Krell KAV400 VS Musical Fidelity A300 A 3.2 A3.5

Dkzzzz, it is spelled Ayre and it is a fine product even though it's power rating is low. Very transparent and fairly dynamic with a neutral presentation. The 400xi is bolder, more dynamic and extended with tons more drive and a sense of "you are there" like none other near it's price range...several reviewers who have managed to set their units up properly have agreed:)

I did some homework on capacitance, inductance and energy storage in electrical devices (such as crossovers) and cables. Even conventional cables store energy, as do crossovers...ENERGY!! The musical signal is in the form of a flow of electrons, which tend to build up potential energy within devices (crossovers) and cables...even under normal, non-networked(MIT cables) or high capacitance crossover design (Krell ACT), conditions. In other words, Audiofeil's slam of my understanding regarding energy storage or anything else audio for that matter, is an expression of arrogance and ignorance. Being old and an owner of an audio distribution outlet does not equate with valuable advice or knowledge apparently. Next time you slam someone or dismiss them out of hand, make sure you have first hand knowledge or experience with a product or concept! Now pick out a select qoute from the archives and then offer a vague condescending rebuke (minus anything substantive of course).

I see Audiofool is up to his usual nonsense on this thread also. As an authority of everything, he knows no limits.

i'm glad it has come to the end now... appraud... Nice Presentation all ^^v

Never have I ran across a more polarizing subject than the Krell "sound".

I have tried out many, many fine integrated amps and a few separates by Bryston, Parasound and Proceed. I ended up keeping my Krell KAV 300iL as somewhat of a cost performance compromise.

Some of the bashing that the 300iL/400xi take is completely out of line. I have owned products that I really disliked but will never badmouth. I will state my experience, associated equipment and make a hopefully coherent opinion on the products pros and cons.

I am using the 300iL to power my Dynaudio Contour 1.3 SE monitors and feel that it is a beautiful match-up. I was reading another thread and the bash was abouth the "small" transformer. I called Krell and was assured that the transformers are 800 VA. Now that is not huge but but adequate for the power rating into 8 ohms. The power consumption is 1100 watts. These figures are far from inadequate. Look at the numbers of comparably priced and powered integrated amps and check out their numbers. There are a great number of supposedly very powerful amps out there utilizing 350 VA, 400 VA transformers, yet they are not bashed.

I have read the now legendary Stereophile review of the KAV 400xi as well as the measurements by John Atkinson. Always mentioned is that it did not double its power into 4 ohms but 350 wpc is none the less very impressive and the 290 wpc clipping power into 8 ohms is never mentioned, not once. Also J.A. didn't do the dynamic power output test that he so fond of doing with many amps. This begs the question: Why not?

I am not a Krell guy, an NAD guy, a Bryston guy, but a music lover. It seems that Krell has taken the place of McIntosh as the brand that audiophiles love to hate. I am not out looking for the flavor of the week, latest and greatest, outdated old and moldy next week product. I enjoy fine sounding, well engineered products and the Krell KAV 300iL/400xi meet those criteria for ME. YMMV.

You see, my results may have been different by far if I owend B&W 805s or the such. The sound depends on the WHOLE system! Dynaudios are known for their smooth treble, low efficiency and lightning fast transient response which to me makes them and Krell a great match. If you want to say that a product sounds like crap at least take the time to state your associated equipment, other than that your opinion is less than useless.

My equipment experience: Krell KAV 300iL,Definitive Tech. BP-10, Dynaudio Audience 52, Dynaudio Contour 1.3 MkI, Dynaudio Contour 1.3 SE, YBA YA201, NAD C320BEE, Bryston 2B, Parasound HPA1000, Proceed AMP2, PS Audio 4.6, Cambridge Audio 840A, Creek 5350SE, NAIM Nait5i, Arcam CD73, Pioneer BDP-51FD.

Ultra high end? No. Esoteric? No. Very good? Yes!

I still have the 400xi and love it! The Stereophile review does an extreme injustice to the 400xi, which must have involved a defective unit. I've driven Krell resolution 2's and my maggie 3.6R's at concert levels with no strain, compression or distortion whatsoever. In fact, I've never heard a better rendition of high frequencies. The Soundstage review nailed it on the head...word for word, that review captures what the 400xi can do and does for me:O)

It sounded very fine indeed when I heard one a ways back driving Martin Logan and Focal Profile speakers at a local Tweeter.

If someone trashed it it was probably in a mismatched system somehow or else it was a defective unit. Quality control on some of the Krell stuff is not a slam sunk for me. There was also a Krell CD player in that system that was quite quirky. And I've heard other Krell setups that should have sounded good and did not.

Dave b, I noticed that you at one time had the newer s300i. Why did you decide to stick with the 400xi over the newer model?

I have not been able to check one out but I have heard rumours that it is a bit polite and not quite as dynamic as the 300iL/400xi models.

Dave b, I noticed that you at one time had the newer s300i. Why did you decide to stick with the 400xi over the newer model?

I have not been able to check one out but I have heard rumours that it is a bit polite and not quite as dynamic as the 300iL/400xi models.