So why was the Krell KPS 28c discontinued?

The only Krell dealer was not going to stock the product 28c, so I took a chance. And yes, I was mad at myself for making such an expensive purchase without an audition. I only learned after I owned the product about Krell's history with digital and particularly in the upper mid-range, their products tend to accentuate the worst characteristics of digital(at least the models I mentioned above including the KAV 300 which I used for 3 weeks). If you have never owned or had an extensive home audition, you are not in a position to evaluate a product. You know as well as I that the magazine reviews are designed to sell products for the advertisers. I have no motive here except to help. I am mostlty into analog with a VPI ext aires/JMW 12.5/dynavector/EAR 834 P phono stage. As well, I am using a SONY scd 777 es SACD player which works great for SACDs and isn't much worse than the Krell on redbook. But it does lack HDCD. For the record, I am using a Rowland Concentra 2 with Luxor power cord #11 and B&W 802 speakers

Ovature, yours must have had some parts missing if it only weighed 17 lbs. Maybe that accounts for why it sounded like crap and the top did not fit.

Thumbs up to ovature who can admit a bad purchase.

I had to get 3 units until I got one that worked right, so the last unit came straight from Krell; maybe it was 18 lbs. The workmanship on this cast series pre-amp and 28c is NOT as good as some of their other products were. The fit and finish was just ok. Like a bigger gap on one side of the cover than the other; a new top didn't fix. A plastic drawer(ON A $7500 list player??, are they insane??)The player tended to accentuate grain on vocals more than it should. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't worth the $5625 I paid for it. For that kind of money, it should be as solid as a rock and sound very refined and it did not except with some HDCDs and some Telarc jazz. If you could find a used one and it was no more than 2K, it would be worth it, but no more. If this product was so great and sold so well, why is it gone without a replacement? Its because standard cd players don't sell well at that price point anymore

Ovature, it sounds like you had a bad experience with the KPS 28C. I know I would have a bitter opinion if I paid that much for something and they could not get it right. And I can't comment on the quality issues you had because I have not had any problems with mine. You also did not comment on the rest of the system that you had yours connected to. I think the 28 is optimally designed to be used with other Krell cast equipment to play at its best. I have no complaints with mine but I would never pay retail for one. All this high end stuff is way over priced in my opinion. BTW, mine weighs in at 23.5 lbs and I don't agree that the tray sounds like a tin pan but I do agree it could be more to it.