Hi-Rez Highway: REVIEW: Krell Krell SACD Standard SACD Player by Belgarchi

Model:	Krell SACD Standard
Category:	SACD Player
Suggested Retail Price:	$4000
Description:	Multi-channel SACD and CD Playback
Manufacturer URL:	Krell
Model Picture:	View

Review by Belgarchi on June 14, 2008 at 10:01:15
IP Address: 216.80.144.198 Add Your Review
for the Krell SACD Standard

I will be short: exceptionally good sound, inacceptable transport.
The sound is to die for, in SACD or CD mode: slightly BETTER than my Classe CDP-10 (and that Classe is better than all the 'high-end' CD players under $4,000 I listened to).
But the transport is very noisy in 'version 1' and 'version 2', still noisy in 'version 3'.
The reliability is terrible for version 1 and 2, acceptable for version 3.
Krell charges ~$700 to go from verion 1 to v.2, and ~$2,300 to upgrade from v.1 to v.3!

Product Weakness:	Bulky, noisy and unreliable transport
Product Strengths:	Sound, features, SACD, built quality (except transport)

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Conrad-Johnson, Musical Fidelity
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Arcam
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Classe, Thorens-SME
Speakers: B&W, Dynaudio
Cables/Interconnects: Audioquest, B&W
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jaz, Classic
Room Size (LxWxH): 30 x 20 x 15
Room Comments/Treatments: Neutral
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Monster Cable
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Conrad-Johnson, Musical Fidelity
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Arcam
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Classe, Thorens-SME
Speakers:	B&W, Dynaudio
Cables/Interconnects:	Audioquest, B&W
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jaz, Classic
Room Size (LxWxH):	30 x 20 x 15
Room Comments/Treatments:	Neutral
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Monster Cable
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner