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REVIEW: Krell KAV-250cd CD Player/Recorder

99.32.130.33


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Model: KAV-250cd
Category: CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price: $2,350.00
Description: CD Player
Manufacturer URL: Krell

Review by Luminator on February 23, 2009 at 14:54:15
IP Address: 99.32.130.33
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for the KAV-250cd


In my review of Krell's KRC-2 preamp, I did receive e-mails about the usual audiophile stuff. But the #1 topic was that I did not talk about or introduce any new characters .

Some of you have read my review of Nordost's
I answered, "No, I'm actually writing my journal. My roommate is trying to get some sleep, and I didn't want the loud noise to bother him."

Now, after Jen would get out of the shower, she always dressed the same: slippers, t-shirt, and panties. Didn't matter what the weather was. And that was weird, because, during the day, she dressed nicely, what we now consider "business casual." That, of course, was in stark contrast to the typical rags college kids wore.

"So what brings you here?" I asked.

Jen replied, "My roommate's boyfriend is here."

"Oh," I understood. "You don't need to explain."

Jen asked, "So whatcha writing about?"

The truth is, I was writing about the joys of CD players. And to think, in those days, that meant my mass market Sonys. Here we are, almost 20 years later, and CD players are on their way out. But I still love them. They are by far my #1 source. In 1989, I did not envision that, a mere 20 years later, CDs would be "ancient technology."

The overlooked Krell KAV-250cd came out in 1998. It did not fare well in the market place. It's not that the KAV-250cd sucked. It's just that people skipped over it in favor of other players, perhaps some which could play other formats.

That warm Fall 1989 night, Jen and I had one of our many good talks. I said I loved CD players, and she said she loved Hello Kitty characters. She herself said that she looked like Keroppi. I shut off the word processor, quietly put it back in my room, then brought out my own blanket and pillow. Jen and I ended up crashing in the lounge that night.

The next day, after Jen and I put away our stuff, we ate brunch together in the dining hall. Afterward, I followed Jen to her room, which overlooked the quad. It was a hot and lazy afternoon. Jen and I spotted maybe eight naked students hanging out in the quad. One of whom was Jen's roommate, Heather. Two guys were playing hackeysack, one was slowly strumming an acoustic guitar. Others were lying on the grass. All of these naked kids were wannabe hippies. They did not have your stereotypical beach bod. But you know what? That made me and Jen feel better about our own bodies and sense of self.

A while later, Jen and I were still in her room, when Heather, clad only in Birkenstocks, came back. She was completely comfortable in her own skin. She smiled at us, and said, "Oh c'mon, it's a nice day. You gotta loosen up." Heather tugged down the back of Jen's shorts, and playfully slapped her (Jen's) booty.

That whole chain of events prepared me well for audio reviewing. On one hand, it's like having a great view of the quad. But at the same time, you have to be prepared for glances in return. So for that great view of the quad Krell KAV-250cd, please click on these links, preferably in order.

Part 1 packaging
Part 2 innards
Part 3 back panel
Part 4 front, drawer
Part 5 remote
Part 6 display
Part 7 with other Krells
Part 8 interconnects
Part 9 powercords

It was fairly easy to overlook Jen. She was short, didn't dress or act outrageously, and did not party. Likewise, it's fairly easy to overlook the Krell KAV-250cd. It is gray and keeps a low profile. When Krell came out with the infinitely sexier-looking KAV-280cd, no one missed the 250's "drab asphalt playground" aesthetic.

But in this dour economy, it makes sense to look at discontinued models. You can often get them for a fraction of what the original list price was. Fine, if you want to emulate Lummy, and use it with powercords and interconnects which cost many times the unit itself, be my guest. But if you are trying to assemble a kick-ass CD-based system on a shoestring budget, you could take the KAV-250cd, and use it with, say, Kimber PowerKord and Timbre.

The KAV-250cd does not sound like your run-of-the-mill audiophile CD player. And that's a good thing. The KAV-250cd has a dry, focused, taut, fast, sinewy sound. If the Wadia 581i SE had a little brother, he would be the KAV-250cd. Hardly anyone I know can afford the $11,500 581i SE, so it behooves us to look at alternatives.

Heather would good-naturedly chastise Jen: "Every night, you run around in nothing but your t-shirt and undies. Why not just take it all off?"

Jen would just kind of turn the other cheek, and let Heather's needling slide.

And then, one nippy early December evening, it was already dark, when we finished dinner. I was again hanging out in Jen and Heather's room. Heather was on her own bed, reading a book. Jen said to Heather, "Hey watch this."

In rapid fashion, Jen then took off her sweater, blouse, shoes, skirt, stockings, bra, and panties. She stripped completely naked. Heather and I were not just stunned that Jen did this, but that she did so in such relaxed, unencumbered, unforced, and not embarrassed fashion.

Jen then teased, "I'm not going to be like this long; I'm headed for the showers!"

Heather then flashed a smile and said, "That's not fair!"

Well, if you want a CD player which sounds as rockingly uninhibited as that time Jen stripped in front of me and Heather, check out the Krell KAV-250cd.

-Lummy The Seahorse

p.s.: Heather then turned to me, grabbed my hand, and declared, "All right, Jen, you win. Let's all hit the showers!"


Product Weakness: no track time remaining function; high output; discontinued
Product Strengths: low profile


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Jeff Rowland 501; Krell KAV-150a and KAV-2250
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Jeff Rowland Capri; Krell KRC-2
Sources (CDP/Turntable): dCS Puccini; EAR Acute; Mark Levinson No. 390s; Wadia 581i SE
Speakers: Penaudio Charisma; ProAc Response One SC; Totem The One
Cables/Interconnects: Kimber PBJ and KCAG; Wireworld Platinum Eclipse; XLO Signature
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Rock, pop, metal, TV
Time Period/Length of Audition: 10 years
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Krell KAV-250cd CD Player/Recorder - Luminator 14:54:15 02/23/09 ( 4)