The first thing to consider is the equipment you have presently and whether it will mate well with the Krell. I love Paul's definitive objection to Krell...don't believe it. Listen with your own ears. I am very familiar with the Levinson preamps and have tried them in my system in years past. I also agree with the BAT tube preamp as I have listened to BAT equipment on many occasions and like it very much. However, I have owned Krell since I dumped my Rowland Consummate about 5 years ago(which by the way is also a great solid state pre)in favor of the original KRC-HR. Since I was using a FPB-300 at the time, the dynamics, bass detail and slam and soundstage were superior with the KRC-HR. I recently sold the KRC for the KPS-25SC playback system which is a preamp and cd player. It is by far the best digital front end I have heard next to the top Levinson equipment. I believe the preamp section is very close to Krell's KCT. I just bought CAST cables on this site and I am amazed at how outstanding they sound. I was using Transparent Reference which stomped everything I have listened to. I think Dan is on to something with this CAST system. You might be able to save yourself thousands in interconnects using the CAST. So at a user of Krell for ten years I can only say I could have bought anything and have always preferred their equipment. Having said that, demo it with your stuff to be sure you like what it does. Most people who bash Krell equipment probably have an inferior piece of equipment or cabling which the Krell will ruthlessly reveal and consequently reproduce less than excellent sonics. A system is only as good as its weakest link. Good luck and let me know how it goes.
