Hegel H390 vs Krell Vanguard digital integrates amps

@luckyrainbow63 I did some more test tonight with the DAC3B vs the AMT3SE on the Benchmark stack. The AMT3SE does not match perfectly sonically with the BM stack with respect to the gain (or some other connectivity issue). The sound is lower than the DAC3B which required me to increase the volume to match the DAC3B. In all instances of music I listened to I preferred the DAC3B with the BM stack. The AMT3SE sounded a little veiled on the BM stack.

On the KRELL, the AMT3SE sounded great and had nice synergy with that unit. However, I am going to spend the next month listening to the internal DAC on the KRELL with my best streamer. The internal DAC may need more hours of burn-in so I want to make sure I have not rushed to judgement on this DAC.

If the internal DAC steps up in quality in the next month then the AMT3SE will go for sale. If the internal DAC is deemed good enough I should consider the EtherREGEN to try the RJ45 network streaming and free up one of my fibre streamers for my downstairs..

Hi @yyzsantabarbara Mine Krell k300i just arrived and I just do set up last night.I do like the Krell very much.and I also have few problems with the Krell set up because it's a first time I own Krell equipment.first of all I hook up both hdmi from my oppo 103 to both krell hdmi on back and number 3 hdmi from krell hdmi (arc) out put  to my 60inches 4k tv.and I also connected analog interconnect from oppo 103 to s2 krell and plug in my mp3 usb (I collect now what I call music fr volume 1 to 65)to back oppo player. Everything seem right but there is problems is when I press krell remote changing to s2 (anolog)suddenly the sound out loud from both speakers very loud like you turn on maximum The volume. AndI I cannot turn down the volume down.I have to switched back to hdmi to turn volume down?that mean I can't control volumes on analog side (no matter u turn volume up or down is not working).have you got that problem?and problem #2 is if I plug in usb to front USB A on screen tell me usb disconnected?(may be krell didn't recognizing my usb.I have to take out usb and plug in back of my oppo players its work? Problem #3 when I turn on power on Krell k300i I hear a clip sound came out from my speakers .there's no clipping sound when turn on off on McIntosh ma252 or Hegel h390? You got same problems like me?

@yyzsantabarbara I just figured out to fixed by set the maximum volume level (from oppo player)on the analog audio out puts from max 100 to 50 and its works. But when I switched back and forth several time between s2(analog)to hdmi 1.its big clip sound from speakers and then the s2 silence no sound at all.but I still hear the clip sound every time I switched between s2 and hdmi mode even no sound from s2?I really don't know what happens to s2,(analog)?ang help?

I was just going to say that your OPPO likely has a preamp with volume so you need to set that to fixed and use the volume control on the KRELL. Looks like you solved that. I actually had the same issue this afternoon with a headphone amp and DAC. When I reverted my DAC to FIXED volume I set the DAC's volume to infinity (or no sound). I am not sure that is needed but I thought that was the correct thing to do.

So now you are not getting any volume from S2 even when you change the volume on the KRELL?

Have you looked at the Menu setting on the S2 input. There is a wealth of settings on the Menu for each input. Take a look at that to see if anything is disabled. I found the menu easier to use with the buttons on the KRELL unit, not the remote.

I was using the same inputs myself and did not have any issue so I am sure we can sort your situation out.

Let me take a look at the manual and get back to you. I moved my KRELL to my sons play area so I only have 1 DAC input being used (the NETWORK input).

Preamp Output

Level Trim – In this menu you can add a volume offset to the preamp output to compensate for gain differences between an external amplifier or subwoofer and the internal amplifier of the K-300i. The adjustment range is +/- 10dB.

Output Mode – The two choices are Variable or Fixed. In Variable mode the output level varies with the main volume control. In Fixed mode the output level is fixed to a standard line level output for driving devices with their own volume control.

Maybe your Output Mode for S2 is set to FIXED.