Krell 400xi or Musical Fidelity A5 for ML Summit?

Nrchy, just because you don’t like Krell equipment does not mean you have to bash it in every post you can.

jlevine, I own Krell gear and its top end is not harsh at all. Please list the cabling you are using on your equipment and if you are using any power conditioning. Some cables do sound harsh.

You might want to try different configurations to see what the best sound is. Have you tried room treatments and making sure proper placement of your summits?

I found Krell equipment sounds best using the XLR connections, MF A5 only has RCA's. I would suggest selling the A5 and get a Krell SACD Standard. I had some MF gear and sold it for all Krell. But that is my preference.

As John Wright (modder of older Ed Meitner gear and soon to be released John Wright gear) once told me. The new Krell stuff is actually very good and passes through everything. Before pulling the trigger on the amp swap I'd consider looking at the source. I find that whatever you feed the Krell, it will spit out. My setup has a very analog sound, I attribute this entirely to my source and the Krell simply passes along the information it receives. If anything I think the Krell is on the warm side of neutral.

Joeyboynj either your post is stupid, or your are stupid. You decide... I have owned more and better Krell gear than you have and I have not bashed it. Read the reviews I wrote of several pieces.

Krell makes some great gear, but the 400xi is not a good piece. I don't know what Mr D was thinking when they decided this was good enough for the market. Maybe they figured that if people want HT gear they don't care about sound quality.

You are entitled to your opinion, but don't delude yourself into thinking that the 400 is good, or that you know what I have owned or heard...

Bring on your flame thrower!!!

:o

Nrchy, maybe the Krell integrated that you've listened to was the KAV-300i and I can agree it's harsh. The 400XI is a different machine altogether and does not possess that similiar character.

jlevine, I would suggest that you reconsider your options. As others have pointed out, the MF doesn't have balanced connections and may not be a better integrated than the Krell. Personally I am a Krell fan and I would suggest looking at the source too as your MF A5 may be the culprit here. You can look at a used KPS-20i(someone selling here at a great price and nope it's not me). I own the KPS-30i and it's a lovely piece of equipment.

I owned the 300i and hear the new piece is better sounding and a better value.But really different sound.It's up to you.I think MF will be more fogiving and still have resolution .The Krell will have grip on bass that the MF can't touch but it is (as is all thier AB gear) a bit "etched" and metallic.Not sure if your open to other suggestions but why not the Sim integrated?More expensive is Ayre which is what I would want with the summits.The Krell in fact might not match with ML's.Krell sounds TERRIBLE with Maggies and your dealing with a (simmilar) very resolving speaker.So I'd go MF.But see iff used Sim and Ayre are arounf in shops to audition.Hear fantastic things about Edge gear but iut's nose bleed stuff price wise.But Sim Moon might be alternative to MF you'd like and if you could pony up for Ayre (knowing those who have had all Sim and went to Ayre and never looked back) if you hook up the Ayre stuff you'll find the budget and never look back.But each to his own.I know folks who loved Krell with Thiel when that for me is an ear splitting combo from hell.The Krell might be your ticket.I knoiw it's hard to A/B them or get the gear in same room with speakers but that is trully the best way because your tastes are your own.
Cheers
Chazz