Whats the krell sound?

The Apogee Stages really sing when powered by the
Krell FPB-300cx.

The Stage is the type of speaker that can really use the
power and high current of the big Class A Krells.

Dr. Gregory Greenman
Physicist

I am illiterate in the hifi talk but I do own the equipment. I was into hifi stereo back in 1975 but then started having childern. they are gone now and so I got back in to it. I started off with the kav-300r. The sound and stereo seperation was better then anything I had ever heard in my life to that point. To say the kav line isn't that good is silly. With the right speakers they sound great! I currently own a fpb-400cx with a kct pre-amp and b&w N802 speakers. It sounds better then the kav line but the kav was pretty darn good. My current system will bring tears to your eyes it's so good sounding "if you like music". I have demoed many types but for me the Krells I liked the best. PS, I recently picked up a used McIntosh MR-7083 tuner, it almost sounds as good as a cd player! and that's saying a lot. I never knew FM radio could sound so good. I am the most critically discerning person I know of, almost unsatisfiable, and I like the current Krell class-A equipment. Everyone has differant tastes, I like my sound system to reflect as close as possible the real thing.
John

I've owned two Krell’s, currently a FPB200 and previously a KAV300i. The 300i didn't really do much for me, having tried it in a couple different setups it was ultimately replaced with a CJ tubed integrated, the CAV50, which blew it away sonically.
I'm now trying a FPB200 with mixed results. The rest of my system: Audio Alchemy DDS Pro Transport, AA Dti pro32 digital interface, MF A324 Upsampler DAC, MIT reference digital cable, ARC LS 15 Preamp, Purist Audio single ended I/C, DH Labs Silver Ref XLR's, Chord Flatline Bi-Wires, and Maggie 3.6R's.

The sound that I get from my system is basically inconsistent and too dependant on the recording quality of the source material, which is 99% CD (I have SACD but using a Pioneer Elite 45i it doesn't sound as good as CD).

The system, and note that I say 'system' is overly bright and analytical on most music. Some CD's that are recorded well, and recorded on the warmer side, sound excellent, but 70% of my collection (varied, including rock, jazz, classical, blues etc) sounds too bright.
Having tried other amps, including tubed Cary monoblocks, a vintage Perreaux bi-amped configuration, Mac 252, Belles and CJ's, the Krell made the following differences:
Excellent soundstage depth.
Slightly improved soundstage width.
More detail - better resolution.
More solid imaging
Clearer, more precise presentation.
Clean / tight bass reproduction

Those are positives, but the negatives are:
less musically satisfying
Less able to tolerate louder volumes
Too edgy and bright
Timbral information lacking, no real substance to strings and percussion
Ultimately shorter listening sessions.

The last point really sums it up for me - 'ultimately shorter listening sessions'.

It's hard to get into the groove with my present system, and I'm trying to figure out what to change. I think it's wrong to blame the Krell, it's a system synergy issue, where the Magnepan’s are a little forward to begin with and the Krell doesn't help any in that direction.

My Cary V12i Mono’s were far more musically satisfying in my system, but they were unable to open up the soundstage on the Maggies, and stage presentation is something that I hold high on my priority list. SPL's were also limited using the Cary's, as they would regularly pop the tweeter fuses, which hasn't happened so far with the Krell.
So to get back on track for this thread, I don't think there is a 'Krell sound' per se, just a system synergy issue that is perhaps more profound than with other manufacturers components.
I personally think that the Maggie/Krell is not such a good match - it's quite 'audiophile' in a sense (stage, imaging, detail), but not musically satisfying enough.
So my advice is to be careful to match Krell amps with other components that are not on the bright or analytical side.
Rooze
PS - I'm open to suggestions on where to go next with my system, change the speakers?....change the amp?...change both?...buy a boombox..?…what the heck.

Rooze, how about looking at the source. What's up with the TT?

I just got a Krell FPB 700cx yesterday. The sound is amazing, after only four hours of running the PAD burn-in CD. The amp, so far has struck me as being very neutral, and reflective of the componants upstream. More listening will reveal a better qualified summary.

Nate, glad to hear that the Krell arrived safely. Sorry I missed the chance to get a listen yesterday, I got your email Friday morning, and your phone message late last night when we got home from dinner.

I tried to be careful not to say that there is anything wrong with the Krell, I don't think that there is. It's a system synergy issue, but I have to wonder if the system ever has a chance of sounding good with both the Krell and the Maggie's, regardless of what I do with the source and/or other ancillary equipment. I might be wrong in that assumption and I would very much like to be proven so.

The TT is probably just too 'basic' to have a chance of sounding any better than the CD front end. It's a nice TT for the money, but I need to spend a lot more to get something that will perform well in my system. I get a taste for what vinyl is about with the Rega, but I know from owning an LP12 for many years that it is capable of much, much more. It would probably help to at least spend a bit of time setting the Rega up properly, and hopefully I can borrow your setup device, and maybe even your expertise for a couple hours soon.

I'm going to setup a system in the basement when you're done with the Cary's, using my old speakers and probably the turntable. That will give me the opportunity to start selling off some components from the main system, to finance a change in direction.
I haven't decided yet what the change will be, new speakers possibly, to mate with the Cary's. Or, new amps, to match better with the maggie's....maybe scale back on amps and speakers, and use the left over cash towards vinyl.
Anyway....there I go again!! Susan says it's a 'Libran trademark', hopping from one foot to the other.

I'm going now, no I'm not, yes I am, no...I'll stay a while longer, have to go.

Rooze