Happiness Is A Warm Krell S-300i
When I was much younger I enjoyed the book "Happiness Is A Warm Puppy" by Charles M. Schulz. The Krell S-300i is also bringing much happiness and joy to my life. Before I continue with the review I need to add another literary reference.
"A Tale Of Two Krells" My current S-300i is the second integrated amp from Krell and purchased through Music Direct. Both were fine performers but the first had a bad input button on the front of the int. amp. The input was still accessible from the remote and did not cause any sonic issues. The Krell was sounding so good that I debated sending it back. I decided in months to come I would regret having a non-functioning input button. I called the service department at Music Direct and spoke with Angie and we arranged for a quick exchange and in a few days the new amp was here. I would like to take this time to thank Angie and Music Direct for taking care of this problem so promptly.
Both amps needed to warm up but by the third day I could hear improvements in the amps. Out of the box the sound was better than previous electronics I had owned. During the first few days the soundstage deepened, the highs smoothed out and the midrange filled in nicely. Reading the instructions I was interested to read that Krell suggests using only the power cord that came with the amp and power conditioning was not needed. I also decided not to change the fuse even though my previous experience showed an audible improvement. I like the warranty included and did not want to void it in the first two weeks.
The S-300i is very revealing. I do not mean this in a non musical way but I became aware that my Micropurl IC's were not what was needed. I am now using AudioQuest King Cobras between the Marantz SA8001 and the Krell S-300i. This is not a review for the King Cobras but they are very good for the money. The Krell will also let you know if a recording is not well made. Those discs are still listenable and enjoyable but you will appreciate your better recordings.
I have read reviews for years where they speak of the midrange sounding thin and without body. I now know what they mean. Instruments have body and voices come from flesh and blood singers. I find it much easier to tell instruments from one another in complex music and large ensembles. When background singers join in I enjoy knowing where they are in the soundstage and how many of them there are. The Krell S-300i gets the midrange right to my ears in my system.
When I listen to music I sit much as I would at a live event and concentrate at what is being played. I listen to music much the way some watch tv by staring at the space between the two speakers instead of at the screen. The soundstage delivered by the S-300i helps with this enjoyment. The depth and width of the soundstage fills one end of my room. The focus and definiton of the instruments and voices within the soundstage make it very easy to follow the musical parts of the recording. Since I have not had musical training of any kind some of the soundstage cues help me in my enjoyment of some music.
Bass is tight and controlled. My Mo Fi's sound like they go deeper in the bass but I am not really able to judge the bass since my speakers do not go into the lower octaves. What I do hear has proper fullness and textures of the instruments. Interestingly I find this added bass control heps when I am listening to agressive rock or heavy metal. Happily there is no bloat or mud in the lower ranges.
The amp does pace and timing well but without drawing too much attention to the beat. If you want to tap your foot it is easy to find the beat but it is just part of the musical whole and not a driving force. From rock, jazz and to classical music the sound has a natural flow. The correct musical flow helps me enjoy classical music that I did not always open up to if parts lagged behind or sped up.
The amp is not bright. Highs are detailed but balanced. Brushes on cymbals and drumheads sound more natural than a constant non musical swishing sound.
An aspect of having this much power on hand with the S-300i is when listening to well recorded mass vocals. When all the singers join in and the volume increases the sound now swells in the room. The music grows louder without distortion. Of course with much of my classical music of large orchestras I enjoy the same effect but with voices I find it amazing.
The Krell S-300i does not have any of the electrical grunge and hash that my original Cambridge Audio 640A had nor does it add sweetness to all the music like the Onkyo A-9555 did. The Krell has taught me that some of what I had enjoyed were actually colorations. I find I am enjoying the true sounds of instruments more than ever before. I am pleased and feel that purchasing this amp was money well spent.
JM, congrats on the Krell addition.
I enjoyed your review of the Krell and your glee jumped off the page at me. Happy listening!
LeRoy