Krell 400xi vs NAD M3 vs Music Fidelity A5 vs Naim

It didn't hurt my opinion of the Krell when I saw a salesman drop on its corner a 400Xi from belly high onto a solid concrete floor. He looked extremely pained - even somehow cut his hand when it slid out and his boss walked in. He picked it up. You could barely see a mark on the corner where it hit and it literally chipped the concrete. They hooked it up, turned it on, and much to all of our amazement it worked like a champ. You would have had to see it to believe it. The build quality is incredible. Of course that doesn't make the sound.

Now that is not built like a brick but more like built like concrete! I wouldn't do that on purpose though. Last time I heard about an amp that wouldn't break even dropping it three floors up was the Bryston 4B-ST.

I do agree with the posts above in that Krell is an acquired taste. I have owned the Krell KAV-300i for a short period and listened to KAV-400xi. To me, the former has an unrefined and harsh sound but punchy and dynamic. Not a good match with neutral or upfront speakers but great with laidback ones such as Sonus Fabers. The KAV-400xi is a much refined unit and does not sound as raw with better control across the spectrum.

I have also listened to the YBA Integre and concur with MFsoa and Wireless in that it is one sweet and musical amp. Matched with my B&W's, the sound was so sweet and musical that at one point I was considering this integrated although my system was more or less settled. Maybe one day when I decide to set up a 2nd system I'll look into getting the YBA.

Getting back to the topic, not being familiar with your speakers, the Krell and Bryston is worth looking at with the former having the advantage in being more powerful. The Naim is also quite good but would have problems driving speakers with difficult loads. I would also agree with several suggestions on Plinius integrateds. Difficult to describe the sound so it would be best if you could listen to one.

If you going for an integrated, listen to supernait before any commitment. What ever your choice afterward, doesn't matter.

I tested a Krell 400xi vs an NAD M3 and it was no contest - the NAD M3 was in an entirely different league. The 400xi had an odd, industrial sound. Excellent recordings could sound very good on it, though. The NAD M3 made everything sound fantastic and three-dimensional and allowed me to just enjoy the music rather than analyze it. I also heard things in my music that I had not heard before when using the NAD M3.

My impression is that the 400xi is a "love it or hate it" kind of product - it will either work well with your sources, speakers and hifi tastes or it just won't. For me, its character is too harsh and analytical and it is not very musical. I think there are better choices.

Drobbins, I agree with you on the Krell, it did have an industrial rather mechanical sound in my room, but I will say in fairness that I only had it for a weekend audition so my feelings are skewed by the shortness of time. I'll say that with the right speakers and source (possibly the Krell Standard?) running balanced, it could be a different story with the 400xi. Once again that old synergy and matching issue with speakers and ancillaries can change the whole presentation of an amp, integrated or separate. After all the integrateds I've tried, I eventually learned that I really had a lot to learn. Many of the pieces I've owned or auditioned could have been a completely different experience based on changing out the gear and cabling being run with them. I've coined a new term I like to describe high end gear, "chameleon." Many high end integrateds while having a partcular house sound and sonics can change like a "chameleon" depending on the speakers, cabling, and other ancillaries involved. Often I don't believe I've really known what the gear I've owned was actually capable of because of cabling, speakers and other ancillaries.

what about the Krell S-300i? i Have the JBL TL 260 limited edition speakers. Was thinking about the M3 too.