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August 2010

KRELL 400Xi Integrated Amplifier Upgrade

Holy cow patties Batman! What did you do to my Krell 400xi? Geez, resolution increased, focus improved, bass texture enhanced, depth and layering expanded, dimensionality approaching the best tube gear, tonality that is close to the real thing... absolutely State of the Art and the best $1K I ever spent. Now sounds better then the stock Krell FBI integrated and my much more expensive Krell separates.

David Borda

Pennsylvania

Krell Kid iPod Player

The krell kid is an ipod player. The kid can be operated alone, or docked in the optional papa dock, a dedicated 150w power amplifier designed specifically by krell for use with the kid. The kid is designed to deliver maximum sonic performance from an ipod-device, and is the first of its kind to utilize the fully differential out-put of the internal dac of ipod-devices. Additional features include ipto-isolated digital connections between the ipod-device and the kid, and balanced differential class A circuitry. Ultra low noise volume control, with digitally-controlled analog bass and treble controls fine tune your listening experience. A full-function remote control makes operation flexible. Balanced and single-ended outputs, composite and s-video outputs, and an RS-232 control allow for a variety of connection options. I used the kid by itself with out the papa dock. The kid has a built in volume control so no need for a pre-amp. I have several ipod based systems, so i really wanted to find out how the kid compared. The kid is an ipod player, that uses the dac inside the ipod. Unlike the wadia i170 which does not have a dac but outputs the digital signal to an outboard dac. In order to play the krell you have to use an ipod. It is very important to load your ipod via apple lossess or wav for the very best sound. I have 2 ipod touch 32gb. one with my cds imported via apple lossess and the other with apple itunes plus. For my review of the krell kid i had it hooked up to my paradigm 40v2 active speakers. I also was using mit shotgun cables though out, made a big difference. Once i hooked up the kid i placed my ipod touch with apple lossess songs into the top slot of the kid. I was surprised on how good the sound was coming from the kid. The sound was so clear and the sound stage very wide. I also used my other ipod with only itunes plus music and i got to tell you it was good also. I could tell that the ipod with my cds imported via apple lossess sound better. The bass was tighter and sound stage better. Still i really liked the sound with the apple itunes plus. Now to compare i have a similar piece of gear i hooked up to my paradigms. The bel canto cd-2 now its a cd player with built in volume control. I hooked that up direct to my paradigms. The sound was very good however i thought the kid sounded better via apple lossess. I was not expecting the krell kid to sound so good at half the price of the bel canto cd-2. Just because something cost more doesnt mean its going to sound better. With the kid i have all my music collection at my finger tips, its so much better that way, you don't have to go fumbling though all your cds. I also compared the kid to the wadia i170/521 dac both were modded by great northern sound co. I hooked the wadia 521 dac strait to the paradigms. The wadia combo sounded better than the kid but remember i had the wadia 521 dac with gns mods hooked up to the wadia i170 thats about $9,000 dac. The wadia sound is dependent on the dac that you hook up to it. Back to the kid i really liked it so much that i have it hooked up to my paradigms now. I don't use my bel canto cd-2 anymore. The kid may be the new kid on the block but i really like listening to it.

Associated gear
Paradigm active 40v2

Similar products
wadia i170 gns mods with wadia 521 gns mods

Usarmyvet91

03-01-09

Responses (1-3 of 3)

03-01-09 You can click on my username usarmyvet91 and see pics of the ... Usarmyvet91

05-11-09 I'm getting a krell kid soon (long story). is there a recomm ... Lakeallen

05-19-09: Usarmyvet91
Yes go with the ipod touch for best sound. I just got my krell kid back from the upgrade company and its awesome. The bass is top notch and the sound stage is wide. Its now sounds better than my wadia 521/i170 ipod dac great northern sound mod gear. Once you listen to the upgrade company modded krell kid their is no going back to a cd player.

Krell 400xi or Musical Fidelity A5 for ML Summit?

I had been using a Krell 400xi with my Summits, but the top end bothered me. I have a chance to get the MF A5 as pretty much an even-up swap? Should I pull the trigger? I have an MF A5 CD player.

jlevine@forbes.com

02-02-07

Responses (1-15 of 15)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

02-02-07 I have owned a number of krell pieces, and while not owning ... Nrchy

02-02-07 Nrchy, just because you don’t like krell equipment does not ... Joeyboynj

02-02-07 As john wright (modder of older ed meitner gear and soon to ... Lush

02-02-07 Joeyboynj either your post is stupid, or your are stupid. yo ... Nrchy

02-02-07 Nrchy, maybe the krell integrated that you've listened to wa ... Ryder

02-02-07 I owned the 300i and hear the new piece is better sounding a ... Chazzbo

02-02-07 I recently purchased the krell sacd standard+400xi combo. ov ... jesse818@

02-03-07 hoo boy! thanks everybody for your input, but there seems ... jlevine@

02-04-07 I own a kw dm cdp and it is very very limpid in the top end; ... Carloscotland

02-28-07 I sold my evo rig for the 400xi...it's that good! i am curr ... Dave_b

03-07-07 My only input is that i did direct a/b tests between a 400xi ... Jodus001

03-07-07: jlevine@forbes.com

While all this was going on, I had sent both my Krell 400xi and the MF A5 CDP to Dave Schulte at the Upgrade Company for his signature upgrades on both units. Man, what a difference. They're not fully broken in yet, but already the shrillness on the highs is gone, gone, gone. The orchestral recordings where I found my system weakest have taken on new heft and, well, oomph, to use a technical term. There's a new level of detail and body. And all this in a different room that is clearly inferior acoustically. I haven't heard any of the MF integrateds for the sake of comparison, but I no longer have this nagging doubt that something should be...better. Makes listening a lot more enjoyable. BTW, let me just say for the record, Dave is a true gent and as stand-up a guy as I've come across. Count me one satisfied customer.
jlevine@forbes.com

03-07-07 Jodus, i am surprised at your comment above. i have dealt w ... Joeyboynj

03-07-07 Patrick, service mgr at krell voluntarily offered me a new r ... Andrewdoan

03-08-07 That is good to hear about krell. maybe i just caught them ... Jodus001

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