CD player for Mcintosh/Krell int amp

I meant to say you are so full of information Fafafion:) I've owned the FBI...nice piece, but not 15K worth better. I know the design arguments from way back when balanced was pro only gear. My experience with the countless number of HiFi kit that have been in and out of my home is that one must experiment and work with a system over time for best results or even to begin to grasp an understanding of the potential encased within each units case work. Ears and experimentation alone will yield satisfaction...pretending to understand audio design and it's capabilities/shortcomings is a straw man argument. Reality is never what were told...experience alone will reveal the truth!!

Dave_b,I will accept your compliment graciously,thank you.

You see,when klaudio was wondering why MF didn't have a balanced out in their CDP,the answers to me are simple;

1]MF is a honest company.The CDP is not a balanced design unit,and they are not trying to fool the customers by putting a balance out[which a lot of companies do]

2.Balanced does not necessarily better,especially at the lower price point

As far as KRELL is concerned to my ears,The FBI is the best of all KRELL products.Is it worth the 15k difference?I know some friends who absolutely think it is .And KRELL likes KRELL.It is as simple as that isn't it?KRELL CDP with KRELL amp and cablings and KRELL/Wilson sp.That has been my experience ,at least.

It's never as simple as that I'm afraid..wish it were, would have saved many thousands of dollars over the years. Once one does their best choosing components based on thier preferences, the job has just begun. Cabling is something I am extremely strong about after owning most manufacturers brands over the years. Bottom line is that I have never found a balanced connection on a piece of kit that was not superior sounding. For musicality and any other HiFi quip one would care to conjur up, MIT and Transparent products have offered me the best results. My reference points are always live music, whether it be classical, jazz or rock!! Remember, the room your in counts for more than 50% of the results you will experience. Krell cast is a trick pony for installers..lossless but not very musical sounding. Wilson speakers I've owned responded well to many amp/preamp combinations be it tube or solid state. Krell gear has generally sounded good to great with any speaker system I have owned. Recently Krell has decided to cater to A/V installations while reducing parts quality as well as removing Class A from their amps. The Evo stuff is not better sounding than the older FPB gear...in fact it's a bit a-musical sounding..I owned a full kit a year ago and sold it!! The FBI is/was my favorite unit..sold it for a re-allocation of funds. After digging out my old 400xi, upgrading my Sacd standard to V3 and lashing it up with 20k plus of MIT Oracle V2.2 cables and Transparent MM PC's...well I was amazed at the purity of the upper registers in particular, along with a more natural flow to the music. I liked it so much that I banked all my cash and have enjoyed my music far more than in recent times. I could go on for hours, but suffice it to say, it's fun for us audiophiles to attempt to understand this hobby via reason, but the ghosts are still in the machines and it takes great skill and patience to harness them for our own pleasures. Enjoy!

Wow........I thought I would hear more comments
about the Mcintosh MA 6300 than the Krell.
I have owned more Mcintosh pieces than Krell,
so I am going to take all of your advice with the
400xi.

I thought it looked (KRELL) and sounded great for the price.
I am very happy with it........the bottom line test
for me......is my toe tapping.....and I did not have
to take out a loan to buy it. I may have to look at the Krell SACD.
Was thinking along the AYRE pathway...but that could change.

I am more into listening to the music than to try
to find some sound I have not heard on a recording
I have heard 4,000,000 times. This hobby is much
more fun that way for me......I used to be like that!

I know more about the Krell 400xi than when I bought it..
that's for sure!

Hello Klaudio,

It's an interesting hobby but don't take it too seriously, you'll find yourself searching for a truth that doesn't exist. Remember it's all about you. The Krell is a love hate relationship for most. Some hate (many haven't listened) and some love (many haven't listened). Trust your ears. There is a lot of marketing in this game. Krell mentions class "A" without the addition of biasing and Musical Fidelity suggests their amplifiers can handle peak currents at 75amp. Both are laughable and often meaningless statistics, both are in the business of selling and marketing general ideas. Each are successful and it happens in all consumer products. And most seem to forget these companies are in the business of selling electronics and not art.

I would recommend perhaps keeping your MAC and buying an external DAC. There are many more options and perhaps a cheaper alternative. If you are set too a one box solution then I would recommend an Ayon CD-1. For several years now I've tried (through casual listening on other systems) to find a digital product that beat my older Meitner gear and I think I have. The Ayon is a real gem. It has the same sonic analog virtues as my Meitner stuff but with much more detail. I haven't heard a better digital playback system. At least not in a home setup. I also believe the Ayon uses XLR outputs (I listened single ended) which would ease any concerns when connected to the Krell.