Whats the krell sound?

Ellery--

Perhaps you've hit on the problem I had: my Krell was the, I believe, KAV300i(?). It's been a few years, so I'm not sure of the proper number, but it was an integrated.

I suppose this doesn't qualify as a "real" Krell. So be it. It was, however, an unpleasant enough experience that I've had no desire to try another example of that brand. I can't even mitigate my opinion by citing build quality, etc.: one of the RCA connectors actually liked the interconnect so much that it detached itself from the backplate!

The latest Krell "Class A" FPB amps - the ones with the "x"
suffix - are somewhat of a departure from the classic Krell
sound.

They are much sweeter than their predecessors.

I also agree that the "Krell sound" is very system dependent.

If you have speakers that need and can really use the high
current / high power capability of the Krells - like ribbon
speakers - then these amps really come into their own.

Dr.Gregory Greenman
Physicist

With reference to "morbius's" response:

I was using the integrated KAV300i with Maggie 3.5R's and I could never arrive at a satisfactory treble level, even after adding attenuating resistors to the high freq. connections in lieu of the standard jumpers. Those ribbon tweeters, in combo with the Krell, set my teeth on edge.(And the input was from a Wadia 830, which is infamous for its high freq. rolloff!)

But, again, the integrated amps probably don't qualify as "real" Krells. I won't argue with that opinion, having never again bothered to audition Krell products.

I now have SoundLab A-3's, powered by Bryston 7B-ST's, fed by a Burmester 001, all of which I find extremely satisfying. I still have the Maggies and recently had reason to put them back into service temporarily. With the Brystons, they are still a bit bright, but nowhere near the annoying level created by the Krell.

914nut

The Kav's are IMO not a good choice for full range ribbon systems...weak power supply turns them bright when driven hard. (I own a Kav-500). It's a great little amp for my Vmps 626's or my Apogee Centaur Minors but falls apart quickly on my Duetta Sig's. The old Krell Ksa-250 is smooth as butter on the big ribbons. Of course it's power supply is over 4 times the Kav's.

Dave

For Dave: just curious, as a former Apogee Stage owner, any brief comments on the difference between the Apogee ribbon sound & the VMPS one would be welcome. I have never heard them directly compared. Thanks.