Width and depth of soundtage Incredible detail Musicality Awesome dynamics Build quality

Could be annoying for people, don’t like the controlled sound…

I owned the famous 300i, (not the iL version) for about 4 years, and the last year I decided to change it for a 400xi (a good deal)… In first instance I found the 400i very “thin” compared to the 300i… a lack of impact maybe, you know… But after more hours of listening I noticed something… The 400xi is a step-forward compared to the 300i… Is more detailed and SUPER controlled… The bass is better, better control, and eliminates all boomines, the bass is there (please continue reading)… Is like when you change to a better speaker and amp… the first words that you say is “where did the bass go”… Exactly in this point is where the great 400xi is working on… Is a amp, extremely controlled, he “sucks” all boominess from your speakers…

Put the 300i and 400xi side-to-side, playing the same CD, and we will ear more detailed sound, more transparency and more depth from the 400xi, no doubts here…

The major people test this amp through the unbalanced terminals, connect this baby to a full balanced CD, and you will see, what this baby will give to you... You will discover a new amp, the truth about this amp is using the balanced topology.

I was in shock after connecting my cd player through the balanced inputs… Ohh my god!!, the 400xi show me the muscle that he have…

I realize 400xi is not for everyone, if you prefer the sound with more bass presence but less controlled go with the 300i, but the 400xi with the right speakers and associated equipment they can be simply amazing! Believe me. It is that good. I can't say that I will not "upgrade" in the future, but I can say that this amp is special and an oustanding value.

Similar Products Used:

ML 383
MF 308
Bryston

Price, what amp can perform like this at this price.
Mids and highs very good. Also dynamic and good controlled bass.

If you realy want to play very loud for long periods on speakers like B&w N800 then do not get this amp. The cooling is not enough then and it will heat up to much. But I never had a problem that it ran very hot.

Well the previous reviewer obviously has no idea what he is talking about. I have owned almost all amps from Krell, Mark Levinson and many other brands. I can basically buy any amp I want and do not care about the price but only about the performance. If you can not get this amp sounding good there is a mismatch with the rest of your components. The previous reviewer is however right about the Krell amps that they all have a similarity in the sound, which is a very detailed and controlled sound which is different from most amps.

I use the FPB700CX in my first system which is a world class amp. But I needed a cheaper and smaller system for my apartment in Belgium. I listened to the Krell KAV-400XI and was sold. This is a really fantastic amp. The highs and the mids are very clean. Also the bass is very controlled. But of course it is not an FPB amp. However like one of the previous reviewers said, it reaches 80% of the performance of the bigger systems. But this is true for all high end (not only hifi). Once you reach a very good level like this amp and you want better you have to pay 5-10 times more to get significant difference. But every time I connect this amp in my main system I wonder why I spent 10 times more for the other amps (Krell KCT + FPB700CX).

I owned the 500i and 300i also before and this one has a more balanced sound. The mids are very liquid like the new FPBCX amps. Everything is very detailed and the sound is very smooth. No harshness if matched with the right components and cables. However since the Krell sound is so clear and open it will show every mistake in the setup. Krell busters normally have something wrong in their setup and this amp is unforgiving to wrong matched components. If you use it together with the Krell KAV-280CD or SACD standard and use Transparent or MIT cables the sound is very liquid and balanced.

The KAV300IL which I also own is exactly the same amp but with buttons for the volume. If you want to buy second had you might as well buy the cheaper KAV300IL.

The amp is capable of driving most speakers without any problem. Since I drive it with Wilson Cub the match is perfect and I have more than enough power.

This amp does also have the good Krell sound like good dynamics, open, air, good voices, speed. Play Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue, song number 10 and most amps make a muddy contrabass. Not the Krell. Averything is well under control.

Peter

Customer Service

Very good. You can always ask the distributor or shop for questions. Also you can contact Krell directly and they will help you and give you an honest answer.
Krell is a company which is driven by truly hifi enthousiasts and they do care about the sound, unlike some other companies.

Similar Products Used:

Almost all Krell producs, almost all Mark Levinson products, Wilson Audio, B&W

Clear, quality construction; I guess you can resell it and get half of your money back.

Well, I think I wrote about it on my summary review, but to summarize, it has a very FATIGUING sound, HARD to listen to for LONG PERIODS of time. It is NERVE WRECKING.

I have been listening this integrated amp for a couple of months and I'm not very impressed of it. I was looking for a second system for my bedroom for casual listening. I heard it before at a friend's house and it sounded good, clean, clear but I did not listen it for a long time. After owning it for a few months I'm ready to put it on sale just like a whole bunch of other people selling their Krells in Audiogon. I guess most people get to listen to them at the store and get impressed by their HI-FI sound. Maybe it sounds clean but after a while it just WEARS YOU OUT! It is hard to listen to their amps for a long time. It must be that their use of transistors which are famous for ODD harmonics distortions is causing a very FATIGUING and UNINVOLVING sound. I guess that is what audio reviewers call it CLINICAL? After a while I feel worn out and nervous. I think most people buy them because High End magazines rave them. Do they actually own them or listen to them for enjoyment? or maybe they use them as a REFERENCE to compare other equipment? but after testing them they just go back to their own amps that they can listen for enjoyment. Krells are famous for their bass slam sound, but this integrated does not have too much of it. If you can listen to KRELL amps for a LONG time, I congratulate you, you are able to handle their very hard, nerve wrecking sound. I've heard other bigger Krell amps; some of them of course sound bigger and more powerful, but they all have the same signature. This is the first and last time I ever buy a KRELL. I own other brands, but they are not that bad.

Similar Products Used:

McIntosh Solid and Tubes, Audio Research, Cary, SONY SCD-777ES, Rega Apollo, CREEK.

Very natural and transparant for the high, excellent bass response very tight.

High frequency is not as clean as that of super expensive amplifier

In the past, I owned KAV300i. Being fully satisfied with the sound quality of a KAV300i, I decided to acquire a KAV400xi. I went to the seller who owns unbelievable system consisting of Krell Mono blocks, a pair of Salon for the front speakers and a pair of Studios for his rear speakers as well as those expensive cables. He insisted me to listen to his system. So, I think why not. I could listen to a wonderful system without any pressure to buy. The sound that this system produces is incredibly natural and very real. I wish I could afford this kind of system. After listening to two songs, I asked him to connect the KAV400xi that I am going to buy. All accessories and source are exactly the same, he just switched the amplifier from the two 750 MCX monoblock Krell to this baby Krell. We played the same tracks. I was pretty please with what I heard. Yes, there are differences! The KAV400xi is not a detail and liquid as the monoblock. However, the KAV400xi produces, to be conservative, about 90% of what the monoblock can produce. Too me, it is damm good for the price that I pay. I think this baby Krell will stay with me for a long time since I do not have money to spend for the mega dollar systems. For people who just enter this hobby, KAV400xi should be one of the integrated amplifier that he should audition.

Similar Products Used:

KAV300i, KAV300iL.

Wattage, remote, Volume knob, slim styling, balanced input.

Solid state sounding.

Purchased as my bedroom unit, which could be used as a backup in my main system. The unit plays better with SACD's and CD's than with LP's. It no way compares to my ARC Reference 2, and VT100MkIII, but is adequate as a back up. One can't go wrong for price, which I got at a retiring from business sale.

Power Style Build Balanced Input Sonics Fills The Amp/Preamp Gap

Lack of inputs No Phono Stage Needs Proper Partnering

This new Krell Integrated Amp Rates High in performance & Power(200wt/ch) VS Most integrateds which Fall Short In That Dept. It Has a Nice Sleek Appearance & Build Matching Thier New Product Line. Now Finally Including A Front Fascia Volume Knob. The Sheer Effortless Sonic Power it Exudes Shines Through On Any Type Of CD you Throw At It Vinyl Junkies Look Elsewhere,unfortunately Lacking A Phono Stage..... What It Really Needs Is More Inputs,The Only Other Area where competitors Win out. I Run Balanced Out From My Krell KAV-280cd player, & the unbalanced to 3 more players: Creek,Meridian & NAD. It isn't Kind To Poor recordings where Others May Smooth Over the Rough Edges,But With Jazz XRCDs etc. Every last detail is Presented. The $2500 price tag isn't that high in the Krell Camp & with little Competition amongst the Class leaders....Fans of Amp/preamps may Shudder but VS cost of Cables & Having Short Internal Signal Paths This May Be Their Next Amp.......

Similar Products Used:

Krell 300il Krell Monoblocks NAD S300

Power, refinement, great Krell bass, quiet, nice machined remote control. Well built

No phono stage.

This is really a great product, and one of the best deals in high-end audio. Where else can you get a balanced 200 watt/ch (8 ohms) integrated with remote control, and ultra high-end build quality and sound for 2500 list? Even better, the power doubles to 400 watts/channel when the impedence goes to 4 ohms, a sign of a hefty power supply, and high current output stage. Krell has made a great improvement over the previous 300 series by lowering the price a lot, and adding a better volume control with a real knob.