Krell KSA-i400 Stereo Power Amplifier
I had originally planned on buying the KRELL KSA i400 amp to power KEF Blades 2 Meta. However, the Blades did not materialize (was not sure I could keep them safe). Since the KRELL was more money than I could afford at the time I bought a used CODA #16 amp. I had owned the CODA CSiB integrated and CODA #8 amp, so I knew what I was getting into with the #16. I love the CODA #16 amp.
I bought a Sound Anchor speaker stand custom built for the larger KRELL. Every time I look at the smaller CODA sitting on it, I wonder if I should get the KRELL as originally planned. I had owned the KRELL 300i and integrated Duo 175 XD amp so I am familiar with what the KSA -400 should sound like. The CODA $16 sounds better to me than the 300i and 175 XD. The lower watt CODA #16 sounds more powerful (power supply). I was also considering the Duo 300 XD but I think that maybe a sideways move.
My intention for my last audio buy was to buy a PlayBack Designs Dream DAC and call it a day (keeping the CODA #16). However, I have learned recently that I could trade-in the CODA #16 and buy the KSA i400 for a bit less than the price of a new PBD Dream DAC. I actually threw out all my audio gear shipping boxes (2 systems), except the CODA #16 box.
I will try to listen to the KRELL at the next Los Angeles show (I have a remote KRELL dealer all lined up). Until then, I was curious to know if anyone else owns the KRELL i400 or heard it. If so, how do you like it and what speakers are you using it with. Can you compare it to the lower KRELL XD models or the CODA #16?
My plan is to use either the Benchmark LA4 preamp or the Holo Serene preamp (I have both). Those choices have nothing to do with the price and everything to do with the sound. The LA4 preamp with the KRELL Dou 175 XD amp was great.
Krell KSA-i400 Stereo Power Amplifier - The Absolute Sound
Krell Illusion II/KSA-i400 Pre/Power Amplifiers | Hi-Fi News (hifinews.com)
I guess a second question is what would be a better choice, a DAC or amp for similar cost? My current DAC for this system is the Schitt Yggg+ Less is More. I love this low-cost DAC. It is hard to get big improvements in DAC sonics these days, even at a lot more cost. Though the PBD is an FPGA design. A design I think is at the forefront of DAC designs. I feel a bit of the same with the new tech in the KRELL.
I also have the option of doing nothing, but I want to reward myself for surviving the past 12 months with my super crazy work schedule.
I do want to hear the amp before I make a decision even though I have prior experience with the lower model. I am leaning towards the PlayBack Designs DAC. I should have mentioned that I have an optical streamer that ONLY works via optical on PBD DACs. That was not cheap either, so I like to leverage that. I use the streamer today via SPDIF on the Benchmark DAC3B. In an ideal world I can hear both components on the same system, but that is not happening in the real world.
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Juicy pre’s are out for me. I had a year with a ’tube-like’ pre that cost almost 3x more than my current pre’s and I could not live with it, the latest model CODA 07x preamp. I need to figure out what is a more substantial upgrade the CODA to the KRELL or the Benchmark DAC3B/Scitt Yggi+ to the PlayBack Designs DAC. I put the CODA amp and Yggi+ LIM DAC together again today, and wow was that a nice pairing. If I do make a purchase, it will be for 1 component. The purpose of this thread is to get some feedback on the KRELL. The 2 reviews I linked above were useless to me. The amp "upgrade" may not even be an upgrade. The DAC "upgrade" should be an upgrade.
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@rcg412 I appreciate your feedback. The new KRELL XD lineup has a very inviting top end. I had 2 of them in the recent past so that is why I am considering the i400. What do you think is the better choice for you, a killer DAC with another amp or the i400 with a very good DAC? Can you lift the amp by the handles or is the form factor too big for 1 person?
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Thanks for the great feedback. I owned the AHB2 and loved it though it was not powerful enough for my then hard to drive speakers. One of the reasons I am so happy with the CODA #16 is that it has a very clean sound on top, almost as good as the AHB2 on top, but with massive grunt. The lower end KRELL that I owned is similar in some ways, such as the bass, but the top end is even smoother. I also owned the top Topping DAC and it was not that great. My prior best DAC was the Lumin X1, I did a side-by-side comparison of the latest model Yggi+ LIM with the Lumin X1 and preferred the top end of the Yggi+ a bit more. It was rather evident when I used my RAAL SR1a earphones, the most revealing gear I own. The streamer section of the X1 is something I miss, especially with the Leedh volume control, which works on even the SPDIF output. I used that with a modded Peachtree GAN1 "amp". The X1 is a great streamer, and it natively supports fibre optic too. I guess the answer to my question about DAC vs amp is that it depends on the gear. It is a bit cheaper for me to get the KRELL i400 (with CODA #16 trade-in) vs the PBD DAC. BTW - The MA3 was created by Ed Mietner's company. Ed was a partner or protégé of Andreas Koch from PBD. One of the reasons I am high on the DAC upgrade is that these guys likely know more about DACs than most companies. Bartok, Schitt, Rockna are other companies that I think are DAC pioneers.
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