What's a good upgrade from a Krell 300cd cd player

Flav, I found out early in life that ignorance is much more expensive than education. I went the education route. Might explain the spare time thing?

Lorn, The "new" mk111 Standard would be a good fit. It does not compete with the 505/525. Pricing is no comparison either, which helps the decision.

Tusa, I don't get the math regarding your recomendation. 2 grand or so for a MK 11 that is guaranteed to fail, plus 3000 dollars for Krell to upgrade it to a model with virtually no resale value? Why not just get a deal on a new MK 111 that you can kick down a flight of stairs and still have work perfectly? 5 year warranty, huge savings on not shipping boxes back and forth, and alot more time spent listening to music. What am I missing?

Li, This info is in stark contrast to another member who said he paid 3000 to upgrade his MKII. Guess I'll call Walter to get the real skinny. Krell gave me a 505 after I had so many problems with my Standard. I have a complete KAV stack, minus a Standard and I miss it. I too would acquire another if it can indeed be done for the figure you mention. My 505 is typical krell bulletproof, the flight of stairs thing was a figure of speach.

I mean speech. I do.

Li, Just got off the phone with the wonderful folks at Krell. Couldn't substantiate this 700 dollar figure... I stand by my original advice on this matter.

Cool! Do you also have a Hyundai to swap for my Porsche? Tires ($2000.00) every 3 months and the related high dollar maintenance is killing me. BTW, the SACD III is the same inside excepting the transport and software to run it. It is light years below 505 performance. I still want one to complete my KAV stack, sound isn't everything... Should be a pretty good guest room system!

The folks at Krell have heard and measured the differences.
The Dacs are different. Jitter reduction is WAY different. The 505 has TWO power supplies. The list goes on... Once again, the 505 is a huge upgrade from the MK III.

Well, Having had several SACD Standards, I can say that redbook performance on my 505 is an order of magnitude better than the Standard. Similarly with SACD performance. Same cables, preamp, amp etc. Night and day. They share very few parts. The Physical size difference should also be a clue these are very different machines. Is CAST a 4k retail upgrade? Products that cost 4k more tend to sound very similar to folks who don't have the scratch... I suggest YOU talk to Krell. They tried to talk me out of buying an SACD Standard MK III, knowing I already have a 505. Why do you suppose that is? 'Cause they are the same inside? Please.

I have read several reviews of the 505 where the writers say it is the "best" player they have heard. Can this be done with a new transport and a new clock? C'mon guys. Following this logic the OPs 300 is better than both! Perhaps I should search out some KSAs and ditch my FPBs?

My 505 has two toroidal transformers. A true upgrade for the new drive. Krell did much more than slap a new transport in the mountain of broken Standards piling up at the shop. Eliminating an upgrade path is not typical Krell either. Don't get me wrong, I miss my Standard and will acquire one, completing my KAV stack. For critical listening, I will fire up my EVO. If they sound the same, I'll GIVE you whichever one you want. How's that.

Jimmy, I have tried all the cast cables one can try. Cast can be outperformed. I've done it. It may seem crazy to invest more on cables than the machine (Tara Zero) but the improvement is once again an order of magnitude better.