Blew up the Krell S-300i

[JohnMichael]

Back to the service department again. The bi-wire pair of the AlphaCore MI1's proved to be too much a load for the amp and it shut down. It will not power back up so off to Krell it goes.

They will repair it under warranty unless it is something catastrophic. I was honest in how the failure happened and I am pleased that they are going to treat it as a warranty repair unless it is a real mess.

AlphaCore is sending me resistive links to use with the cables when the amp comes back. Both companies have been very helpful.

The Onkyo A-9555 is once again my integrated amp of choice or should I say only choice.

Has anyone else blown up any good amps lately?

[ForeverAutumn]

[JohnMichael]

It might be a little early to laugh about a man's equipment. Luclily there was no smoke so no curtains were harmed in the conflagration.

[Feanor]

Back to the service department again. The bi-wire pair of the AlphaCore MI1's proved to be too much a load for the amp and it shut down. It will not power back up so off to Krell it goes.

They will repair it under warranty unless it is something catastrophic. I was honest in how the failure happened and I am pleased that they are going to treat it as a warranty repair unless it is a real mess.

AlphaCore is sending me resistive links to use with the cables when the amp comes back. Both companies have been very helpful.

The Onkyo A-9555 is once again my integrated amp of choice or should I say only choice.

Has anyone else blown up any good amps lately?

Surely this isn't what we expect of a Krell amp. I don't see that the bi-wire AlphaCores should be enough lower in impedance to bother a Krell.

Class D amps are generally quite tolerant of speaker (& cable) loads, so hopefully that applies to the Onkyo.

[BadAssJazz]

Hopefully the repair will be a snap, so to speak.

[JohnMichael]

Surely this isn't what we expect of a Krell amp. I don't see that the bi-wire AlphaCores should be enough lower in impedance to bother a Krell.

Class D amps are generally quite tolerant of speaker (& cable) loads, so hopefully that applies to the Onkyo.

Dan D'Agostino was a big fan of AlphaCore and asked them to create the largest ribbon cables. I knew they could create problems with some amps but I did not expect it with a Krell. Of course I do know it was for his huge mono amps and the integrated amps are not built to that level. The S-300i is a beautiful in it's neutrality kind of amp.

I will not try the bi-wire cables until I have the resistive elements to eliminate this problem.

[JohnMichael]

Hopefully the repair will be a snap, so to speak.

Thanks, from a zap to a snap. What is interesting was that it was not on long enough for the case to even get warm.

[bobsticks]

John, I'm sorry you're having to suffer through the inconvenience. I'll be raising a glass in hopes of much luck in a speedy repair. I know the Onkyo is capable but far from preferred.

Cheers

[RGA]

You're really not selling Krell to me. The sound never sold me but I was under the impression they could drive anything - isn't that the whole point of them?

[JohnMichael]

You're really not selling Krell to me. The sound never sold me but I was under the impression they could drive anything - isn't that the whole point of them?

Thanks for being your warm self. I like the sound and will miss that amp. Have you heard the S-300i?

[JohnMichael]

John, I'm sorry you're having to suffer through the inconvenience. I'll be raising a glass in hopes of much luck in a speedy repair. I know the Onkyo is capable but far from preferred.

Cheers

Thanks bobsticks. I truly enjoy the S-300i and while the Onkyo is a good int. amp for it's cost it is not as focused or as neutral as the Krell. I miss the tight controlled bass from the Krell as opposed to the loose bass of the Onkyo.

[GMichael]

Thanks bobsticks. I truly enjoy the S-300i and while the Onkyo is a good int. amp for it's cost it is not as focused or as neutral as the Krell. I miss the tight controlled bass from the Krell as opposed to the loose bass of the Onkyo.

So many puns can be made from this one, but in respect for your failed amp, I'll just wish it a speedy recovery.

Hope you get your Krell friend back home soon.

[bobsticks]

Puns? Jokes? I don't see it.

Who doesn't enjoy a nice, controlled bass rather than loose, sloppy bass...?

I've spent a lot of money to get nice, controllable bass...

[GMichael]

Puns? Jokes? I don't see it.

Who doesn't enjoy a nice, controlled _ass rather than loose, sloppy _ass...?

I've spent a lot of money to get nice, controllable _ass...

Not sure what I was thinking.

[JohnMichael]

So many puns can be made from this one, but in respect for your failed amp, I'll just wish it a speedy recovery.

Hope you get your Krell friend back home soon.

FA made me laugh and now I need some GM humor to get me through my time without the Krell. My amp might have been made in China but it is being slowly rebuilt in the USA.

I look forward to carrying it down a flight of stairs to the car. The same flight of stairs I fall down for my concussion. Of course the dog will be in his room so I should make it okay.

I am already tired of the Onkyo.

[TheHills44060]

You're really not selling Krell to me. The sound never sold me but I was under the impression they could drive anything - isn't that the whole point of them?

I was thinking the exact same thing RGA! Frankly the idea of Krell even making integrated amps seems to conflict with the reasoning a consumer would purchase a Krell in the first place. Historically when I hear Krell I think of big brutish amps driving grueling loads. I feel the same way about Martin Logan making speakers other than electrostats...maybe i like to pigeon-hole manufacturers too much.

Hope you get you get your gear back sooner than later JM.

[RGA]

I'm not trying to be mean JohnMichael but I have always felt that Krell was an amplifier that people buy based on name brand appeal more than any real merit for sound quality. Beating an Onkyo isn't exactly a feather in the cap.

I have read very unremarkable things, talked to dealers who have sold Krell all of whom were very luke-warm to cold to them, and I have never heard a system using a Krell that offered good sound - ever. I personally do not understand the appeal of anything I've ever heard from them and I've heard their top models so if they don't cut it I can't see an integrated improving on their top of the line mega priced separates.

The one thing though is despite my reservation on the sound that they looked to be built well so I basically lumped them in with Bryston. But I am not so sure after reading several forums that they're built all that well against Bryston and they cost a lot more money.

Of course it sucks that it broke and of course it's good that Krell is fixing it (but according to you that is a maybe right now). I guess I just don't see their appeal and your particular unit seems to be a bit of a lemon. If it were me and once fixed I'd be selling it before the next problem arises.

[JohnMichael]

I was thinking the exact same thing RGA! Frankly the idea of Krell even making integrated amps seems to conflict with the reasoning a consumer would purchase a Krell in the first place. Historically when I hear Krell I think of big brutish amps driving grueling loads. I feel the same way about Martin Logan making speakers other than electrostats...maybe i like to pigeon-hole manufacturers too much.

Hope you get you get your gear back sooner than later JM.

Thanks I hope I get it back soon. I really love the sound of it. I somewhat agree about Krell and their huge mono amps but that is not why I bought the S-300i. I wanted an amp that could drive any speaker I could afford. Having lived with it since 8/2009 the sound has really grown on me. Or should I say the absence of sound. My previous amps were a little colored or had electronic artifacts that creates listener fatigue. The S-300i just does it all well for the price.

[Hyfi]

JM, sorry your baby crapped the bed and I hope it comes back fast.

Is it possible that they hosed something up when they had it back recently?

[JohnMichael]

JM, sorry your baby crapped the bed and I hope it comes back fast.

Is it possible that they hosed something up when they had it back recently?

I do not know but it sounded really good when it came home. It was weird because there was no sound in the left channel. Then it shut itself down.

[Hyfi]

I just lost the left front amp in my HK635 but it's not worth fixing.

[dean_martin]

It happens. The first time i connected speaker cables (bare wire) to my acurus power amp it not only blew out an amp channel it blew a tweeter in one of my speaks. Had to send both out for repair. Klipsch/acurus blamed me and i had to pay. Acoustic energy fixed the speaker under warranty. Good luck. Hope you're up and running again soon.

[JohnMichael]

It happens. The first time i connected speaker cables (bare wire) to my acurus power amp it not only blew out an amp channel it blew a tweeter in one of my speaks. Had to send both out for repair. Klipsch/acurus blamed me and i had to pay. Acoustic energy fixed the speaker under warranty. Good luck. Hope you're up and running again soon.

Krell is stepping up. I just receives my return authorization number and their assurance it would be repaired under warranty.

[JohnMichael]

Wow you are still trying to make me feel better, how sweet. I do like the amp and I have lived with it almost 3 years now. If there was anything I did not like about it I could not live with it listening to music several hours a day. I may have been attracted to the name but I do love the sound.

The amp was sent back for repair due to some noise in the right channel. The amp would still play but when I asked Krell they wanted me to send it in and they found a problem. The second time was my choice of cables. We will not know what happened until the amp has been serviced.

I'm not trying to be mean JohnMichael but I have always felt that Krell was an amplifier that people buy based on name brand appeal more than any real merit for sound quality. Beating an Onkyo isn't exactly a feather in the cap.

I have read very unremarkable things, talked to dealers who have sold Krell all of whom were very luke-warm to cold to them, and I have never heard a system using a Krell that offered good sound - ever. I personally do not understand the appeal of anything I've ever heard from them and I've heard their top models so if they don't cut it I can't see an integrated improving on their top of the line mega priced separates.

The one thing though is despite my reservation on the sound that they looked to be built well so I basically lumped them in with Bryston. But I am not so sure after reading several forums that they're built all that well against Bryston and they cost a lot more money.

Of course it sucks that it broke and of course it's good that Krell is fixing it (but according to you that is a maybe right now). I guess I just don't see their appeal and your particular unit seems to be a bit of a lemon. If it were me and once fixed I'd be selling it before the next problem arises.

[TheHills44060]

Krell is stepping up. I just receives my return authorization number and their assurance it would be repaired under warranty.

Hey JM are you going through a local dealer or did you contact Krell yourself?