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Time now for less tangible 'soft' skills of the American. As what we've covered already presaged, the 2250e isn't trained to inject into the musical action a particularly fluid meandering note. My own Audionets but also amps like the recently reviewed AURALiC Merak—in matters of bass, dynamics and resolving power not the Krell's equal—apply less concentration on the ultimate teasing out of detail but in trade might seem a tad more 'connected' and flowing, i.e. less rigorously profiled. With its ultra differentiation the Krell more elaborates the singularity of individual musical events.
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Before this gets too abstract, check out the acoustic guitar on "If that's how it's gotta be" from J. Mascis + the Fog's Rock project More Light. With the Krell that gets more crystallized and edgy down to clear micro nuances on the ring-out of each metal string. Ditto for the decidedly not softly recorded sibilants in Beirut's young frontman Zach Condon's delivery of the melodiously waltzing "Sunday Smile" from The Flying Cup. The Krell accentuated these sibilants more strongly than my usual amps but also had the highest treble resolution. |
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It's intuitive then to reach for calmer speakers which go heavier on flow and silk. I'm quite sure that the Evolution 2250e would have gotten on famously with my earlier Sehring S703SE whilst tapping them for all their worth on dynamics, bass authority and tweeter definition beyond the Audionets. With my less silken more analytical Thiel CS3.7, the 2250e made for more of a like-meets-like proposition which depending on taste and material could get a bit excessive at times..
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This Krell amp was one of the most formally 'correct' power amps I've yet met as though it had emerged straight from a page of the textbook on amplifier design. The sober cosmetics already hinted at a penchant for just the facts to suggest serious rather than playful hifi. And the sonics indeed followed suit with bass chops amongst the very best I've heard and special talents with dynamics, control and resolution I'd call of benchmark quality. For listeners who laconically view fans of micro-power SETs as soft eggs, Krell's power house is without question a Best Buy in the €10.000 class. The same goes for listeners whose current speakers seem a bit restrained, lush, diffuse and dynamically coasting. Logically those very same attributes won't suit the taming of already spiky, analytical and muscular transducers in need of a special musical flair. There the sharp-cornered Yank won't compensate.
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Psych profile. The Krell Evolution 2250e offers
• Stupendous bass with killer pressure, reach and definition beyond any shadow of a doubt.
• Ultra-precise treble without artificial edge but zero mildness, cream or diffusion either.
• A perfectly even transparent midband.
• Impressive speed and energy on both micro and macrodynamics.
• Tonally dead-on neutrality neither warm nor bright.
• Markedly grippy detail focus rather than 'connected' flow.
• For the price well above average image focus and complete soundstage freedom from the speakers.
• Plain vanilla looks but flawless build quality.
Facts:
• Concept: Stereo amp
• Dimensions and weight: 43.8 x 19.3 x 48.6cm WxHxD, 35kg
• Output power: 2 x 250W/8Ω, 2 x 500W/4Ω
• Power consumption: 90 watts at idle, 40 watts in warm-up standby, 2 watts in eco-mode standby
• I/o: 1 x RCA, 1 x XLR, 1 pair of speaker terminals
• Warranty: 5 years with registration, otherwise 2 years |
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redaktion @ fairaudio.de
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