Krell KPS 25SC

I owned this pre-amp/CD unit and used it with CAST cables to a Krell 400cx amp. I was very happy with it over my previous setup but then I auditioned the KPS with a Pass x-1 preamp and the preamp sounded better even with the Purist Audio Venustas IC cables. So I bought the Pass as well as a Musical Fidelity TriVista CD/SACD player and the sound quality was a very, very big upgrade.

I have since upgraded further but I thought I would share this with you. It seems that the CD technology has changed the most so you could do a lot better than the KPS technology (which is ten years old by now) in both the CD and the preamp area. It was a good unit but you can do much better now, especially in the used market.

I had a Krell KPS-25SC about 5 years ago. For the time it was excellent. Then until I put a Marantz SA-1 CD/SACD player in exchange. No comparison the Marantz SA-1 smoked the Krell in all facets. And I am not just talking in SACD but also redbook CD sound.

The preamp section on the Krell is just OK. Pass Labs X1 or better yet Threshold Fet Ten E preamp easily out performs the Krell preamp section.

To answer your question the Krell KPS-25SC can easily be beaten today.

I had an older KPS (20i) and really liked the sound but I talked to a Krell tech about maintenance/service and was told the laser assembly had become obsolete. He told me once the laser unit dies I have a 60 pound paper weight. Krell had no way of repairing any of these units and they do die over time. I got worried and sold it.

I would call Krell and see if they still stock parts especially the laser assembly. The thing is literally built like a tank but the lasers do go out with typical use over time. You might just fall in love and want to hang onto it for a while. I have never had a piece of equipment built like that 20i before or since.
I am currently running a Mark Levinson 360S with a No.37 transport, Modwright SWL 9.0 linestage and Levinson 23.5. I love the sound ... I can’t bring myself to even try anything else. The 360S makes beautiful music no matter what I plug into it. It's the whole synergy thing ... room, cables, power, pre, speakers, input - I somehow stumbled into a system that makes me really happy after 10 years of flip-flip. There might be something to matching up certain well made components from a single manufacturer. I am considering trying a Levinson SS pre just to put next to the Modwright to see what I think. Tube equipment get a little hot in the summer.