Price Paid:  $950.00 from used

Summary:
In 2005, after years of tube-amplification, modifications, tube-roling and intensive psychotherapie (Audiopaths beware !) I "settled" for the Krell. It took some time before we got along. It wanted power conditioning, a real power cable, huge spikes and it expected the same for its partnering equipment. (yes, again psychosis lurked just behind the corner) I use a Meridian G07 cdp and Dynaudio Contour 1.3's in a medium sized room. The Dyns would do ok with tube-amps, they sounded "nice". At first the Krell turned them into a bright, highly polished window, there was almost to much attention to detail. After all its demands where met, the glass was removed from the window and music flowed into the room, turn up the volume and the music just "grows bigger". .With good material the Dyns just disapeare, there is no more "sound". I like it, I'm off my medication.

Strengths:
It makes music come to life.

Weaknesses:
It will only do so after all its demands are met.

Similar Products Used:
Conrad Johnson MV 75. Audio Research VT 60

Price Paid:  $1250.00 from Augiogon

Summary:
The only thing that I could say is WOW. I paired this amp with an old DVD player and the Proac SuperTower and everything came alive. I thought that I was going to have to upgrade the source and the speaker when I brounght this amp home. However, there was no need. I never new of dynamic, image, and tight bass before until I put in this amp. Of course, this isn't the most hi-end or most expensive amp out there. However, this is as close as to hi-end separates as you can get. And you also get the equivalent of preamp/amplifier with this KAV-300i. And no headache of trying to pair the right preamp with the right amp.

Strengths:
Midrange, voice was incredible. I think both male and female voices stand out. Although as previous reviewer mentioned, it does tend to be a little bit aggressive. Bass was deep down. Bass notes that I've never heard of before now starts to shake the house/walls. Mid bass also was tight.

Weaknesses:
Bright. Voice could have been more warm, real. But could be paired with more mellow speakers or whatever audio wire, speaker wire that could tame the aggressiveness of this amp. A little big and deep so it's going to be a problem for some cabinet.

Similar Products Used:
McIntosh. Carver. Yamaha. Sony ES ( if you count Sony).

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This really is an odd fellow.
No other audio components I ever used/tried was that picky at partnering.

I had some cash to spill on new audio equipment, therefore I wanted to upgrade the amp at first.
To me this is the heart of a system so it better be good.
Got a good deal on a used Krell 300i for 1200 bucks in good condition, which I could lend for a few weeks to decide.

Any amp I tried before I got the Krell performed well with my old KEF's and Marantz CD 6000KI, well at least it didn't sound worse than my old and faithfull Marantz PM7000.

The Krell sounded aggressive and I mean really AGRESSIVE, never did I hear such cold, harsh and abrasive sounds coming from my KEFs

So this must have been a matching issue I thought.
I tried a better source: Naim 5, Arcam cd 82, Rotel RCD 1072 etc.
Nothing changed or bettered

Having spent a few weeks, getting on the nerves of the salesmen I finally gave up.

I ended up with a Accuphase E212 amp.
My Marantz cd player is still running, no need to upgrade it.
(and after a few months I decided to replace my KEF's by some lovely B&W CM 6's, though there wasn't any need, but hey I got the money to spend!)

Any high-end component that needs months of searching and investigating for the proper musical companions sucks in my book.
Probably the Krell fairs better with some laid back British speakers and a cd player with less detail and definition than usual, which is not exactly the purpose of a Krell amp, slowing it down and decreasing the high resolution...what is supposed to be the Krell's main strength: pace and insight.

To me a high-end component must deliver all the detail, pace and insight but with grace and at ease.

My Marantz cd 6000 OSE KI isn't particularly bright or aggressive, the Accuphase E 212 doesn't think so, nor do the other amps by Primare, Exposure, Rega and Creek I tried, so I wonder if there's a cd player out there the Krell would like.

Strengths:
Looks, power and build quality

Weaknesses:
Extremely picky: search hard for a component that will match with this amp.
It obviously likes you to spend very much money on cables and tweaks, which any other amp in this price range doesn't need.
(I once heard a cheap Technics cd player connected on an expensive Macintosh amp: it sounded gorgeous!)

Similar Products Used:
Marantz PM7000
Primare I30
Exposure 2010
Rega Mira 3
Creek 5350 SE

Price Paid:  $2000.00 from Angelucci HiFi - Ita

Summary:
Si tratta di un ottimo amplificatore integrato, considerato a torto solo un amplificatore muscolare. Certamente in gamma alta ha dei rivali in possesso di grana finissima e più morbida, ma a costi certo superiori.
La potenza dello stadio finale permette di pilotare ogni tipo di diffusore anche i più ostici, evidenziando un basso profondo e ben modulato,esuberante ma preciso nel controllo dell'escursione della membrana del woofer.
Nel mio impianto è collegato a monte con un lettore universale Marantz DV8400 ed a valle con degli ottimi B&W 803s con cavi di segnale e di potenza NORDOST e posso affermare che il risultato finale è senza ombra di dubbio godibilissimo sia come dinamica, come pulizia e dettaglio ottenendo un sound ideale per l'ascolto di musica Jazz e classica.Strepitoso il risultato con il pop-rock.
Veramente ottimo.

Strengths:
Dinamica e dettaglio

Weaknesses:
Grana non finissima in gamma alta

Similar Products Used:
Classè cap 101, pathos logos, unison research unico se, Exposure 3010

Price Paid:  $1400.00 from Audiovenue

Summary:
All I can say is what a fantastic amplifier and what great value the second hand models are now. I start upgrading my system last year with the purchase of a pair second hand Ruark Equinox Speakers(Fabulous)but there was a slight problem. My Roksan DP1/Audiolab 8000DAC/ Caspian/Caspian Power just wasn't geling with the Ruarks. I thought that I had made a huge error. I managed to get a great Wadia 850, again second hand, and this was wonderful but there was something still missing. The missing piece of the puzzle fell into place around Christmas. My brother-in-law lives in Windsor and I saw that the Audiovenue had a second hand Kav 300i in stock. I arranged a dem and the rest a they say was history. The sound in my system just fell in to place. The grip, speed and dynamism is truly wonderful. The amp grabs hold of the Ruarks and the sound is truly wonderful. The bass is defined but very tangible, the midrange clear and the treble crystalline. I believe that this amp could border on aggresive in the wrong system, I just know that in my system, in my living room it just works. It gives me many hours of pleasure, it has also got my wife back into listening (I mean really listening)to music. Friends and relatives are amazed, they will literally stop and listen for hours. Many an evening has been lost (spent blissfully) listening to album after album. This last sentence is the real selling point for me, yes, I have classed myself as an audiophile but, the true test is in playing music, not snippets of audiophile tinkling. The Kav-300i plays music oh and how. Led Zep, Miles Davis, Mahler, Puccini, Beyonce (wife). Album after album after album.
One more thing- tried a Nordost Shiva mains lead 2 weeks ago on the Krell- I am afraid that it too is staying.

Strengths:
Plays music- sounds alive.
Power and grip
Neutral

Weaknesses:
Sharp edges
Runs quite Hot
Size on the rack (very deep amp)

Similar Products Used:
Roksan Caspian/Power
Audiolab 8000A
Densen DM10 (Dem)
Copland CSA28 (Dem)

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