The Showcase is Krell's fifth generation surround sound preamp/processor, delivering the benefits of almost a decade of experience in the development of reference-quality High End Audio Theater (HEAT™) systems. With the latest in surround sound technologies, a proprietary digital room equalizer, and an exceptional preamplifier section, the Showcase processor extends the KAV Series' tradition of Krell engineering and affordability to a new generation.
Summary: Fantasic in everyway! Pre-amp and processing exceeds everything on the market for the money. Nothing under $8k sounds even close. all the sonic benefits of the HTS2! Don't believe me, then go listen for yourself!
Strengths: all
Weaknesses: none- no zone 2 control but can use tape monitor.
Similar Products Used: b+k, proceed, parasound halo, theta, ayre, moon, lexicon, bryston, rotel, marantz and etc...
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Summary: Just a awesome processor and a preamp! It has replaced my Proceed AVP2 and it has not missed a beat. It is very flexable and the built in EQ made a huge difference in my theater. This is one fine product by Krell...
Strengths: Easy to use and the sound quailty awesome. Well built unit.
Weaknesses: None
Similar Products Used: Proceed AVP2
EAD ovation plus
Parasound C1
Summary: The showcase is a fantastic Home Theater processor. Was a definite major upgrade from the Accurus ACT 3 that it replaced. I am currently limited to 5 channel, but will eventually upgrade to 7.1 to evaluate the full capability of this unit. Great remote and straight forward set-up once I read the manual a couple of times (it is not intuitively obvious - gotta study). But that's where the good ends. Two channel reproduction is very weak - bass in two channel mode without a sub is non-existant. Very disappointed. Musically, it is not a very engaging piece. My old B&K Pro-10 Sonata creamed it in two channel mode. It also loses its surround mode frequently when changing satelite stations with auto-detect enabled. It simply goes silent and I have to click to another source and back again so that it resets.
Strengths: Great surround processor. Like the input and out flexibility (XLR, RCA, etc.)
Weaknesses: Terrible two-channel preamp. Krell should be embarrased. Keep wondering about a software upgrade to fix the glitches - nothing announced yet. Lots of choices at this price point - I should have auditioned more thoroughly.
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Rating Reviewed by: Ray (Unregistered User)
(Audio Enthusiast)
Review Date December 21, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Value Rating 3 of 5
Used product for More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review 3.00 of 5,
2.00 votes
Review 4 of 7
Price Paid:
$2800.00
from dealer via web
Summary: This is a great processor for movie playback in a HTS. Channel separation and control is excellent. It is also extremely versatile from a configurability standpoint. The manual is a bit complex - it will take you a while to learn your way around within the set-up screen. Musically, I was not very impressed. Set to the "preamp" mode, it should be as close to a traditional linestage as you can get. I was disappointed by the lack of bass signal that was being sent to the main speakers, but thought maybe it was my room. I also thought that the preamp lacked the level of audiophile musical articulation that one would expect from a Krell. A friend recently lent me his B&K Pro10 Sonata and it blew the Krell Showcase away! I was floored - more soundstage, more detail, and my missing bass was back!
Strengths: Excellent home theater system processor. Very flexible, great sound once set-up has been optimized.
Weaknesses: Very poor job on music, especially traditional jazz and classical. Won't do your expensive main speakers justice - listen to it side by side with a high quality linestage if you are looking for accurate music in addition to movies before you plunk down $3K.
Similar Products Used: Krell KSA300S, Legacy Focus + Silver Screen + Pacemaker + Mist Speakers, ADCOM GFA 5503 (center and rear), Kimber Hero (AWSOME), Rotel RCD991 (also awsome), JA Michell Gyrodec SE with RB300 and BPS. Now using the B&K Pro10 (I bought it from my buddie) for music.
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Summary: It is incredibly dynamic compared with TAG Dual Processor, sounds very good at low volume, but it is too forward with classical music and EQ degrades a bit the sound unlike the TAG DP.
I love the remote, small but sturdy, and it does everything I need, easy and comprehensive to setup, very detailed and clean sound...
Strengths: Dynamics, detail, highs, DPLII Matrix for TV, remote
Weaknesses: Equalisation limited to thirds of octave, forward with classical music
Similar Products Used: TAG AV32R old and new DP
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