In JGH's great tradition of condensing profound audio wisdom into simple aphorisms, I humbly offer my own and others' observations of the audio world at large.
A sonic improvement is meaningful only if it has musical significance.
Soft, warm, and rolled-off is less…
At that time we found the Citation Eleven to have a subtly grainy overall sound and a slight tendency toward what sounded like front-end stress during crescendos from Magnetic Phono inputs, but even then it was the best-sounding preamp available in or about its price class. The subsequent modifications have served only to widen the gap between the Eleven and its competition.
Our bypass…
Description: Solid-state, full-function preamplifier with 5-band program equalizer. Inputs: two Mag phono, two high-level tape, two aux, one tuner. Controls: Speaker selector switch; equalizers at center frequencies of 60Hz, 320Hz, 1kHz, 5kHz and 12kHz; volume; balance; mode (Stereo, Reverse Mono, Left Right); function (input selector); equalizer bypass; tape monitors 1 and 2, HF filter, LF filter, AC on/off. Outputs: two main, two to tape recorder(s), two to headphones (any impedance), three switched and one unswitched AC outlets.
Dimensions: 16" W by 5" H by…
Ever since I made the acquaintance of my first Krell product—the KSA-50 power amplifier—I've been impressed by this Connecticut-based company…
Description: Solid-state line-level preamplifier. Frequency response: 0.2Hz–400kHz +0, –—dB. Distortion: lower than 0.002%, –94dB, 20Hz–20kHz. S/N ratio: 95dB.
Input impedance: not specified. Output impedance: not specified. Maximum output level: not specified. Voltage gain: not specified.
Dimensions: 19" W by 2.5" H by 14.5" D.
Price: $3700 (1994); no longer availabe (2007). Warranty: 5 years parts and labor, limited transferable. Approximate number of dealers: 55.
Manufacturer: Krell Industries, 45 Connair Drive, Orange, CT 06477. Tel: (203…
A wide selection of ancillary components was available for this review. Comparison preamplifiers ranged from the Audio Research LS-5 to Krell's own KRC, by way of a Conrad-Johnson PF1. Power amplifiers included the Audio Research VT150, the Krell KSA-100S, Meridian 605, Naim NAP250, and Conrad-Johnson Premier Eleven. Loudspeakers used were the Apogee Mini Grand system, Wilson WATT 3s/Puppy 2s, Quad ESL-63s, and Epos ES-11s.
Digital sources included the PS Lambda and Reference Link combination, the Krell MD10 and Reference 64 combination, an Accuphase DP70V, and…
The KRC-2's measured line-input input impedance was 50k ohms unbalanced, 100k ohms balanced. Though this is higher than earlier generations of Krell preamplifiers, it will reduce the loading on source components. The measured voltage gain was nearly twofold (5.45dB), increasing to fourfold (11.28dB) with the "gain" switch engaged. Over the 60dB operating range of the volume control, the channel balance was found to be generally better than 0.05dB. This is an excellent tolerance, defined by the use of precision discrete-resistor arrays. Balanced and unbalanced…
A wide selection of ancillary components was available for this review. Comparison preamplifiers ranged from the Audio Research LS-5 to Krell's own KRC, by way of a Conrad-Johnson PF1. Power amplifiers included the Audio Research VT150, the Krell KSA-100S, Meridian 605, Naim NAP250, and Conrad-Johnson Premier Eleven. Loudspeakers used were the Apogee Mini Grand system, Wilson WATT 3s/Puppy 2s, Quad ESL-63s, and Epos ES-11s.
Digital sources included the PS Lambda and Reference Link combination, the Krell MD10 and Reference 64 combination, an Accuphase DP70V, and…
The KPE proved to have versatile input facilities. Both moving-coil and moving-magnet settings featured low noise levels. The measured S/N ratio was 73dB for moving-coil (CCIR-weighted ref. 1kHz, average-responding meter), and even better for the higher signal level delivered by a typical moving-magnet cartridge. Stereo separation was better than 85dB at low- and mid-frequencies, and very satisfying higher up, typically being 68dB at 20kHz. This is better than the KRC-2.
Channel balance was ±0.05dB, a very high precision indeed. As is customary these days…