Krell K-300i vs. other integrated amps under 10k

@Dave and Troy

In the early 2000’s and late 90’s, we carried Krell in our stores. They wowed some and fatigued us. They were what I’d call "pitchy" toward the upper octaves creating an unpleasant stridency. We were comparing them to some of the other amps we sold being ARC, Manley, Quick Silver, etc. The Macs seemed like people singing thru a pillow back then but I guess they may have changed as well.

The Krells were so "speaker dependent" back then, we paired them mostly with Spendors to acquire a better sound. 

At any rate, I am curious as to what Krell did to tame down their amps because what I’m reading speaks of a different voicing presently.

ARRO, THE NEW KRELL GEAR IS NOTHING LIKE THE OLD GEAR..

THE I BIAS DESIGN SOUNDS LIKE A TUBE AMP IT IT IS WARM AND ORGANIC SOUNDINGM, SOLID STATE GEAR.

I ALSO OWNED A KSA 250 AND MCX 350MCS AGAIN THE NEW GEAR IS MUCH MORE ENGAGING. {Dave Owner.}

DAVE AND TROY

Audio intellect NJ

Krell dealers

@ei001h, I leave the Krell on indefinitely and also the Innuos player. I started doing that about 3 years ago since none of my gear has tubes. Everything plugs into a Puritan 156. I tried the Krell directly into the wall and liked it better in the Puritan, which, btw, also benefited with an upgraded power cord.

I’ve not used the streaming functions. Airplay? Just don’t recall of the top of my head.

My gear is fairly close to the left of my seat, but not close enough to reach a knob, so I’ve used a remote even when a knob is present. I am using only two remote functions: volume and sometimes “display” when I wish to see where the volume is set. The display times out and goes away after about 10 seconds or maybe less. I’ve not timed it. A thin blue lighted border does stay on but not the volume or source information. That times out.

The remote is heavier than necessary. When replacing the batteries, I liked the weight of it with the large back cover removed, so I may make a nice thin wooden replacement for the metal back cover. It would be a very nice improvement and pretty easy to do. Can paint it black to match or leave it a contrasting wood tone,

Over time, I will have the opportunity to compare the K-300i to some other highly regarded integrateds. But even before that, it’s easy to believe @audiotroy is telling it straight that the K-300i is an absolute home run, based on how it compares to other gear—in his experience. Not saying there aren’t other home run integrateds from other makers—especially since each person has their own preferences and is matching with their own source gear and speakers.

One of the folks I spoke with is awaiting a pair of Auidovector R6 Arrete speakers to arrive as am I ( R3 Arrete’s) and while discussing our audio journeys, it was clear he was quite experienced and had owned a good bit of high quality gear. He said a friend of his also bought AV R6’s and they sound amazing on a K-300i. That was was one of many such “favorable data points” that lead me to conclude that those exalting the K-300i *probably* weren’t recklessly employing fanboy hyperbole in their praise of the unit. The only way to *know*, of course, is to draw your own conclusions.

@ei001h, Based on my experience with the Luxman 590ax II Class A amp, my Hypex NCore NC400 Dual Mono Class D Power Amplifiers, my Mola Mola Kaluga Class D Mono Power Amplifiers (very disappointing), my SimAudio 700i V2 amp and my current Ayre X-5 Twenty amp, every amplifier has a different sound depending on it, the associated equipment, the source, music and your listening room. The only way to know what sounds great, is to listen using your components in your home. Obviously, I made some mistakes but, more important, I learned what sound I like and did not like.   

My friend said “my progression of gear were not expensive mistakes but rather a 'wonderful' learning experience.  It was an experience that only I could have in my home”.

I like my new Ayre AX-5 Twenty integrated amp very much.  The sound is different in that the sound is MORE natural and less 'exaggerated' than my previous amps. This is very hard to put into words. The sound is there with no artificial extra stuff around it.  The music is normal meaning it makes music, never adding color or stripping the musical recordings of their textures, feelings, and dynamics.  The music from the AX-5 Twenty amp is relaxed and smooth without sounding dark or laid-back. I hope this helps.