Krell KST100

[growla666]

Hi I've just bought a Krell KST100 from Choice Hifi. It finally arrived after a week. Had it one day, left it on overnight to warm up, plugged in my Epos 14s and snap, crackle..pop..the right channels blown!!! :mad:I didn't think Epos 14s were that hard to drive. Suffice to say that I've sent the amp back to Choice for a hasty repair but I've been dismayed to read that the KST100 is the drag arse amp produced by Krell. Is is really that bad? I heard it briefly through my Audio Research Sp7, Mission PCM7000, Arcam BB5 DAC and it sounded more transparent than my usual Quad 34/405/Castle Durham set up.......well for about an hour before it went.

Thoughts??

[Werner]

Ah, the KST-100 of the early 90s. It was Krell's attempt
to make something less stratospherically priced.

I auditioned it for a couple of hours with Apogees and Martin Logans. The combination with the Apogees was very very fine.

FWIW it also got a very good review in Hifi News.

[YNMOAN]

Well I would hope that it would sound significantly more transparent than your Quad combo as I have always found that to be remarkably opaque.

The ES14's are a VERY easy load -they certainly cannot have been responsible for breaking the Krell.

To be honest, I would get my money back and buy something else.

[doug2507]

I agree with YNMOAN. Get a refund for it. It'll be bloody expensive to repair properly. I've got a KAV250a i'm just away to put on ebay. It's in excellent condition and am only selling as i am looking to upgrade to FPB600 or 350mcx. It will work very well your ARC pre and drive the ES14's with ease.

[growla666]

Alan at choice Hifi is fixing the amp right now but I am thinking it might have been my audio research SP7 that may have knackered the krell. Apparently they have a high DC output gain or something and Alan thinks this might have been the culprit? How could a pre-amp knacker a power amp like that???

[titian]

i am looking to upgrade to FPB600 or 350mcx.
The FPB600 is really not bad! ;)

[doug2507]

If you can find one!!! Found a 300c and 350mc for sale but no 600! Bit annoying as i'm amp-less at the moment!

growla666 - A valve pre can wreck a Krell no bother unless the jumpers inside are removed as Krell advise. Not sure about the KST but i know the FPB's need their jumpers removed to run a valve pre. Not everyone has done this though and have still run their krell without a problem. There was one guy however over on Audiogon who didn't do this and blew his amp.

[titian]

What you can do is to buy a second hand 600 from Audiogon and let it sent to Krell. Over there they will modify it to 220-240V and make a general check (you can tell them that you have a tube preamp so they will set the jumper). Then Krell will send your "like new" unit to you!

Last year I bought from Krell a 700cx which was laying in the labs for a couple of years. They made it "like new" (even with new serial number). It's working simply great (before I had a 300c, which I sold within 40 minutes after the announcement).

[monya]

Hi I've just bought a Krell KST100 from Choice Hifi. It finally arrived after a week. Had it one day, left it on overnight to warm up, plugged in my Epos 14s and snap, crackle..pop..the right channels blown!!! :mad:I didn't think Epos 14s were that hard to drive. Suffice to say that I've sent the amp back to Choice for a hasty repair but I've been dismayed to read that the KST100 is the drag arse amp produced by Krell. Is is really that bad? I heard it briefly through my Audio Research Sp7, Mission PCM7000, Arcam BB5 DAC and it sounded more transparent than my usual Quad 34/405/Castle Durham set up.......well for about an hour before it went.

Thoughts??

Shows the value of reading up on a product BEFORE buying. Commiserations:(

[growla666]

Well the story ends thus. Alan at Choice agrees to take back the Krell for a full refund and I end up buying a superb refurbished Krell KSA100 MkII from KJ West One instead:) - awesome! Drives my ATCs with ease, amazing depth, musicality and speed - I Love it!

[Arlequen]

Alan at choice Hifi is fixing the amp right now but I am thinking it might have been my audio research SP7 that may have knackered the krell. Apparently they have a high DC output gain or something and Alan thinks this might have been the culprit? How could a pre-amp knacker a power amp like that???

Many AR SP6/8 have in their conscience lotsa Krell and some Thresholds
It's due to DC output.. terrible for SS

[sq225917]

Yeh you want to measure dc offset on your pre-amp to check compatibility.