Krell KST100

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!!! 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??

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Krell being fixed

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???

 

The FPB600 is really not bad!

 

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.

 

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).

 

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

 

Krell gone back

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!

 

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

 

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