever heard my 2.3tl's sound.
Overall, the sound, I'd characterize as analytical. The Sunfire/Classe was warm all over. The Krell is about 180 degrees the other way. Not saying better or worse, just different. I'd say the 2.3tl's needed a little less warmth, actually. While the Sunfire/Classe would make less than optimal recordings at least listenable, the Krell reveals them for what they are. OK, I've got a good library of recordings at my disposal, I can live with a dose of truth in recording.
Where the Krell strips poor recordings apart is in the upper registers. It's not going to turn a piccolo into a steaming tea kettle on it's own, but, if that's how it was recorded....that's how it's going to sound. I've got a couple versions of Vivaldi's Four Seasons that have been rendered all but unlistenable through this rig.
Now, something else that I DO like is that soundstaging and so forth is very consistent as the volume increases/decreases. I do a lot of listening at low volumes in this rig so that's a plus.
Overall, I'm impressed. Does it best a, what I would consider, 'reference' quality pre/amp ala Sunfire/Classe? No, probably not. However, for a reasonably priced integrated? It gives you a HUGE slice of hifi.
Also, one other note. The remote. JHC, you'd think that Krell could come up with a BETTER designed remote. This thing SCREAMS 1979. HUGE with the dickbump pushbuttons. It does what you need it to do but that's about it.
Rockin' on down the highway with Krell in my 'sole';)
BDT
Due to my impatience to get the Quad rig up to snuff and wanting to make the LR rig a bit more user friendly (ie fully remote capable), I moved out the Sunfire tube pre and the Classe 25 amp.
I'd been wanting to move to an integrated for some time and this deal worked out. So, anyhow, the Krell has been in the system for a couple weeks now.
It's a GOOD looking piece. Slim, simple and unassuming. Nice. Specs have it at [email]150wpc@8ohms/300@4...blah[/email] blah blah....Solid feeling piece.
Yeah, yeah, BDT....get to the money shot.
Ok, to the point, is it as good or better than what I had? No, it's not. However, MSRP on the Krell was around 2K. The Sunfire was 2400 and the Classe was 4500...so, probably not a fair comparison.
What IS better is bass extension and definition, long Krell strongpoints, and this amp doesn't dissapoint. I'll say it's probably the best sounding in the lower registers, I've ever heard my 2.3tl's sound.
Overall, the sound, I'd characterize as analytical. The Sunfire/Classe was warm all over. The Krell is about 180 degrees the other way. Not saying better or worse, just different. I'd say the 2.3tl's needed a little less warmth, actually. While the Sunfire/Classe would make less than optimal recordings at least listenable, the Krell reveals them for what they are. OK, I've got a good library of recordings at my disposal, I can live with a dose of truth in recording.
Where the Krell strips poor recordings apart is in the upper registers. It's not going to turn a piccolo into a steaming tea kettle on it's own, but, if that's how it was recorded....that's how it's going to sound. I've got a couple versions of Vivaldi's Four Seasons that have been rendered all but unlistenable through this rig.
Now, something else that I DO like is that soundstaging and so forth is very consistent as the volume increases/decreases. I do a lot of listening at low volumes in this rig so that's a plus.
Overall, I'm impressed. Does it best a, what I would consider, 'reference' quality pre/amp ala Sunfire/Classe? No, probably not. However, for a reasonably priced integrated? It gives you a HUGE slice of hifi.
Also, one other note. The remote. JHC, you'd think that Krell could come up with a BETTER designed remote. This thing SCREAMS 1979. HUGE with the dickbump pushbuttons. It does what you need it to do but that's about it.
Rockin' on down the highway with Krell in my 'sole';)
BDT
I plan for the future. - F1Nut
Post edited by TroyD on
Comments
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Nice goin' Troy! congrats.I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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You're my hero Bro. No kidding. You have a PM.
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I have the Krell 400xi which is suppose to sound alot warmer but alot leaner in the Bass, I was debating between the two but played it safe (i have no balls) and went with something that was a little easier on the treble. In the back of my mind I sometimes with I went with the 300 or 500i as I like alot of tight deep punching bass.
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I have Krell KAV250A -- 250wpc into 8 ohms.
I agree completely with your assessment. The bass is phenominal. TIGHT ! -
Sweet amp nice going Troy.
Speakers
Carver Amazing Fronts
CS400i Center
RT800i's Rears
Sub Paradigm Servo 15
Electronics
Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
Parasound Halo A23
Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
Pioneer 79Avi DVD
Sony CX400 CD changer
Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR -
Go down the path, you will. Yes, Dan is smiling.
Krell certainly is innovative in its design's, there new stuff is based upon signal current instead of voltage, dubbed CAST.
Congrats on the integrated, enjoy.
RT1 -
That thing is damn pretty. I've always wanted to own that, or the 400xi.
Enjoy!Von Schweikert VR4-jr
Valve Audio Predator
Denon DVD-2900
PS Audio Digital Link III w/Cullen Level IV Mods
Pro-Ject Xpression w/Blue Point No. 2
Graham Slee Special Edition 2
PS Audio UPC-200 -
Good Job Troy. Glad to hear you got your Krell on.
Nice man and good luck with it.
DanDan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
Hey Troy nice stuff. How did you get the box open all by yourself?Dodd - Battery Preamp
Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
Outlaw ICBM - crossover
Beringher BFD - sub eq
Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!
"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..." -
I admit, it was tough. I frigged up the box pretty bad.
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut -
Congrats Troy! I have a friend who is comtemplating the Krell 400xi. He is concerned that the 400xi will be to "bright". I saw Lush's post, I will make sure he reads this thread. Any more thoughts would be appreciated.Carl
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I really wouldn't characterize the sound as 'bright'. I will say though, if the recording is hot on the top end, that's what you are going to wind up with.
So, it really depends on what your tastes run to....
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut -
So it's doing what an amp should do. Amplifying the input signal.
Seems so simple when talking about it, but in the real world is so hard to acheive. I'm happy you are one of the lucky ones that finds that synergy so easily broham. So far, I reside in the same camp (knock on wood).
On another note, f$%king great, I need to set aside more money to get east bound and down and get my ears on that rig.
Cheers,
RussCheck your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service. -
The Krell/SDA thing is cool. The Quad rig, right now? I'm biased but I'm going to tell you that I haven't heard a 2ch rig that I think sounded better, anywhere.
I mean, where I think the Krell fall behind the Classe/Sunfire is pretty subjective. A little less air between instruments. A little less holographic....but, yeah, I think it adds LESS to the sound, overall.
Go Greyhound, baby.
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut -
Still trying to figure out what a " . . . HUGE 'dickbump' button . . . " is . . .Robert
zombie boy 2000 wrote:You are officially in the high-end of the deep-end of the top-end.
Bonus Room Over Garage:
Toshiba 27" CRT TV
Digital Source: Sony DVP-NS3100ES
DVR: Panasonic DMR-ES15
Denon 3806 AV Receiver
- L/R Preamp out to Parasound HCA-1200 Amp
Polk RTi70's, CSi40 Center, RTi38 Side Surrounds, RTi38 Back Surrounds
Living Room: (2ch only)
TV: Sony KV20-FV12
DVD Player: Sony DVP-NS715P
Yamaha R9 Receiver Polk RTi38's -
TroyD wrote:The Krell/SDA thing is cool. The Quad rig, right now? I'm biased but I'm going to tell you that I haven't heard a 2ch rig that I think sounded better, anywhere.
Congrats on the new piece! What's the setup with the Quads now, I lost track somewhere (sorry)? -
Ok, In the Quad room...
VPI HW-19MKIII (recently added the stand alone motor, removing the plinth mounted one)
Sony SCD-555ES; modified by SACDMODS. This thing is PHENOMENAL.
The Melos/CJ MV-75A1/Dodd phono stage are unchanged.
The upgrade in sources is nothing short of amazing.
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut -
That krell is a great piece - I love that'll push SDAs, but I don't throw my back out carrying it upstairs.
My only complaint is that none of my bananas want to stick in the posts- they're alway loose.
Anyhow, congrats, and I'm thinking it's a piece that you'll hang onto for awhile.Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
Backburner:Krell KAV-300i -
TroyD wrote:The Krell/SDA thing is cool. The Quad rig, right now? I'm biased but I'm going to tell you that I haven't heard a 2ch rig that I think sounded better, anywhere.
BDT
Excellent, it a sweet thing to have world class rigs to listen to, whenever you want. Seems to me over the past few years alot of CP Members have really stepped it up with the 2-channel.
RT1 -
Excellent! Now, you have to upgrade those crossovers.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 -
Nah, he just needs some 802D's to get his speakers up to the caliber of the rest of his gear.
Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service. -
I said upgrade, not downgrade.
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 -
rskarvan wrote:I have Krell KAV250A -- 250wpc into 8 ohms.
I agree completely with your assessment. The bass is phenominal. TIGHT !
Right On. -
Ah! Okay, I really liked the vinyl setup before the ESL's and TT upgrades. Bet it does sound stellar!TroyD wrote:Ok, In the Quad room...
I listened to the Eva at Blue's Alley CD on my ESL system this afternoon (first time it's been on in weeks/months.) Very nice! -
I knew in the end you would reach the mantis level of performance. All you had to do was listen.
madmaxVinyl, the final frontier...
Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want...
