KRELL K-300I

Pre owned. In good condition. Shows some signs of wear. Comes with remote control; original packaging not included.

The Krell K-300i is a monolithic integrated amplifier with an imposing and clean design, immediately recognizable as a Krell product, combining solidity, elegance, and advanced technology. Fully analog, it delivers 150 W per channel into 8 Ohms, offering a wide range of RCA and balanced connections. Its construction is robust and substantial, weighing 24 kg, which emphasizes its build quality and perceived value. Inside, attention is immediately drawn to the large 770 VA power transformer and 80,000 µF capacitors, components that explain how this integrated amplifier can deliver up to 300 W per channel into 4 Ohms. The K-300i features Krell’s proprietary iBias technology, which allows the output stage to operate in Class A while continuously monitoring the input signal, minimizing energy waste and heat generation without compromising sound quality, although adequate ventilation around the unit is still necessary.

From a circuit perspective, the amplifier employs a fully differential low-negative-feedback topology with a pre-driver and driver stage in pure Class A, complemented by a balanced Cirrus Logic CS3318 volume control that preserves balanced signals up to the main gain stage. The front panel includes buttons for power, source selection, menu navigation, and volume, along with a USB-A input for playback from flash drives, and a backlit display that is easy to read even from a distance. Users can rename sources, adjust volume offsets to compensate for differences in output levels, select variable or fixed output levels, and use the fixed mode to integrate the K-300i into a home theater system, allowing the processor to control the volume of the front left and right channels along with other speakers.

The rear panel offers two pairs of balanced analog inputs and three pairs of single-ended inputs, with EU-approved plastic safety speaker terminals that are easy to use once familiar. The amplifier can be further expanded with the optional digital module, which integrates the ES9028PRO Sabre DAC, a USB-B input for external devices, Bluetooth aptX, HDMI 2.0a with HDCP2.2, TosLink optical, S/PDIF coaxial, and Ethernet, along with RS232, RC5, and 12 VDC trigger inputs and outputs. The DAC fully supports MQA and serves as a Roon endpoint, decoding PCM up to 24/192 and DSD up to DSD128 via USB-B, while other network and front USB-A inputs handle PCM up to 24/192 and DSD64 via the mConnect Control app, which also allows streaming from Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, and vTuner.

Although the front panel interface may require multiple button presses for some operations, the included metal remote makes adjustments faster and more convenient, allowing control of sources, volume, balance, and menus with a sense of solidity consistent with the amplifier itself.

The K-300i embodies all the qualities that have made Krell legendary: power, dynamics, precision, transparency, and solid construction. Its combination of high-quality analog electronics, generous power, Class A output stage controlled by iBias, modern connectivity, and digital integration options make it a unique product in the high-end integrated amplifier market, capable of fully expressing the legendary Krell sound in any top-tier audio system.

Technical Specifications:

• Type: solid-state integrated amplifier with iBias, Class AB output stage, and optional D/A module
• Analog inputs: 2 balanced (XLR); 3 single-ended (RCA)
• Optional digital inputs: 1 Toslink optical; 1 S/PDIF coaxial; 2 HDMI (HDMI 2.0a, HDCP 2.2; supports DSD audio and 4K video); 1 USB-A (USB 2.0 host); 1 USB-B (USB 2.0 audio device); 1 Bluetooth with aptX
• Outputs: 1 pair speaker outputs; 1 pair single-ended preamplifier outputs (RCA); 1 12V trigger output
• Output power: 150 W per channel into 8 ohms (21.8 dBW); 300 W per channel into 4 ohms (21.8 dBW)
• Voltage gain: 25 dB, reference 2 V balanced input for full power output
• Input overload: 10.4 V balanced; 6.8 V single-ended
• Frequency response: 20 Hz–20 kHz +0/–0.22 dB; 10 Hz–100 kHz +0/–0.57 dB
• THD: 0.015% at 1 kHz, 150 W into 8 ohms; 0.08% at 20 kHz, 150 W into 8 ohms
• Input impedance: 8 k ohms single-ended; 16 k ohms balanced
• Output impedance: 0.035 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz
• Signal-to-noise ratio: >104 dB wideband unweighted; >117 dBA, both referenced to full power output
• Slew rate: 46 V/µs
• Power consumption: 11 W standby; 46 W idle; 900 W maximum
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 438 × 105 × 457 mm
• Weight: 23.6 kg