Can you put a Krell in an apartment?

Jeff,

I know some of your comments are in jest, but, the idea of comparing outrageous apartment systems, with the measure being the inappropriateness of the gear seems to be the wrong approach to making a good actual choice.  The best sound is achieved by employing the right gear for the apartment setting.  This does not necessarily mean tiny speakers and really low-powered amps.  

For example, if you look in Japanese audio magazines, you will see a lot of systems with very large horn-based speakers in tiny apartments.  Why?  It is because horns can sound extremely vibrant and alive when actually playing at quite low volume--a good attribute in an apartment with thin walls.  That horn systems also tend to be very efficient is another great attribute because most of the very best amplifiers (in my opinion) are low-powered amps.

You can also get very dynamic sound at low volume with high efficiency fullrange drivers used either in single-driver fullrange systems or with the full-range driver used in multi-way systems.  Most of these types of systems are also quite efficient.

Even large dipole panel speakers might be appropriate in an apartment, if you can get them out into the room.  Dipoles tend to concentrate the sound within a narrow field (the back and front wave are out of phase and cancel at the sides) and will sound pretty loud without spilling that loudness throughout the apartment (and into the next apartment).

There are many other ways to achieve good apartment sound, but, large subwoofers and hundreds of watts of power are the least likely way to get there.

Large dipole's in an apartment? I am going to grab some NEOLITH's then!!! Hook em up to some SYMPHONIC LINE MONOS!!! IN MY 500 SQUARE FT SECTION 8 APARTMENT IN THE LAS VEGAS HOOD!!! 

I've heard Magnepan 3.7 and 1.7 in small apartments/condos, and I have used Acoustat 1+1 and Martin Logan Quests in an apartment.  When I replaced the Quest with a horn-based system, I was shocked to find how much more sound seemed to spill out of the listening area than was the case with dipole speakers, meaning that I have to play the speaker at a lower volume level so as to not disturb neighbors.  Horn systems, because of their directivity, are supposed to be good at not disturbing neighbors, but, they are not as good as dipoles in that respect.

The limitations imposed by an apartment do not mean one cannot go crazy in building a sound system, it just means going crazy in a different way.  I am in that camp.  I own three amplifiers, the most expensive currently retails near six figures and the one I am currently running I could easily sell for $25,000.  The much more expensive reserve amp (on loan to a friend) has a rated output of 6.5 watts/channe; the one I am currently running has an output around 5.5 per channel.

Gentlemen we have a winner!!!! An amp that retails for 6 figures? In an apartment?  You are a true "goner".  I am envious. 

I run a pair of Gryphon Cantata speakers, which are designed for a small room. I’m happy with them and I don’t have the problem of bass overhang/boomy bass, that I would face with a larger pair of speakers. These speakers have a separate Q controller which has different settings based on the liveliness of the room. The speakers are meant to take advantage of room gain, the natural amplification of lower frequencies. They’re a sealed design, which I believe is more accurate than a ported speaker.