Krell amplifiers went through a fallow mid-life period some years ago, however includes recovered wonderfully with the high-powered and capable FPB range, which is aimed immediately at the cost no object audiophile end of the market.

But Krell is also interested in further moderate price points, and for some time includes created reasonably priced integrated amplifiers, of which the KAV400xi is the latest, and let's cause no bones about it, the greatest.

The KAV400xi is the replacement for the KAV300, however an unusually glamorous one.

It is assembled into a slender line and undeniably graceful version of the Showcase category housing, with the now familiar fabricated aluminum flat panels for each surface, joined together by half-rounded strong machined end caps with a polished finish, not simply on the front, where such details are most obvious, however on all four corners.

The front panel is outfitted with a row of modest buttons for source selection and mute, and a continuous turn digitally controlled resistive ladder encoded volume control and a modest display to reveal the current operating status.

The back panel is fitted with inputs sockets for the four single ended line inputs, which has one tape circuit with a monitor facility, and a pair of XLR sockets for a single equilibrized mode input.

Everything about the KAV-400xi screams quality.This is a thoroughly contemporary design, which amply reflects Krell's usual priorities, beginning with the non-magnetic enclosure. Open the lid and you'll see that the internal view is ruled by a massive 800VA toroidal transformer. It drives 55,000mF of reservoir capacity with individual regulators for the low and high-level circuits.

The ability amplifier demonstrates erst again Krell's customary distain for impedance loading variations with in output that behaves in a textbook way, doubling in output when the load impedance is halved.

It is rated at 200 Watts/channel into 8 Ohms, and 400 Watts into 4 Ohms.

The amplifier gain stages cause use of an ultra-wide bandwidth, low noise current mode circuit topology that Krell includes championed of late.

A similar theme is reflected more upstream in the output stage, which is assembled around a six high speed parallel connected relatively modest value output bipolars for each of the positive and negative going phases of each channel - a total of 24 output transistors.

All circuits are symmetrical and balanced, and amply Class A equal to the driver stage, and the amplifier is DC coupled to the load.

The principal circuit board is populated with surface mount components, and input sources are chosen by relay.

If you happen to have Krell CD or SACD player, you'll have a nice use for the equilibrized input, not least because equilibrized operation with Krell isn't window dressing, however an intact part of the Krell ethos, and in contrast to some other equilibrized designs, backed by amply equilibrized internal circuitry.

The terminal element in the user interface is the remote control: a tiny, slender line system handset, powered by a long life lithium battery, and fitted with vaulted membrane switches.

The sound in my system simply went down in to place. The grip, speed and dynamism is highly wonderful. The amp grabs hold of the Ruarks and the sound is highly wonderful. The bass is characterized however very tangible, the midrange unclouded and the threefold crystalline. I think that this amp might border on aggresive in the wrong system, I simply know that in my system, in my living room it simply works.

It gives me a lot of hours of pleasure, it includes also my wife back into listening to music. Friends and relatives are amazed, they will actually stop and listen for hours. a lot of an evening includes been lost spent beatifically listening to album after album. This last sentence is the literal selling point for me, yes, I have classed myself while an audiophile but, the loyal test is in playing music, not snippets of audiophile tinkling. The Kav-300i plays music oh and how. Album after album after album. One further thing- tried a Nordost Shiva mains lead 2 weeks ago on the Krell.

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

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References:

1. Krell 400xi Amplifier reviewed on AudioRevolution.com

Krell FPB 300i Amplifier reviewed on AudioRevolution.com the leader in / rated at 400 watts per channel into eight ohms, 800 watts in four ohms and 1600 /

URL: http://www.avrev.com/equip/krellfpb400/index.html

2. Krell Class A Series - Full Power Balanced X Series Stereo Amplifiers

Krell Industries, Incorporated, America's premiere manufacturer of high-end / and the mid-level FPB 400cx at 400 Watts, to the awesome 700 Watt FPB 700cx, /

URL: http://www.krellonline.com/html/m_ClassA_p_FPBs.html

3. Dagogo Review: Krell KAV-400xi integrated amplifier

Output Power: 200 W/8Ω, 400 W/4Ω / and he penned his company after Krell, the fictional civilization in the 1950's film, /

URL: http://www.dagogo.com/KrellKAV-400xi.html

4. Krell Class A Series - Full Power Balanced X Series Stereo Amplifiers

Krell Industries, Incorporated, America's premiere manufacturer of high-end / the same circuit topology, from the 300 Watt Full Power Balanced 300cx and the /

URL: http://www.krellonline.com/html/m_ClassA_p_FPBs.html

Further info on Krell AV Receivers:

(more resources on Krell Receivers)

1. Krell KAV 300 i

Krell KAV 300 i: 150 + 150 watts integrated amplifier, the smallest amp from Krell under test on TNT - Internet HiFi magazine

URL: http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/krell300i_e.html

2. Krell KAV 300 i

Krell KAV 300 i: amplificatore integrato a transistors da 150 watts per canale, il piccolo di casa Krell in prova d'ascolto su TNT - Internet HiFi magazine

URL: http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/krell300i.html

3. StereoTimes - Krell 400 xi Amplifier

I have had the Krell FPB600 in my listening room for about 18 months, / pull design and put out a maximum of 300 watts per monoblock into 2, 4 or 8 ohms. /

URL: http://www.stereotimes.com/amp041499c.shtml

4. Krell KAV-400xi Integrated Amplifier By Alvin Gold

Krell KAV-400xi Integrated Amplifier By Alvin Gold, Superior Audio Magazine is the / It is rated at 200 Watts/channel into 8 Ohms, and 400 Watts into 4 Ohms. /

URL: http://www.enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/equipment/0104/krellkav400xi.htm

5. Product Review -

In fact, the Krell KAV-500 is the third such amp that I have had in my system / 200 watts into 4 Ohms, with the option of bridging two channels for 400 watts. /

URL: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_5_1/krellkav500.html