KRELL KAV250CD vs ROTEL 991CD

I've owned both. There is no comparsion. The KAV250 is by far better. As long as you have the equipment to hear it. I used to have a pair of Nautilus 804s. Couldn't really hear that much of a differance because, while the 804s are good they are far from the last word in resolution. I sold them and got a $2300 pair of Martin Logan Aerius i and the differance is like night and day. The difference is that you can hear more of an atmosphere on the recording. Like hearing more air for a lack of better description. I've been hard pressed to find a better cd player for under $4000. Unfortunely I just sold my KAV250 for $1380. Dumb mistake. And now I'm having trouble finding something better out there. However Krell is going to release the KAV250 Series two any week now. And its a replacement for both the orignal KAV250 and the KAV300. It will be prices inbetween the two at $3250. And it should prove to be fabulous. Right now I'm saving for a Spectral SDR-3000 Tranport and SDR-2000 DA. That is the best digital front end you can buy. Its not cheap thought for almost $18,000 for the pair. *sighs*

I also own Nautilis 802 model. I agree the difference is night and day b/t Rotel and Krell 250 given the right ancillary equipment. I run with Krell FPB300c and Audio Research LS16. Is the new Krell 250/2 going to be 24bit or an upgrade for the mk1. Thanks for the comments.

You might consider the Resolution Audio CD55. I have the CD50, and feel that it's stupendous in every way. The CD55 upsamples to 700 kHz 24 bits, and drives amplifiers directly with decisive force. My CD50 sounds a lot like analog, has an ease and a weight that is natural and tonally correct. It's extremely transparent yet non-fatigueing...and it doesn't even upsample! My amps are either a Krell KAV-250a, or a Rogue Model 88. I have Magneplanar MMG's, and Paragon Acoustics Radiants.