Krell Studio DAC

[Tachikoma]

I found one of these locally for about $1k, and I'm tempted to pick it up. The problem is I can't audition them (not that I would have a decent reference to begin with), so does anyone here besides Nanoha (he had a unit, but hasn't logged in since August last year) have any experience with this converter? or have any info that might be useful in helping me decide? Thanks

[Tachikoma]

Mmm, two 20 bit DACs in push pull config for each channel and DC-coupled output stage in class A

http://www.xs4all.nl/~hansvt/pdf/brochures/studio.pdf
http://www.headphoneclub.com/html/34/n-534.html

And yes I'm picking it up unless someone steals it ahead of me.

[Knuckledragger]

http://www.headphoneclub.com/html/34/n-534.html.

Wow, there's some crazy stuff on that page.




Geez, what the hell is that?


KGBH?






Nice looking DAC. I have certainly never heard it, but I did have a Krell CDP of similar vintage as a loaner quite a few years ago. I don't remember the model offhand, but it had 20bit DACs and balanced outs. I'm pretty sure it did not have that fancy data and jitter module. Back then my listening setup was very different (Hafler P125 amp, EV Sentry monitors) but I recall the Krell being really detailed, but a bit bright. I knew little about critical listening back then so take this with sizable grain of salt.

[kevin gilmore]

I had one of these a long time ago. Built typically krell. Will last forever.
By todays standards, does not sound very good. Lots of stuff going on
in the software, so some cd's sounded great, others sounded like crap.

[Tachikoma]

I had one of these a long time ago. Built typically krell. Will last forever.
By todays standards, does not sound very good. Lots of stuff going on
in the software, so some cd's sounded great, others sounded like crap.

Damn, should I change my mind on this purchase then? Are there better options around the same price point, used?

[Dusty Chalk]

Geez, what the hell is that?

It's an SRM-T2, probably the predecessor to the SRM-007t. See here. But not here, because it's not a predecessor to the T-850.

[Duggeh]

Its the predecessor to the Blue Hawaii if anything.

[Gabe Logan]

I have been tempted to try out the very same dac but they get snatched up on Audiogon so quick and they are always well over $1k.I hear good things about it though.

[Tachikoma]

There was one on 'gon for $950, and I think it stayed "unsnatched" for a bit. The last auction for one ended around $800.

[spritzer]

KGBH?

That is the 6BX7 Stax amp that was very popular in Japan in the mid 90's. That particular amp was built by the guy which owns the SR-Omega fan site in Japan.

It's an SRM-T2, probably the predecessor to the SRM-007t. See here. But not here, because it's not a predecessor to the T-850.

The T2 has no links to the 007t as that is just a variation of the T1 design. The BH was Kevin's take on the T2 type of amp.

[kevin gilmore]

Damn, should I change my mind on this purchase then? Are there better options around the same price point, used?

Single box sony scd-5400es seems to be the best thing on the planet right now
regardless of price. $1200

Over 25 million dollars spent on designing the new dac's for the thing.

[aardvark baguette]

Damn, are you serious

[Torpedo]

If there were any correlation from the money spent in R+D and sound quality...

[Hopstretch]

If there were any correlation from the money spent in R+D and sound quality...

Well, I suspect there is some. And I thought we were generally in favor of spending money on design and engineering rather than audiofool marketing BS?

Do the 5400 and 9000 have digital ins? Bet I can guess the answer.

[Torpedo]

I hope so, I haven't been interested in CDP or DACs for years

[aardvark baguette]

If there were any correlation from the money spent in R+D and sound quality...

Sony Playstation One, Fool.

[Torpedo]

Indeed ©

[kevin gilmore]

If there were any correlation from the money spent in R+D and sound quality...

True of course, but i bought one on the strength of reviews so far. And the
sound quality is absolutely fantastic. Plus its one of the first units to have
uncompressed and un-encrypted hdmi output.

Certainly not built like the teac esoteric machines. But sounds so much better.
For $1200 if it lasts 4 years, i'll toss it and get the latest and greatest machine.

No more $12k krell boxes that have $10 plastic loaders that cost $2k to replace.
That is just plain stupid.

Krell needs to pull their heads out of their asses and release a krell quality
hdmi input super dac. It will never happen.

[Icarium]

Ah that thing uses proprietary sony developed DACs? Very interesting.. does it have a digital input? I'm a silly computer audio user primarily. That R-core'd up power supply is sexy as hell.

[Tachikoma]

^Same here.

So I bought his parasound DAC-2000 instead <_< Now someone needs to make me an async-USB based transport.